NA Proactive news snapshot: CleanSpark, Altamira Gold, American Battery Metals, Willow Biosciences, GGX Gold UPDATE …

CleanSpark Inc (NASDAQ:CLSK), a diversified software and services company, announced Wednesday that it has been awarded a contract to provide controls and storage for a commercial microgrid in Southern California. The Utah-based company said it expects to realize in excess of $300,000 in initial revenues from the project as well as a long-term software subscription.The microgrid project is designed to provide economic optimization and cost avoidance, as well as energy resiliency for the facility. CleanSpark's patented mPulse controls platform will manage a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) paired with photovoltaic rooftop solar panels. Altamira Gold Corp (CVE:ALTA) (OTCPINK:EQTRF) has uncovered new mineralized structures at its Cajueiro gold project in Brazil, it said Wednesday. The Vancouver-based explorer said it discovered the structures after a recent trenching program on the property that was originally meant to collect bulk samples for metallurgical testing. Over the course of the trenching program, several previously unknown mineralized structures were located within the Baldo and Crente gold areas, where production is planned during the second half of 2021. American Battery Metals Corporation (OTCQB:ABML) announced Wednesday it has secured industrial land in northern Nevada for its first-of-its-kind lithium-ion battery recycling facility. The company said it has entered into escrow to purchase about 12 and a 1/2 acres in Fernley and expects to close by September 15. The land is in a Qualified Opportunity Zone (QOZ), which offers a tax incentive to encourage private investment of capital into projects, businesses and property development in northern Nevada. The company said it anticipates financing the building of the facility with a conventional 36-month construction financing of about $5.5 million, including the purchase cost of the building site, an initial 30,000 square-foot industrial building, and initial battery recycling equipment and utility infrastructure. The company noted that the facility site was picked for several reasons. It is near Tesla Inc's (NASDAQ:TSLA) Gigafactory 1 (a lithium-ion battery and electric vehicle subassembly factory). Willow Biosciences Inc (TSE:WLLW) (OTCQX:CANSF) is getting ready to become the first company to biosynthetically produce non-psychoactive cannabinoids as it begins a pilot production run of cannabigerol, or CBG. The biotechnology company commenced a 500-litre production run to deliver samples of CBG in the third quarter of 2020. Vancouver-based Willow will manufacture the high purity, plant-derived compounds for pharmaceutical, health and wellness and consumer packaged goods industries. GGX Gold Corp (CVE:GGX) (OTCQB:GGXXF) has started a diamond drilling program on its Gold Drop property in the historic Greenwood mining camp in British Columbia. The Vancouver-based explorer said Wednesday that drilling is designed to test an anomaly uncovered by an airborne geophysical survey in 2019, which used an enhanced, deep-penetrating ultra-sonic AMT technology from Earth Science Services Corporation (ESCO). The anomaly is around 1,834 by 1,377 metres and centred at the intersection of three interpreted major fault conduit structural traces along strike to the north of the main COD vein trend. Naturally Splendid Enterprises Ltd (CVE:NSP) (OTCMKTS:NSPDF) announced Wednesday that Health Canada has approved a Phase 2 clinical trial of Cavaltinib to treat the COVID-19 disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. The clinical trial design protocol, which will look at the drug’s efficacy over a 30-day period, was submitted through a proposed joint venture with Biologic Pharmamedical Research. Cavaltinib already is licensed to another JV owned by Naturally Splendid and Biologic Pharmamedical based on technology and patents developed by Biologic. "We are optimistic that Cavaltinib can be a major part of a successful treatment plan for COVID-19 positive patients,” said Franco Cavaleri, CEO and chief scientist at Biologic Pharmamedical, in a statement. Steppe Gold Ltd. (TSX:STGO) has provided an update on the Bankable Feasibility Study (BFS) underway for the expansion of the ATO Gold Mine into fresh rock ores with a planned production profile of approximately 150,000oz gold equivalent per year and an estimated ten-year mine life. In parallel with the company's aggressive exploration program currently underway at the ATO Gold Mine, the company said it has retained technical and project management advisers and is now working towards the completion of a BFS with a target date of March 2021. Byrna Technologies Inc (OTCQB:BYRN)(CSE:BYRN), the non-lethal defense technology company, announced Wednesday its plan to expand operations. The company said it has signed a lease for about 14,000 square feet at a facility in Ft Wayne, Indiana to enlarge its manufacturing and distribution capabilities. "We are looking forward to expanding our footprint in Ft Wayne and adding to the region's rich history as a manufacturing center for air guns," said CEO Bryan Ganz in a statement. The company’s move to expand comes after it recently posted record revenue in its fiscal second quarter. Byrna HD sales have soared as coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic fears have triggered personal safety concerns.  Ximen Mining Corp (CVE:XIM) (OTCQB:XXMMF) updated investors Wednesday on work at its Kenville gold project which is progressing towards producing its first Dore bar from the historical mine. The company is currently refurbishing the existing 257 portal at the Kenville gold mine and geotechnical drilling and bolting is underway to secure the overburden above the portal excavation. Ximen said work on the 257 portal is continuing non-stop under the direction of the company's consultant geotechnical engineer and site manager. Exro Technologies Inc. (CSE:XRO) (OTCQB:EXROF), a leading technology company who has developed a new class of power electronics for powertrains has announced the appointment of Richard Meaux, a proven industry innovator in marketing, digital and IoT strategies, as its new Chief of Marketing (CMO). The group noted that Meaux has had diverse experiences in the power conversion industry, beginning his career with GE as part of the Commercial Leadership program and going on to hold roles in engineering, sales, marketing, and product management at the giant conglomerate The new CMO role is part of a continued focus on commercialization and raising our brand awareness in the growing mobility space, the group said. As CMO, Meaux will have responsibility in overseeing the strategy, planning and development of Exro's global marketing strategies. Essex Minerals Inc (CVE:ESX) told investors on Wednesday that it has started an initial four-hole diamond drilling program at its Cumberland property, 30 kilometres southwest of Georgetown, in North Queensland in Australia. The Cumberland property has four granted exploration permits covering 25,024 hectares, 70 kilometres northwest of the former 3.5-million-ounce Kidston gold mine. Essex Minerals said the property has the potential to “host high-grade epithermal gold-silver mineralization,” and is currently held 80% by KNX and 20% by AMD Resources Limited. Loop Insights Inc (CVE:MTRX) has added capital markets expert Jeffrey Hyman to its board of directors, the company announced Wednesday.  Hyman, who previously served on the company’s board of advisors, has more than two decades of experience in investment banking and financial advisory. He worked as managing director at bulge bracket firms and served on the technology committee at JP Morgan Chase. Metalla Royalty & Streaming Ltd (NYSEAMERICAN:MTA) (CVE:MTA) is boosting its loan facility to over C$32 million to help fund the acquisition of new royalties and streams. The original loan facility of $12 million is from shareholder Beedie Capital, which said in a statement that it “looks forward to supporting the acceleration and growth” of the royalty company’s business, according to its managing director David Bell. Beedie’s additional $20 million capital commitment brings the Vancouver-based royalty company’s convertible loan facility to over $32 million. Under the terms of the loan amendment, Beedie has agreed to convert $6 million out of the $7 million drawn as part of the initial $12 million loan at a price of C$5.56 per Metalla share as part of the conversion rights under the initial loan facility. The remaining $1 million outstanding is subject to conversion under the amendment. Valeo Pharma Inc (CSE:VPH), a Canadian specialty pharmaceutical company, announced Wednesday it has completed and filed its application to list its Class A shares on the OTCQB market in New York. The company said its listing on the OTCQB remains subject to it fulfilling all of the listing requirements and any other regulatory requirements.  Valeo Pharma will continue to maintain the listing of its shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol VPH. Thor Explorations Ltd CVE:THX) said the TSX Venture Exchange has accepted for filing documentation with respect to its brokered private placement, announced on June 12, 2020, which will see the issue of 75,548,530 shares, at a purchase price of 18 cents per share for 73,525,409 share and 16 cents per share for 2,023,121 shares, with 18 placees. DXI Energy Inc (CVE:DXI) said the Toronto Stock Exchange has confirmed that its shares will be delisted from the main Venture Exchange at the close on July 31, 2020, at the request of the company. The company will be listed on the NEX of the TSX Venture Exchange at the open on August 4, 2020, under the symbol DXI.H. Empower Clinics Inc (CSE:CBDT) (OTCQB:EPWCF), a life sciences company, said the British Columbia Securities Commission has told it that the current Cease Trade Order (CTO) on the group's stock is scheduled to be revoked, and a revocation order will be issued and published on July 29, 2020. "We confirm that Full Year 2019 and First Quarter 2020 Financial Statements and MD&A and have been filed on SEDAR and the CSE." said Steven McAuley, Empower's chairman and CEO. "We continue to serve our patients, protect our staff and grow our business, to provide ongoing shareholder value." Versus Systems Inc. (CSE:VS) (OTCQB:VRSSF) (FSE:BMVA), based in Los Angeles, focused on in-game prizing and promotions across mobile, console, PC games, and streaming media, announced that its CEO, Matthew Pierce, will present live at VirtualInvestorConferences.com on August 6 at 9.30am PT/12,30pm ET via the following link: https://www.tinyurl.com/August6VICPR. This will be a live, interactive online event where investors are invited to ask the company questions in real-time. If attendees are not able to join the event live on the day of the conference, an archived webcast will also be made available after the event. Learn more about the event at www.virtualinvestorconferences.com.