Has West Africa Become ‘Un-Investable’?
February 17th, 2025
Via The Assay, a look at whether West Africa has become uninvestable: Despite gold being among the best-performing asset classes in 2024, the gold equity exchange-traded funds (ETFs), for major precious metal producers, (GDXJ +13% and GDX +9%) did not deliver the expected leverage. Among a peer group of 17 gold mining companies, IAMGold Corp. […]
Read more »The Brains Behind Mali’s Mining Shakeup
February 7th, 2025
Via The Africa Report, commentary on who is behind Mali’s mining shakeup: A former employee of Randgold and co-founder of the consultancy Iventus Mining, Mamou Touré plays a key role in renegotiating Mali’s mining contracts. This go-between is at the centre of a stand-off pitting his country against multinationals – Barrick Gold chief among them. […]
Read more »Tax Hikes and Tension: Battle Over West Africa’s Mining Wealth
February 3rd, 2025
Via The Africa Report, a look at how – across the West African Economic and Monetary Union – governments are tightening mining regulations to boost revenue for development. But as Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso push reforms, investor confidence and regulatory stability are at risk. Fiscal and legislative reforms are sweeping through the mining […]
Read more »Despite Barrick’s Woes, Miners Unlikely To Quit The Sahel
January 15th, 2025
Via The Africa Report, a report on why – despite Barrick’s woes – miners are unlikely to quit the Sahel: The Mali junta is seizing control over its mineral wealth, perhaps freeing up cash to spend on Russian mercenaries. But how much more are mining companies willing to take? Mining company Barrick Gold has suspended […]
Read more »Mali to Get $1.2 Billion From Miners After Talks
January 11th, 2025
Via Bloomberg, a report on Mali’s mining sector: Cash-strapped junta brought miners to the negotiating table Miners had already paid 500 billion CFA francs by December Mali is set to get 750 billion CFA francs ($1.2 billion) from miners in the first quarter this year following an overhaul of its mining sector. In late December, […]
Read more »Global Mining’s Dangerous New Reality: Guns, Hostages, Arrests
January 6th, 2025
Via the Wall Street Journal, a report on how – with the U.S. and China intensifying demand for critical metals and minerals – host countries are making hostile plays for more of the profits: Neil Warburton was finishing up his breakfast of porridge and local honey when the armed soldiers converged. The Australian veteran mining executive […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.