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Helium, a bubble & the stockmarket minnows that will collapse

Tom Winnifrith challenged me to talk about Helium at ShareStock 2024. Never one to back down from a challenge, I tried to do my best to cover the subject. I knew was an inert gas and the current market hype told me it was a bubble. But why? Beyond that I knew very little (pass me the postage stamp?).

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IOG, things can only get worse, the gas price and other matters

Tom wondered on yesterday’s bearcast if I would like to comment on gas pricing. Of course, I always rise to a challenge and accept. Before I waffle on (with missing and misspelt words as I normally do), I will first address IOG (IOG) as an investment case which triggered the comment, and then address gas pricing – It’s called the “eye of a storm”.

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2023 – the outlook for Oil, Gas and Energy and oil stocks to buy and sell

I’m sure most readers have picked up a few traits I have. Being blunt and brutal about our ruling classes. Smoking behind the bike sheds at every opportunity, even if it means supporting the illicit undeclared habit of a fellow bear. Being grumpy about almost every listed company in the oily sector. But more importantly why say something in 200 words when 3000 will do just fine, especially when 1% are miss spelt or missing?
In that vein I will prattle on at some length reflecting some history and how I see the energy sector investment world in 2023.

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BOOM: Alternative Energy – Which Emperor had no clothes? Bunch of Calendar Girls more accurate

So here we are a year further forward in that climate change emergency. It’s been cold recently. Very cold and we have burned shedloads of gas to keep our (and the EU’s) lights on. It’s a good job we still have some of those CCGT stations I sweated blood on to get on the bars almost 30 years ago and LNG import facilities. When the need was most – the wind stopped and the sun set. But what of the Alternative Energy listed companies who should be driving us to the up lit sunny future? I considered would be exposed as having Emperor’s new clothes? Pass them all the plant pot - more like Calendar Girls in reality.

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PetroTal Corp- Interesting activist Institutional Investor engagement

It’s been a while since I commented on PetroTal Corp (PTAL) – a Peruvian based oiler. My views on this investment case turned negative back in late 2019, and I came in for some slagging on social media for even suggesting it was not the best investment since sliced bread. My last substantive comment was in June 2020, after the company placed to manage the working capital position, as I suggested was required. A cornerstone Institutional Investor is now engaging with PI’s and other II’s to see the best outcome for shareholders. I find this very interesting on several levels.

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Capital Metals – Where’s Gasser when you want him?

Tom Winnifrith commented on Capital Metals (CMET) in yesterday’s bearcast.  This is a share I have held, on and off, for the last year. I like the potential, and the valuation appeared unstretched, but yesterday’s placing came as no surprise to me at all. I actioned my hunch back in December and sold 80% of my shares, but is it now a buy?

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SDX Energy – I warned, now I warn again. It’s a bargepole. SELL

It is some time since I last commented on SDX Energy (SDX), in fact it was over 2 ½ years ago when I last hammered the keyboard to record my views on this company. How time flies when Covid lockdowns stop one going to parties. Regardless, yesterdays RNS really was an ouzo moment when one looks at some of the detail. 

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Simec Atlantis Energy- It just gets worse. SELL: this is a zero

It has been a little while since I last commented on Simec Atlantis Energy (SAE) and highlighted all the red flags of the investment case. Today’s news that the Uskmouth Planning application has been withdrawn is perhaps surprising at first glance, but in my view, it is fully explainable using a single word – cash. Are we final reaching the death throes of this dreadful company?

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Scottish Power – why this green energy con is an expensive lie & 0/10 for customer service

Tom commented over the weekend in Bearcast about the issues he is experiencing with Scottish Power. I have likewise experienced frustration with this organisation, not for as long as Tom has, but sufficient for me to quickly elevate matters. I am pleased to say my issue I had has now been partly resolved. But it begs some questions and examination. The biggest one is just how many Guardian reading poltroons buying "green energy" realise that a) it is not and b) that it is so expensive?

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Orcadian Energy - is the tide turning on UK offshore oil and gas? It is - BUY

The last 6 months has seen a push and pull between two opposing views – the “need” for green energy and the real need for cheap energy. The former does not result in the later – far from it. Despite what the BBC and many others, would claim these are two largely incompatible objectives, unless we change the society we live in. At some point progress has to be made to reconcile the two opposing views and face the reality – we need new oil and gas UK based production of scale. I see Orcadian Energy (ORCA) leading the way in illustrating how we can achieve this outcome.