Richard, the majors will be happy to pay $500,000,000 for a proven GPGI(about $20/share or so), but will not put up a dime for a dream. If GPGI succeeds, then they unlock between 100 MM to .5 billion tons of reserves (if we count not just the heap, but Weaver creek and other similar areas, Weaver creek itself was estimated at more than 100 MM tons). Even if you assume only .3 oz/ton on the average (extractable), this comes to $10 Billions in the ground, which discounted to today would easily fetch $.5 Billions, IMHO. However, you must have faith that they can extract the stuff profitably. Right now, they are still busy peeling the onion. And, I find myself quite comfortable having been cured from the "shakes".
Zeev |
