Globe CEO sets sights on Kanyika’s ‘flawless execution’ – Special Feature

This article is a sponsored feature from Mining.com.au partner Globe Metals & Mining. It is not financial advice. Talk to a registered financial expert before making investment decisions. 

Charles Altshuler, recently appointed CEO of Globe Metals & Mining (ASX:GBE), is firmly focused on project delivery and advancing the junior explorer towards a near-term final investment decision (FID) for the Kanyika Niobium Project in Malawi.

Altshuler took the helm in mid-June after Paul Smith stepped down. Although named interim CEO, Altshuler says while it is the board’s decision whether he continues in the role permanently, he is open to continuing to lead Globe to its goal of becoming a vertically integrated niobium producer.

“My focus is on delivery. If the board believes I’m the right person to take Globe through construction and ramp-up, I’m open to it. For now, the job is to execute,” he tells Mining.com.au.

“My priorities are clear: one, land FID, two, secure full project funding, three, lock in remaining offtakes, and four, set the project up for flawless execution.

“That includes strengthening our owner’s team, tightening risk management, and keeping our environmental, social and governance (ESG) and community programs front and centre.”

Altshuler’s experience spans major mining companies like Anglo American (LSE:AAL) and Glencore (LSE:GLEN).

He is a chartered accountant and seasoned finance executive with over 18 years of international experience across the mining, healthcare, industrial, renewable energy and fast-moving consumer goods sectors.

Prior to joining Globe, Charles spent seven years in senior finance and business partnering roles with Anglo American, Glencore and the Samancor Manganese joint venture, with responsibilities spanning operations in Africa and Australia.

Altshuler says these past experiences have shaped his approach to capital discipline, technical rigour, health, safety and environment-first culture, and structured risk management.

“What I’ve brought to Globe is that same standards-based mindset, applied with speed, creativity, and focus a junior needs,” he says. 

“We don’t have the luxury of bloated processes — but we do have the obligation to run the business with major‑company quality.”

Altshuler is also the company’s CFO. While that role is centred on financing, commercial structuring and discipline around spend, the CEO role is focused on the full value chain.

“I’m still deeply involved in financing and offtakes — but now I’m equally focused on how we build, commission and sell,” he explains.

Beyond ferroniobium: Capturing premium margins

Globe Metals & Mining’s strategy is to firstly mine and process ore from the Kanyika Niobium Project to produce a consistent, traceable concentrate. This will then be refined into high-purity niobium oxide to open the door to premium technology markets that base their price on purity, not just tonnage.

Altshuler says this is a differentiator because most niobium is sold as ferroniobium – a largely steel-strengthening commodity.

“By moving up the purity curve, we can capture more margin, diversify end‑markets into batteries, aerospace and catalysts, offer provenance and ESG transparency that premium customers increasingly demand, and reduce single‑price exposure to the ferroniobium market,” he explains.

Globe Metals & Mining’s most recent achievement was securing an expansion to the mining licence for Kanyika to include zircon, hafnium, praseodymium and neodymium. 

This diversifies the company’s resource base to enhance the long-term development potential of the project.

Permitting and compliance for the project are now complete, with environmental and social baselines completed and a clear path through Malawi’s new regulatory framework.

Offtake de-risking is underway and includes signed letters of intent (LOI) with three buyers and further negotiations targeting full production coverage.

The company is now focused on converting the LOIs – which have been executed with master alloy manufacturer KBM Affilips, advanced industrial materials manufacturer Neo Performance Materials, and metals and concentrate trading house Myst Trading – into binding agreements.

Altshuler tells this news service Globe Metals & Mining is also in advanced talks with specific metal producers supplying battery materials companies, aerospace alloy manufacturers, and chemical processors.

“While the names remain confidential and the discussions are at a non-binding stage, the counterparties are tier-one or emerging tier-one entities seeking secure, ESG-aligned supply,” he says.

The company is aiming to have the full phase-one offtake substantially committed ahead of FID to provide strong support for the debt package.

“Phase one is currently under review for a significant expansion, and we are pursuing both new offtake agreements and extensions to existing ones to validate the exact production level,” Altshuler says.

Early contractors boost bankability and confidence

Early contractor involvement is also currently underway which is aimed at significantly enhancing Kanyika’s bankability.

By engaging key contractors and strategic partners earlier, the company ensures the Bankable Feasibility Study reflects real-world execution costs, constructability, and commercial partnerships, according to Altshuler.

“The technical, commercial and regulatory blocks are largely in place for a near-term final investment decision,” he says.

Once in production, Globe Metals & Mining would be just the second vertically integrated niobium oxide producer.

Around 92% of current global production is from two mines.

“Concentration risk creates price shocks, security‑of‑supply concerns, and geopolitical dependency — especially for strategic sectors like aerospace and energy storage,” Altshuler notes.

“Globe provides a new, independent African source with transparent ESG credentials, targeting high‑purity oxide where supply is even tighter.

“We help original equipment manufacturers and governments de-risk critical mineral chains with provenance, diversification and optionality.”

Globe is configuring its flowsheet and commercial strategy to meet those tighter specifications, supported by quality assurance/quality control, batch traceability and customer qualification programs from day one.

The company’s timeline envisages first production will begin 12 to 18 months after FID. Phase one, Kanyika is expected to produce in excess of 313 tonnes of niobium oxide grading at over 99.5% and over 14 tonnes of tantalum oxide grading at 99% annually.

Full capacity is 3,155 tonnes of high-purity niobium oxide and 142 tonnes of high-purity tantalum oxide each year.

The Kanyika Project 2021 Feasibility Study forecasts a pre-tax net present value, using an 8% discount rate, of just over US$1 billion and an internal rate of return of 50%

The two-phase development approach enables Globe Metals & Mining to cut the initial upfront capital cost and move more quickly into production.

Altshuler says the market fundamentals for niobium and tantalum look robust. For niobium oxide, demand is forecast to grow from 13,379 tonnes in 2024 to 29,267 tonnes in 2035, driven by aerospace, defence, optics, and rapidly emerging battery applications. 

Prices for high-purity niobium oxide could reach US$90 ($139) to US$100 ($154) per kilogram by 2035.

Over the next 12 months, Globe Metals & Mining is aiming to finalise offtakes and funding, make a final investment decision, complete early works and lock down the engineering, procurement and construction management/execution roadmap. 

Write to Angela East at Mining.com.au 

Images: Mining.com.au and Globe Metals & Mining