RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:I like Paul…RIO is the hand that is feeding us because they represent one half of the equation that Paul and the BoD are looking for: competitors to bid up the value of Casino in the eventual negotiations. I view Mitsubishi as a neutral party that is just along for the ride (copper by-product) as the gold is being mined. Mitsubishi will work well as a pairing with either NEM or RIO as they give that touch of comfort that you aren't going it alone.
The more I think about it, having Mitsubishi on board makes perfect sense: it gives Paul the rationale to shun any attempt that majors team up for a JV, whereby all competitive tensions are lost and we shareholders get screwed. If Paul has any vibes that we are heading towards a JV, he just has to politely inform the parties that one is not needed because we already have Mitsubishi on board. Just have to be patient to see who wins the negotiations to pair with Mitsubishi.
Key words from the recent interview: Competitive Tension and $5B NPV. Those are the ingredients for Chef Paul to cook up a delicious dish down the road for all of us.