This is a fair summary of what I think will happen in 2011.
Regards, John Teeling.
Company Q&A: Teeling ends 2010 on high, but is braced for an even busier year
Tuesday, December 28, 2010 by Jamie Ashcroft
Connemaras Stonepark project "might just be a sweet spot in whats turning out to be a massive zinc discovery", Teeling says.

A serial entrepreneur whose business interests span diamonds, gold and oil, John Teeling is probably best known in his native Ireland as the founder of the Cooley Whiskey Distillery.

However on Londons junior market he is widely renowned for his excellent track record as a company builder in the natural resources exploration sector. He has been involved in more than ten AIM start-ups, which have generally gone on to realise significant returns for investors. It has been a busy year for Teeling as three of his companies - Pan Andean Resources, West African Diamonds and African Diamonds - have been sold or merged. He is still actively involved with Petrel Resources (LON:PET ) and Connemara Diamonds (LON:CON ) as well as three soon-to-be-listed exploration companies - Botswana Diamonds, Clontarf Energy and Swala Resources. So, 2011 promises to be as frenetic as the 12 months just gone.

Here in his own words are Teelings highlights and thoughts on the year to come.
Proactive Investors: John, sum up 2010 for us.

Teeling: It was a year of significant change for our group.

Pan Andean was sold for cash to Petrolminerales of Canada, West African Diamonds was taken over by Stellar Diamonds in a reverse, while in December African Diamonds was acquired by Lucara of Canada.

Phoenix-like, two new companies are emerging from the deals: Botswana Diamonds and Clontarf Energy, both listing on AIM in early 2011.

Proactive: Which of your companies has progressed the most over the last year? Teeling: African Diamonds made the best progress in 2010.

The AK6 diamond discovery in Botswana is being developed and will come on stream in the fourth quarter of 2011.

We are very proud of the fact that we participated in the discovery of a world class diamond mine. Proactive: In your opinion what was the standout project or event? Teeling: From an exploration viewpoint, it was the discovery by Connemara and Teck of high grade zinc ore at Stonepark North in Limerick.

This just might be the sweet spot in what is turning out to be a massive zinc discovery.

The discovery is shared between Connemara, Teck and Minco/Xstrata. Proactive: What were the big external themes and influences on your businesses in 2010? Teeling: Rising commodity prices, fuelled by demand from the BRICs were the principal influences.

Gold at $1,400, oil at $90, zinc at $2,300 and all-time high diamond prices are powerful motivators for junior exploration companies. Proactive: What are you looking forward to most in 2011? Teeling: Next year will be frantic for our group.

Botswana Diamonds listing on AIM in January has late stage projects in Botswana and hopes to acquire ground in Marange, Zimbabwe.

Marange has the potential to become the largest diamond field in the world.

Diamond values are low, $20-$40 a carat, but grades are up to 100 times richer than existing mines.

We are also chasing ground in a new find in the Cameroon.

It will be an exciting journey for shareholders.

Matching the potential of Botswana Diamonds is that of Clontarf Energy, listing in February.

Clontarf has a high potential portfolio of oil and gas exploration ventures in Ghana, Peru and Bolivia.

We should also have gas production from the Gulf of Mexico and Bolivia.

Clontarf Energy is the result of a merger of our own AIM listed Persian Gold and the invested assets spun off to the existing shareholders from the sale of Pan Andean.

Since the deal was announced, two new blocks have been acquired in Peru. Proactive: What are your ambitions and targets for 2011? Teeling: Exploration is very uncertain, so targets are written in marshmallow, not stone, but we do have targets.

For Petrel we hope to see confirmation of our title to Block Six in the western desert.

I suspect that some other projects will be added to the portfolio. Connemara will drill 65 holes in the Stonepark area.

It would be a big bonus to see the existing discoveries stretch to the southeast.

For Botswana Diamonds: Producing Diamonds - its that simple, either in Botswana or Zimbabwe.

For Clontarf Energy: Ratification of the title to the Tanoza block in Ghana, a farm out on one or more of our Peruvian blocks and viable production in Bolivia.

Our private gold explorer, Swala, will list in Toronto in mid 2011. Proactive: Are you at all worried about the rather uncertain economic outlook? Teeling: The world economy overall had a good year in 2010.

High growth rates in BRICs are very positive and should continue.

I do have concerns.

The Euro is suspect.

It cannot survive in its present form but how and when it will collapse is uncertain.

China has a massive property bubble which will burst with horrible consequences but this will only be a glitch on Chinas march to world economic supremacy. Proactive: Aside from the companies youre involved with, who should we be looking out for in 2011? Teeling: Look for gold exploration start ups. Our thanks to John Teeling for taking the time to talk to us.

We wish him a successful and prosperous 2011.