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In the dynamic world of mining, the journey from geological discovery to project development or expansion is fraught with complexity. From navigating the shifting sands of geopolitical instability and investor scrutiny to addressing mounting ESG pressures and resource depletion challenges, today's mining industry faces a landscape of unprecedented challenges. But where some see obstacles, we see opportunities for strategic collaboration. At VBKOM, we believe that by unearthing the opportunities, our solutions have the power to improve lives. As a proactive partner with expertise and agility, our team of experts helps our clients turn these challenges into a competitive advantage.
Image: Drill rig at a Phosphate Exploration Site in South Africa
The Challenge:
Geopolitical instability, regulatory changes, and resource nationalism can disrupt projects, affect commodity prices, and create an uncertain investment climate.
The VBKOM Solution:
Our previous experience in politically challenging jurisdictions gives us an advantage when working in unstable countries, as we develop informed, executable, and strategic plans. Furthermore, our deep geological expertise across diverse terrains and deposit types allows us to provide robust, verifiable technical data. This detailed data can help de-risk projects and provide a strong foundation for informed investment decisions, even in politically sensitive regions. Our agile, multi-commodity experience helps clients adapt to changing market demands and operational challenges.
Image: Globe on Desk
For a deeper dive into these complex issues, Marsh/Denton Mining Law's article, "The Impact of Geopolitics on the Mineral Sector: Risks and Solutions," by Anton Antonoc, details six key ways geopolitical risks are affecting the mineral sector. It provides insights into how factors such as resource nationalism, concentration of production and processing, and regulatory changes can impact supply chains, prices, and the return on investment for mining projects.
Anton Antonov, "The impact of geopolitics on the mineral sector: Risks and solutions," Dentons Mining Law (blog), May 8, 2025, https://www.dentonsmininglaw.com/the-impact-of-geopolitics-on-the-mineral-sector-risks-and-solutions/.
The industry faces immense pressure to improve environmental stewardship, address social impacts, and meet strict regulatory standards to obtain a social licence to operate.
With an acute awareness of ESG and our excellent understanding of the subject, our experienced team incorporates known social and environmental factors into exploration planning and execution from the onset. Our services, from strategic exploration planning to detailed data interpretation, can be utilized to develop projects in an environmentally and socially responsible manner that aligns with your ESG strategy. By providing comprehensive and accurate data, we help our clients align with sustainability goals from the earliest stages of a project.
Image: Collage displaying Biodiversity Preservation, Employment of Local Suppliers, Drill Pad Rehabilitation, and Upholding Authorizations during an Exploration Drilling Program
For a deeper dive into these complex issues, Marsh/Denton Mining Law's article, The impact of geopolitics on the mineral sector: Risks and solutions, by Anton Antonoc, details six key ways geopolitical risks are affecting the mineral sector. It provides insights into how factors such as resource nationalism, concentration of production and processing, and regulatory changes can impact supply chains, prices, and the return on investment for mining projects.
Declining ore grades and a lack of (new) discoveries are increasing extraction costs and threatening future supply.
VBKOM specializes in working with junior miners and startups, helping them build an initial resource base. Our efficient and strategic exploration programs are designed to deliver optimal results, which in turn attract further investment, tailored to the specific deposit. The verifiable technical data we provide is crucial for demonstrating a project's potential and securing the necessary funding.
Image: Financial Considerations
The challenge of securing capital for new projects, especially for junior miners, is clearly outlined in the BDO LLP report, Financing the mining transition (2025). The report highlights a critical investment gap threatening the global energy transition, primarily driven by a decade of underinvestment and the current conservative financial climate. To overcome this, companies must adopt innovative financing models such as royalties and streaming agreements, and carefully manage the associated accounting complexities to maintain investor confidence.
BDO LLP. (2025). “Financing the mining transition”. https://www.bdo.co.uk/getmedia/c38d44f4-d707-4e16-9524-e13304a2e562/Financing-the-mining-transition_2025.pdf.
VBKOM's expertise in both traditional and implicit geological modeling, exploration target delineation, combined with our experience in complex multi-commodity projects, as well as leveraging our strategic geophysics partners, enables us to identify new resource opportunities for expansion exploration and optimize existing assets. Our services help (our) clients find value in more challenging deposits and extend the life of their projects through data-driven expansion programs.
Image: Chrome Deposit in Southern Africa
The urgency of this issue is underscored by the EY Global report, Top 10 mining and metals risks in 2025 (October 2024), which identifies Resource and Reserve Depletion as a top-five risk for the industry. The report states that mining companies are responding by finding ways to maximize value from current assets (like processing tailings), and adopting vertical integration and recycling to secure future mineral supply and meet the demands of the energy transition.
Paul Mitchell, "Top 10 mining and metals risks in 2025," EY Global (blog), October 1, 2024, https://www.ey.com/en_gl/insights/energy-resources/risks-opportunities.
An aging workforce and a shortage of new talent with the required skills pose a threat to productivity and quality extraction.
VBKOM's team of experienced geological and mining professionals offers tailor-made solutions for companies lacking in-house expertise. We provide a turnkey exploration planning, management, and support system that complements existing teams, allowing companies to tap into a wealth of knowledge and experience without the overhead of hiring full-time staff. We are also able to provide on-site training for your teams to help your projects and operations to derisk with skills transfer.
Image: Manganese Exploration Site in Gabon
The issue of a declining workforce is a significant concern. The McKinsey article, "Has mining lost its luster? Why talent is moving elsewhere and how to bring them back" (February 2023), examines the unprecedented skills shortage in the mining industry. The article highlights that a significant majority of executives find it difficult to recruit and retain talent due to a steep drop in mining engineering enrolments, a challenging public perception, and the remote nature of many work environments.
McKinsey, "Has mining lost its luster? Why talent is moving elsewhere and how to bring them back," McKinsey (blog), February 14, 2023, https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/metals-and-mining/our-insights/has-mining-lost-its-luster-why-talent-is-moving-elsewhere-and-how-to-bring-them-back.
The challenges facing the modern mining industry, with its fundamental starting point at exploration, are significant, but they are not insurmountable. By strategically partnering with VBKOM, you can transform these obstacles into opportunities for growth and success. Our agile structure, combined with deep technical expertise and a commitment to providing robust, reliable data, empowers you to confidently navigate geopolitical risks, meet demanding ESG standards, and secure the vital capital needed for your projects. We are strategically positioned to help you identify new resources and optimize existing assets, ensuring your project's longevity and profitability. In a world where every decision matters, let VBKOM be the strategic partner that helps you build a strong foundation for your next great discovery.
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