In this episode, we chat to Sonia Scarselli, VP of BHP Metal Exploration and BHP Xplor, which is a global accelerator program targeting innovative, early-stage mineral exploration companies to find the critical resources necessary to drive the energy transition. Sonia is a highly experienced geologist having worked in both the oil and gas and mining industries and has been with BHP for over a decade and talks to us about the global exploration market, BHP Xplor program, and BHP's exploration focus plus a lot more around the junior mining space in these difficult times. Sonia is going to be attending Europe’s largest mining event, Resourcing Tomorrow, (Formerly known as Mines and Money London,) which is taking place in London on the 28-30 November, a great platform for the entire mining value chain, fostering learning, lively debates, and providing valuable networking opportunities. Register NOW by going to www.resourcingtomorrow.com/register to receive a discount on tickets using the code DIGDEEP10. KEY TAKEAWAYS The BHP Xplor program is an accelerator program targeting innovative early-stage mineral exploration companies to find critical resources for the energy transition. The future of mineral exploration is influenced by the electrification and energy transition, which increases the demand for mineral resources, especially critical minerals like copper and nickel. Partnerships and collaborations are crucial in the exploration industry, both with peers and junior mining companies, to unlock larger regions of potential and accelerate resource discovery. The BHP Xplor program provides selected companies with mentorship, technical guidance, and support in areas such as business, finance, operations, HSE, stakeholder engagement, and vendor connections. BEST MOMENTS "We need at least three times the amount of copper that we're using today by 2030." "We want them to come out of the program with the best chance to raise the capital they need."  "There is a need for partnership and collaboration with large enterprises like ourselves, with some of our peers."  "We have been learning a lot from that space, especially on running the business in a more agile and nimble way."  VALUABLE RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/company/bhp/  https://www.instagram.com/inside_bhp/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonia-scarselli-vp/  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 ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. 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

In this episode we chat to Segun Lawson, CEO at Thor Explorations, a West African focussed gold producer listed on both the TSX Venture Exchange and AIM Markets with the company’s flagship project is their gold producing Segilola Gold Project in Nigeria, with 2 other projects in Senegal and Burkina Faso. Segun is a geologist by background who also worked in Corporate Finance before taking the helm at Thor over 12 years ago and talks about his Thor Explorations journey, what they have achieved to date, their current operation and the outlook of the company. Segun is going to be attending Europe’s largest mining event, Resourcing Tomorrow, (Formerly known as Mines and Money London,) which is taking place in London on the 28-30 November, a great platform for the entire mining value chain, fostering learning, lively debates, and providing valuable networking opportunities. Register NOW by going to www.resourcingtomorrow.com/register to receive a discount on tickets using the code DIGDEEP10. So go and get your tickets TODAY KEY TAKEAWAYS Thor Exploration is a West African focused gold producer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and AIM, with its flagship project being the Segi Lola gold project in Nigeria. The company has achieved significant milestones, including drilling out resources, completing feasibility studies, and successfully building and operating its first gold mine in Nigeria. Thor Exploration is committed to environmental sustainability and employs measures to minimise its environmental impact, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and implementing responsible mining practices. The company prioritises community engagement and social responsibility, implementing projects that benefit the local communities, including scholarships, employment opportunities, road building, and cooperative projects in agriculture and fish farming. BEST MOMENTS "We hope to be a multi-mine company in the next five years." "We know the prospectivity of lithium in Nigeria, and we think we're very well positioned to capitalise on it." "We've seen an influx of companies, local oil and gas companies diversify into early stage exploration." "We think the next six to 12 months are pretty exciting for the company." VALUABLE RESOURCES LinkedIn: Thor Explorations Ltd Twitter: @ThorExpl_THX Website: Thor Explorations   Dig Deep – The Mining Podcast on iTunes       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 ABOUT THE HOST Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace. 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

In this episode we have a returning guest who appeared back in July 2020 (Episode 89) so please go and watch that episode as well. Paul Atherley, Chairman of Pensana Rare Earth, is a LSE listed exploration company soon to be bringing into production one of the world's largest and higher grade rare earth projects to bring minerals used in power magnets, wind turbines, hybrid motor vehicles and much more. In addition, they are establishing the world’s first independent and sustainable rare earth processing hub at the Saltend Chemicals Park in the Humber Freeport. Paul is a highly experienced senior resources executive with wide ranging international and capital markets experience. A mine engineer by trade, he is the founding Director of Pensana and gives us an update on what the company has achieved since we last spoke, the current activities and what the outlook of the company is moving forward. Paul is going to be attending Europe’s largest mining event, Resourcing Tomorrow, (Formerly known as Mines and Money London,) which is taking place in London on the 28-30 November, a great platform for the entire mining value chain, fostering learning, lively debates, and providing valuable networking opportunities. Register NOW by going to www.resourcingtomorrow.com/register to receive a discount on tickets using the code DIGDEEP10. So go and get your tickets TODAY KEY TAKEAWAYS Pensana Rare Earths is a mining company focused on bringing rare earth projects into production, particularly for minerals used in power magnets, wind turbines, and hybrid motor vehicles. The company is establishing the world's first independent and sustainable rare earths processing hub at the Saltend Chemicals Park in Humber Freeport, UK. Pensana has successfully secured financing for its Longonjo rare earth mine in Angola, with $200 million in debt from ABSA Bank and $80 million in equity from the Angolan Sovereign Wealth Fund and another undisclosed investor. The company plans to start construction on the Longonjo mine in the first quarter of next year and aims to be in production by the end of 2025 or early 2026. BEST MOMENTS "We've announced today our financing of Longonjo which is the big mine and then some indication of the framework of the financing for our SALTM project."  "The challenge for us was we were trying to raise 550 million US dollars to build a mine in Angola and a rare earth processing facility... So we've separated the two projects." "We're very fortunate that FSDA has provided us with some initial $15 million loan against the $80 million of equity they're looking to put in." "We'll be building the world's largest undeveloped rare earth mine in Angola... So it may well be that we actually have two financings done and two projects under construction." 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 Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.

Ross Bhappu, Partner and Head of Private Equity Mature Funds at Resource Capital Funds, brings over 25 years of expertise in mining investment. He discusses the need to change public perception of the mining industry and shares insights on the rising demand for critical minerals driven by the energy transition. Bhappu also highlights career pathways into mining private equity and the importance of realistic project assessments. His anecdotes reveal the dynamic nature of the sector and the strategies to attract investments while emphasizing responsible practices.

In this episode we chat to Peter Arkell, MD of Carrington Day who are a consulting company that assists international companies doing business in China and Chinese companies to go abroad. Peter is a prominent member of the mining sector in China, being the Chairman of the Global Mining Association of China (GMAC), the international mining community’s peak representative body, and founding Chairman of the Oriental Mining Club. Peter is also a Member of the Melbourne Mining Club International Advisory Board. We talk about the Chinese mining industry, what is actually happening in the Chinese economy, not what we just her in the media and what the outlook is for the country. Peter is going to be attending Europe’s largest mining event, Resourcing Tomorrow, (Formerly known as Mines and Money London,) which is taking place in London on the 28-30 November, a great platform for the entire mining value chain, fostering learning, lively debates, and providing valuable networking opportunities. Register NOW by going to www.resourcingtomorrow.com/register to receive a discount on current early bird prices using the code DIGDEEP10.        KEY TAKEAWAYS  China has a significant domestic mining industry, including gold, iron ore, copper, rare earths, lithium, and coal production. The Global Mining Association of China (GMAC) represents the international mining community in China and promotes collaboration between Chinese and international mining companies. Chinese mining companies have been actively investing in international projects and forming partnerships with Western mining companies, such as the collaboration between Rio Tinto, Chinalco, and Baosteel in the development of the Simandou project. The Chinese economy is currently facing challenges in the property market and consumer demand, but it is still projected to achieve 5% growth this year. BEST MOMENTS "China emerged in the industry, in the global industry, at the time which became known as the mining boom, going back to early 2000s, when China decided that it couldn't provide for itself from its own domestic mining that it needed to get resources from abroad."  "Mining is the solution. We need to be able to show that the mining industry is a big part of the solution. It's not the problem itself."  "China will continue to be a customer and Chinese demand will continue to be important for the industry. But China is also an investor. It's also a miner itself, an international miner."  "The mining industry is a great place to be, it's a great place to work. You and I helped to find talent to work in it. It's always a privilege." 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 Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.

In this episode we chat to David Awram, Senior Executive Vice President and Director of Sandstorm Gold, a royalty and streaming company focused in the precious metals space David Co-founded Sandstorm Gold back in 2008 and has been instrumental in growing the company from a start-up to a leading mid-tier royalty company. David has been involved in billions of dollars worth of royalty financings and has evaluated hundreds of resource projects, including on-site due diligence at mines all over the world.  Today we are going to speak about how the company has developed and what they have been up to more recently. David is going to be attending Europe’s largest mining event, Resourcing Tomorrow, (Formerly known as Mines and Money London,) which is taking place in London on the 28th-30th of November, a great platform for the entire mining value chain, fostering learning, lively debates, and providing valuable networking opportunities. So get your tickets by going to: www.resourcingtomorrow.com/register to receive a discount on current early bird prices using the code DIGDEEP10 KEY TAKEAWAYS Sandstorm Gold is a royalty and streaming company focused on the precious metal space, with a strong belief in the value of owning royalties and streams. The company has a diverse portfolio of over 250 royalties and streams, with 40 cash-flowing assets and a focus on projects with long-term growth potential. Investing in a royalty company like Sandstorm Gold offers the benefits of exploration upside, expansion potential, and commodity price upside without the risks associated with owning a mining company. The mining industry is currently facing a lack of capital and outside investment, but the long-term demand for commodities like copper and gold suggests that this situation may change in the future. BEST MOMENTS "We have a real strong belief that there's a lot of great aspects of owning royalties and streams, of course, being attached to assets without having to spend the capex." "For a royalty streaming company, if you see the commodity price go up or margins go up, you can be guaranteed that as an owner, as a shareholder of it. It really is that much more protected and easy to understand model for investors looking into the space."  "The fact that nobody in the greater investment world has really taken that seriously or looked at that is really astounding. And so at some point, though, that really that problem has to come home to roost." "We've been accumulating bits and pieces of projects that we believe eventually are really going to get there. Now, of all 250 of our projects, or how many of them are going to be up and producing 10 years from now? Well, it's certainly not going to be all 250." 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 Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.

In this episode we chat to Lisa Ali, Chief People Officer at AngloGold Ashanti who are an independent, global gold mining company with a diverse, high-quality portfolio of operations, projects and exploration activities across nine countries on four continents. Lisa has over 30 years experience in the extractive industries in mining and oil & gas working for the likes of BP and Newcrest in an executive HR capacity. Lisa discusses the skills short in our industry, something I also echo and is going to dig deeper into this subject and hopefully provide some ideas and solutions as to how we can improve this within our industry. Lisa is going to be attending Europe’s largest mining event, Resourcing Tomorrow, (Formerly known as Mines and Money London,) which is taking place in London on the 28-30 November, a great platform for the entire mining value chain, fostering learning, lively debates, and providing valuable networking opportunities. Register NOW by heading to www.resourcingtomorrow.com/register to receive a discount on current early bird prices using the code DIGDEEP10.         So book your ticket NOW KEY TAKEAWAYS The mining industry is facing a significant skill shortage, with a growing demand for metals and minerals but a limited supply of skilled workers. The industry needs to actively promote its value proposition, including its commitment to sustainability, technological advancements, and positive contributions to local economies and communities. Closing the gender gap in the mining industry is crucial, as women are underrepresented in the workforce. Efforts should be made to attract more women to STEM careers and create a safe and inclusive work environment. Collaboration and partnerships among industry players are necessary to address the skills gap. This includes working with universities to develop programs that meet industry needs and providing opportunities for on-the-job learning. BEST MOMENTS "We've not done ourselves any favours as an industry… We have a very strong value proposition as an industry."  "We have seen a jump in enrolment of females into STEM disciplines… So those excuses don't hold."  "Be very systematic… actively go after the opportunities that will give you the on-the-job experience to build those skills."  "We've always looked for the one silver bullet… You have to go at this with a number of parallel levers all at the same time."  "We actually have to demonstrate that this is one of the best industries to be in… It provides such an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others going forward."  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 Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.

Mark Cutifani, Chairman of Vale Base Metals and former CEO of Anglo American, shares his insights on the urgent need for the mining industry to improve its image. He emphasizes the critical role mining plays in the energy transition, providing vital materials for renewable energy. Cutifani discusses the challenges faced by junior mining companies in securing essential minerals and advocates for collaboration between governments, communities, and mining firms. He also reflects on the importance of mentorship and innovative practices for sustainable business leadership.

In this episode, we chat to Ian Stalker, Executive Chairman of Bradda Head Lithium, a multi-listed junior exploration and development of World Class Lithium Deposits and Resources in Nevada and Arizona in the USA. Their projects include brine, hard rock and clay deposits, and they aim to be a leader of Lithium to the local domestic market. Ian has a wealth of experience building companies and mines across the world and holds a number of directorships, we chat with Ian about the Bradda Head Lithium story, their strong management team who have a proven track record, an update on the current projects and what they are looking to achieve in the Lithium, battery and critical mineral space in the US. KEY TAKEAWAYS Bradda Head Lithium is a multi-listed junior exploration and development company focused on world-class lithium deposits in Nevada and Arizona in the US. The company has a diverse portfolio of lithium mineralization, including brine, hard rock, and clay deposits, positioning it to be a leader in the local domestic lithium market. Bradda Head recently announced a resource update, revealing over a million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent in the clays, with the potential for further growth. The company is also actively exploring pegmatite deposits in San Domingo, with initial drilling results showing encouraging signs of mineralization. BEST MOMENTS "We've got the right package of material. We've got the right team of people working on it." "America genuinely wants its own lithium supply… They really want their own independence to a level."  "We are not discouraged with what we're seeing on the ground… We like what we see."  "We're feeling pretty healthy and bright ahead… We're feeling good." 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 GUEST: Email: info@braddaheadltd.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bradda-head/ X: https://twitter.com/BraddaLithium Newsletter: https://www.braddaheadltd.com/mailer Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace

In this podcast episode, we chat with Andreas Steckenborn, COO of Borealis Mining Company, a privately owned gold company who have a project located within the Walker Lane Gold Belt in Nevada, US. Andreas, who is an active listener of the show is going to tell us more about the Borealis project, their plans with the drilling program, and what they’re looking to achieve. We also discuss how we should connect with the next generation of engineers, geologists, and other mining graduates who are entering our industry. KEY TAKEAWAYS Borealis Mining Company is a privately owned gold company with a project located in the Walker Lane gold belt of Nevada in the US. The company has a history of mining in the area and has produced 650,000 ounces of gold since the 1980s. Borealis is located in one of the largest epithermal alteration zones in Nevada, which provides the potential for a large-scale mineable deposit. The company is currently conducting a 7,500-meter drill program to further build the resource and explore new prospects on site. BEST MOMENTS "We're starting a drill program. It's going to be the biggest drill program that's taken place at the mine since 2006."  "I think precious metals has a value from an ethical perspective in that people work very hard to earn their money to make a living."  "Living those values, both on the why of what you do and also the how you do it."  "We have a permitted project, as I said, we have a plant, and I think we have very good potential and a great outlook to bring this mine back into production in the 2024 period." VALUABLE RESOURCES Email:     asteckenborn@borealismining.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/steckmining 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 Rob Tyson is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specialising in all areas of mining across the globe from first-world to third-world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our clients' organisations in any mining discipline or level. Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.