Building a Legacy: Elvis Kamba on How Mark Bristow and Randgold Resources Redefined Mining in Africa
Dig Deep
Why the merger was 'the merger of the century'
Elvis describes the Barrick–Randgold deal's scale and how Randgold's management effectively took leadership of Barrick.
In today's episode, we're joined by Elvis Kamba, author of the new book on Mark Bristow and the extraordinary rise of Randgold Resources. Elvis worked inside Randgold and later Barrick under Bristow’s leadership, giving him a unique front-row perspective on one of the most influential mining stories of the last 30 years.
In this conversation, we explore what inspired him to capture the Randgold journey, how Bristow’s leadership philosophy shaped the company, and what made Randgold’s approach to Africa so different from everyone else. We’ll dive into the pivotal moments from Morila, the “company maker,” to the hard lessons of Syama, the engineering triumph of Kibali, and ultimately the “merger of the century” with Barrick.
Elvis also reflects on Randgold’s culture, its ability to build elite teams, its relationships with governments and communities, and the broader message he wants the industry and young professionals to take from his book.
It’s a rare, insider look at one of mining’s most remarkable success stories
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Unlike many mining companies that view Africa primarily as a source of resources, there were opportunities for investment and community development
- The challenges faced at Syama Gold Mine served as a crucible for Randgold, leading to the development of better project selection frameworks and enhanced environmental and social capabilities, ultimately strengthening the company's operational discipline.
- Morila was pivotal for Randgold, transforming it from a small exploration company into a globally respected producer by generating significant cash flows that funded further expansion and exploration.
- The final chapter of the book emphasises the positive contributions of mining to society, advocating for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach while highlighting the industry's role in technological advancements and community development
BEST MOMENTS
“Mark Bristow is a leader that represents one of the most transformational leadership... He had an inherent interest for the country and the people that were in the places where he did the business."
"Morila was Randgold's first world-class deposit... It transformed what was known as a small exploration company into a globally respected producer."
"Syama was like a crucible where Randgold's ability to manage future mines was forged... They developed a smarter project selection framework, which they popularly called our filters
GUEST RESOURCES
www.linkedin.com/in/elvis-kamba-8897b236
Amazon Link to Book: https://bit.ly/3YhqKzA
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Mail: rob@mining-international.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/
X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast
Web: http://www.mining-international.org
CONTACT METHOD
rob@mining-international.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/
Podcast Description
Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/
The AI-powered Podcast Player
