Gates and Bezos Bet Big on Finding Energy Metals Using an AI Exploration Technology

Finding Energy Metals Using an AI

Kobold Metals – One of the largest mineral exploration companies in the world – backed by names like Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Richard Branson, Ray Dalio and more, uses artificial intelligence to search for lithium, cobalt, copper, and nickel through more than 60 projects across six continents. These target metals are critical for building renewable energy infrastructure such as solar panels, EV batteries and more, according to the International Energy Agency.

The Hunt for Critical Metals

As this is a private corporation average investors are unable to capitalize on their massive exploration programs and world class expertise – or is there?

Kobold Metals has staked a swath of land in mining friendly Interior Alaska that has the potential for nickel rich sulphide deposits and other critical metals. Directly adjoining their project is a Canadian publicly-listed company called Alaska Energy Metals which trades on the TSX Venture Exchange symbol AEMC and the OTCQB symbol AKEMF. Of note AEMC recently purchased over $30 million worth of historic drilling and exploration data and has sold some of this to Kobold for their neighbouring project.

Unique Resource Estimation

AEMC was also able to generate a historic resource estimate off this data alone – this is very unique in the resource industry. On top of this the company just added the results from 8 drill holes from their last seasons drilling program. The Company now has a mineral deposit that contains roughly 8.2 billion pounds of inferred nickel along with other critical metals crucial to industry.

AEMC is led by Alaskan Gregory Beischer who ironically drilled the first holes on this deposit over 20 years ago while working at INCO Metals – a major nickel and specialty metals mining company. At the time nickel did not have the demand it has now. With the rapidly expanding growth of needed energy storage in its many forms, nickel is now one of a handful of metals that have become critical to the growth of this sector. There is actually more nickel in a lithium-ion battery than lithium.

The Urgency of Domestic Nickel Production

Now what is important here, even though there are numerous battery manufacturing plants and electric vehicle producers in the US and more planned LG Chem Signs Cathode Supply Deal With GM, it produces zero nickel for domestic supply. Of note the US recently raised nickel along with copper and other metals to the top tier of their critical metals list. The need for a domestic source of nickel has never been more imperative.

Future Prospects and Drilling Programs

With the recent updated resource estimate and a planned extensive drill program planned for this next drilling season, AEMC could become one of only a handful of US based nickel projects. In North America there is roughly seven developing nickel prospects with similar attributes. Several of these companies already have strategic arrangements with major companies from the mining industry, battery companies, car companies, refiners and stainless steel producers.  

Investment Window for Average Investors

Even though the price of nickel is at lows, the vast majority of it comes from Indonesia heavily backed by Chinese investment. The US government has been subsidizing many companies that are on the hunt for these critical metals in the US. They know they need the domestic supply and are very outspoken in breaking their reliance on foreign imports from sometimes unfriendly jurisdictions.

The opportunity for investors here is a way to participate in a project directly adjacent to Kobold by investing in AEMC. With a substantial resource estimate in hand and high potential to grow markedly through the next drilling season, now is the time to look at Alaska Energy Metals – symbol AEMC in Canada and AKEMF on the OTCQB – this is where the average investor can capitalise on an opportunity such as this.