Bronwyn Barnes
Rainmakers & Potstirrers

Bronwyn Barnes

CEO: Ivanhoe Atlantic

www.ivanhoeatlantic.com

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‘The Australian market has a really strong understanding of the iron ore industry’

FROM the ever-enterprising stable of Robert Friedland’s Ivanhoe Mines group comes Ivanhoe Atlantic, led by Bronwyn Barnes formerly of Australian companies WMC and Anaconda Nickel among many others. According to reports in November the plan is for a listing of Ivanhoe Atlantic in Australia this year as part of a capital raising for the Nimba Iron Ore Project in West Africa’s Guinea. Acquired by Ivanhoe Atlantic in September 2019, Nimba holds roughly one billion tons of high-grade iron ore.

 At full tilt, the mine is expected to produce 30 million tons of high-grade iron ore a year. Unlike Simandou, the giant Guinea iron ore mine in which Rio Tinto has a stake, Nimba requires less infrastructure as it is situated closer to a port and will use an existing line across the Liberian border. By way of comparison, the giant Simandou project requires a new 650km rail line. Speaking to the Australian Financial Review, Barnes said that Australia was the ideal market for the initial public offering of Ivanhoe Atlantic. “The Australian market has a really strong understanding of the iron ore industry,” Barnes said. While iron ore will be the initial focus, the initial public offering (IPO) will help land the Friedland brand and pave the way for additional investments in critical minerals.

 Barnes highlighted a strong interest in nickel, cobalt and scandium, which are on the US critical minerals supply list. Ivanhoe Atlantic was previously known as High Powered Exploration and is independent of Ivanhoe Mines, the Toronto-listed group that operates the Kamoa-Kakula copper and Kipushi zinc mines in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is developing the Platreef platinum group metals mine in South Africa.

LIFE OF BRONWYN

Barnes is highly experienced in Australia’s minerals industry having worked at a range of companies. Armed with degrees in business management  from Edith Cowan in Western Australia and that academic must for mining, a double major in French and Mediaeval history, she started in public affairs for companies such as Anaconda Nickel and Phillips Petroleum. Her interests are wide and varied and she has held posts at Perth Racing and Legend Media. She is currently chair of Indiana Resources, Finder Energy and Scorpion Minerals.

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