Episodios

  • Navigating the Gold Rush: Cobus Loots on Pan African Resources' Journey to a $2 Billion Market Cap

    Navigating the Gold Rush: Cobus Loots on Pan African Resources' Journey to a $2 Billion Market Cap
    Sep 15 2025
    In today’s episode, we're joined by Cobus Loots, CEO of Pan African Resources, a company that has grown into a multi-asset, mid-tier gold producer with a market cap of over two billion dollars. Under Cobus’ leadership, Pan African has built a strong reputation for operational excellence, innovation in tailings retreatment, and a forward-looking approach to sustainability and energy security. We’ll be exploring the company’s journey from its roots to where it is today, its recent move to the Main Board, and its strategy for growth both in South Africa and abroad. We’ll also discuss Pan African’s financial performance, its view on the gold market, and how it envisions the future of mining in southern Africa. KEY TAKEAWAYS Pan African Resources has successfully grown into a multi-asset, mid-tier gold producer with a market cap exceeding $2 billion, primarily through strategic acquisitions and operational excellence. The company has differentiated itself by focusing on tailings retreatment, turning historic waste dumps into profitable operations. This approach not only generates low-cost gold but also addresses environmental liabilities. Pan African is committed to energy security and sustainability, having implemented large-scale solar projects that significantly reduce production costs and emissions. The goal is to source over 50% of energy requirements from renewables in the next few years. The company reported a record year with a 6% increase in gold production and significant earnings growth. It is now fully unhedged, allowing shareholders to benefit from the rising gold prices. BEST MOMENTS "We always say that you're actually turning liabilities into profits. Without the expertise, without the capital, these would only be liabilities." “We were the first South African miner to commission a large-scale solar plant at Evander. It makes financial sense and brings down our cost of production." "The opportunity came across our desk, and the geological merits certainly stacked up. We took almost a year to make an investment decision." "The world seems an uncertain place at this point, and the geopolitical situation is obviously driving gold price." 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 SOCIALS https://www.linkedin.com/company/pan-african-resources-plc/ https://x.com/PanAfricanPLC 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/
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    24 m
  • Transforming Waste into Wealth: Ryan Mee on Fulcrum Metals' Innovative Tailings Processing Strategy

    Transforming Waste into Wealth: Ryan Mee on Fulcrum Metals' Innovative Tailings Processing Strategy
    Sep 11 2025
    In this episode, we chat with Ryan Mee, CEO of Fulcrum Metals, who is an exploration company but has since repositioned itself as a tailings processor, an evolution summed up by its strapline: turning waste into gold. In our conversation, Ryan shares how Fulcrum is seizing this opportunity, not only to unlock value from historic mine waste but also to deliver real environmental and ESG benefits through remediation. We’ll explore the company’s projects in Canada, the opportunities and challenges of operating there, its partnership with Extrakt (extract) and their unique processing technology, and where Ryan sees the future of tailings reprocessing, whether as a niche or a mainstream part of the mining industry. Finally, we’ll touch on what milestones investors and industry watchers should be looking out for as Fulcrum builds momentum in this exciting space. KEY TAKEAWAYS The company has partnered with Extract, utilising their cyanide-free processing technology, which has demonstrated high recovery rates and quick leach times, significantly improving the efficiency of tailings reprocessing. Fulcrum's strategy emphasises environmental remediation by reprocessing tailings, which not only recovers valuable minerals but also helps restore local ecosystems that have been affected by historical mining practices. The company has prioritised building relationships with local communities, including First Nations groups, to secure support for its projects and ensure a social license to operate. With increasing demand for critical minerals and a supportive regulatory environment in Canada, Fulcrum sees significant potential for tailings reprocessing to become a mainstream part of the mining industry BEST MOMENTS "We want to get into a production scenario... tailings, it's already mined material and it's sat at surface. We could literally walk onto the property and understand the properties of the asset a lot quicker." "This is real ESG in practice. It's new, innovative technologies... and you don't know what you're finding in those tailings because no one's ever tested those tailings for anything other than gold before." "We're not creating any more practices which are detrimental to the environment, but actually will help restore the environment. I see it as a bit of a no-brainer." "We're entering a really exciting time for Fulcrum... we've got a huge six months ahead of us, really excited, a lot of really important work and milestones that are going on for the company." 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 SOCIALS ● Social Media Links ○ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/fulcrum-metals-plc/posts/?feedView=all ○ X - https://x.com/fulcrummetals?lang=en ● Website: https://fulcrummetals.com/ ● Email addresses ○ Investors: fulcrummetals@stbridespartners.co.uk ○ General Enquires: rmee@fulcrummetals.com 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/
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    33 m
  • Transforming Gold and Copper Mining: Paul Bennett on Medallion Metals' Vision for Ravensthorpe

    Transforming Gold and Copper Mining: Paul Bennett on Medallion Metals' Vision for Ravensthorpe
    Sep 8 2025
    In this episode, we chat with Paul Bennett, Managing Director of Medallion Metals, who are on a pathway to transforming the landscape for gold and copper mining in Western Australia with its flagship Ravensthorpe Gold Project. They have been making headlines with a major upgrade at Ravensthorpe, a feasibility study on the horizon, and a transformational deal to acquire the Forrestania operation. We’ll be talking with Paul about how the upgraded resource reshapes the mine plan, the path to a final investment decision, and how existing infrastructure at Forrestania could accelerate the company’s journey to production. KEY TAKEAWAYS Medallion Metals is a pre-production gold and copper producer in Western Australia, with a market capitalization of approximately $230 million and $25 million in cash reserves. The company is focused on advancing its flagship Ravensthorpe Gold Project and aims to produce 70,000 to 80,000 ounces of gold per annum. The recent upgrade of the sulfide resource to nearly one million ounces has reshaped Medallion's development strategy, allowing for a more focused approach on the underground sulfide component A feasibility study is expected to be completed by the end of October, with key work streams including mining study optimisations and metallurgical test work BEST MOMENTS "The Sulfide Development Strategy has been transformational... it’s all about compressing time, compressing capital to get to first production." "We expect that mine life will continue from there... we’ve unlocked the code now and we're getting closer and closer to production." "The cash balance is well and truly funds us through to final investment decision... we’re really well placed in that sense." "We think there's a lot of upside... the deposit's relatively shallowly drilled. It's only drilled to an average depth of 100 metres." 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 SOCIALS X: https://x.com/MM8_Medallion Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/medallion-metals-limited/ Website: https://medallionmetals.com.au/ Contact: info@medallionmetals.com.au 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/
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    29 m
  • Critical Minerals and Energy Transition: How Boron Plays a Key Role in the U.S. Supply Chain

    Critical Minerals and Energy Transition: How Boron Plays a Key Role in the U.S. Supply Chain
    Sep 4 2025
    In this episode, we speak to Paul Weibel, CEO of 5E Advanced Materials, the company advancing the Fort Cady boron project in California. We’ll explore Paul’s path into mining and the leadership lessons he’s carried to the C-suite; get a clear update on Fort Cady’s status and key takeaways from the recent Preliminary Feasibility Study; and dig into why boron matters, its market size, the industries driving demand, and what that means for U.S. supply. KEY TAKEAWAYS 5E Advanced Materials focuses on boron extraction from a unique culminate deposit in California, which is the only one of its kind in the U.S. The company has been mining at a pilot scale for 20 months and is preparing for commercial production. Boron is critical for various applications, including glass production, ceramics, and advanced materials like boron carbide used in armour. The market for boron is expected to grow at an average rate of 5-6% annually The company is pursuing project debt financing as a primary means to fund its operations, targeting a $285 million facility from the U.S. Export-Import Bank The U.S. boron supply chain faces challenges due to tariffs and geopolitical dynamics, which have affected pricing and availability BEST MOMENTS "Boron is the fifth element on the periodic table. It has very unique chemical properties... it basically is critical to life as we know it." "This market is growing... on a weighted average basis, that market's growing at about 8%. This diversification is a bit of an insulator to low growth." "There's a ton of upside in this market. It's an oligopoly structure... the second largest producer is not around forever. They have a very defined mine life." "We want to get that agency debt... the USGS critical mineral list is basically the main policy form that gets cheaper agency financing available." 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 SOCIALS Ph # - +1 442-221-0225 Email - hello@5eadvancedmaterials.com https://x.com/5EAMaterials https://www.facebook.com/5EAdvancedMaterialsInc/ https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLtaY2C7EDECuT_RRqDC-pIVcqcKO1tAQd https://www.5eadvancedmaterials.com/⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/5e-advanced-materials-inc 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/
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    36 m
  • McLaren's Innovative Solutions for Environmental and Community Engagement

    McLaren's Innovative Solutions for Environmental and Community Engagement
    Aug 28 2025
    In this episode, we chat to Simon Finnis, Managing Director of McLaren Minerals, a company that’s been making waves in the critical minerals space since its recent listing. McLaren is advancing its titanium project in Western Australia, a region well known for its supportive mining environment. Titanium isn’t always the first mineral that comes to mind in conversations around critical resources, but its applications and strategic importance are growing rapidly. With McLaren positioned right in the middle of that evolution, Simon is here to share insights into the company’s progress, the broader titanium market, and how technology, community engagement, and smart strategy are shaping their journey. KEY TAKEAWAYS While titanium is not often the first mineral associated with critical resources, its applications in industries such as aerospace, medical, and pigments for paints are expanding rapidly, highlighting its strategic significance in the market. McLaren Minerals is advancing a sulphate ilmenite project in Western Australia, with a substantial inferred resource of 280 million tonnes at a grade of 4.8% heavy mineral. The market for sulphate ilmenite has seen a significant price increase, from $75-$85 per ton to $320-$350 per ton, driven by demand from smelters in the Middle East and China, which utilise the product for both titanium and iron production. McLaren is committed to conducting thorough environmental studies and community engagement as part of the permitting process BEST MOMENTS "Titanium metal is light, it's non-corrosive, so it's fantastic for replacement of body parts, but it's also fantastic for aerospace and other applications where you need light, strong metal." "The current market for sulphate ilmenite is between $320 and $350 a ton, so it's a huge change." "If your head grade of your mineral sand is say 6% and you take 25% slimes out, the grade of your ore going into your plant increases." "You've actually just got to do the work. You can't not do the test work that we've done and then expect things to work." 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/
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    30 m
  • Exploring MetWave Green and Black Tokens in the Mining Industry

    Exploring MetWave Green and Black Tokens in the Mining Industry
    Aug 25 2025
    In this episode, we chat with Dave Mitchell and David Van Kleeck of PJKT72, who are transforming the mining industry through blockchain tokenization and redefining resource ownership through blockchain tokenization. We’re diving into a conversation at the intersection of blockchain and the natural world where two pioneers are aiming to reshape how we value, protect, and access the planet’s raw materials. We discuss: What inspired the creation of MetWave — and how it’s targeting real-world problems in mining and energy. The difference between MetWave Green and MetWave Black — and how this dual-token model could transform environmental protection and investment. What it really means to tokenize coal in situ — and why that’s fundamentally different from traditional resource ownership. And whether this model could extend to other critical materials like lithium, rare earths, or even natural gas. KEY TAKEAWAYS The MetWave Green token provides a mechanism for environmental protection by allowing stakeholders to invest in keeping coal in the ground The use of blockchain technology and smart contracts enables verifiable and instantaneous transactions, improving traceability and efficiency in the coal supply chain While the current focus is on coal, the tokenisation model has the potential to be applied to other natural resources, such as graphite, graphene, and possibly rare earth elements BEST MOMENTS "The green token is an opportunity to leave the coal in place, providing a voice that hasn't existed before in how carbon is emitted into the atmosphere." "By tokenising it, what it's doing is opening up opportunities that had not been available to both public and private investors." "The smart contracts in the blockchain would enforce that, providing a transparent, permanent record of the transactions that are done." 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 SOCIALS Website: https://www.pjkt72.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pjkt72/ X: https://x.com/72pjkt 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/
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    23 m
  • Navigating Competitive Copper Acquisitions - with Artem Volynets

    Navigating Competitive Copper Acquisitions - with Artem Volynets
    Aug 21 2025
    In this episode, we chat with Artem Volynets, Founder, Chairman and CEO of ACG Metals Ltd whose vision is to consolidate the copper industry through a series of roll-up acquisitions targeting copper producers with best-in-class environmental, social, and governance (ESG) characteristics. Artem’s career spans major leadership roles across the international mining sector, from steering large-scale M&A to developing assets in complex jurisdictions. Under his leadership, ACG Metals has been building a portfolio that blends strategic acquisitions with disciplined project execution. In this conversation, we’ll dig into how Artem navigates competitive copper acquisitions without overpaying, approaches technical challenges with fresh thinking, and adapts plans based on community input. We’ll also hear his take on jurisdictional surprises, the realities of operating in high-inflation environments, and the strategic moves he believes will set ACG Metals apart in the years ahead. KEY TAKEAWAYS ACG Metals is a relatively new player in the mining sector, having achieved substantial milestones within its first year ACG Metals differentiates itself in a competitive market by avoiding traditional auction processes and leveraging a strong network for deal sourcing. The company focuses on creating value through innovative transaction structures that include cash, shares, and milestone payments, fostering partnerships with sellers. ACG Metals' proactive approach has helped the company integrate into the local fabric, contributing to job creation and local budgets, which mitigates potential conflicts. BEST MOMENTS "We don't get our investment ideas from investment banks. We have a relatively large network of connections where we can source the deal ideas." "I like to think of mining assets as a big cash printing machine, and that gets me excited as a CEO of a public company." "The biggest risk in Turkey is to your waistline. The food is too good. Otherwise, I don't see any other operating risks." 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 SOCIALS https://acgmetals.com/ https://x.com/ACGMetals https://www.linkedin.com/company/acgmetals/ https://www.youtube.com/@ACGMetals 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/
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    34 m
  • From Downtime to Uptime: How DataMind AI is Transforming the Mining Industry

    From Downtime to Uptime: How DataMind AI is Transforming the Mining Industry
    Aug 18 2025
    In this episode, we chat with Michael Zolotov, co-founder and CTO of Razor Labs, who are a leading mining technology provider that delivers advanced predictive maintenance with its flagship product, DataMind AI™️. Razor Labs’ AI Sensor Fusion technology provides real-time condition monitoring, root cause analysis, and prescriptive actions to prevent failures before they happen. Michael’s a serial entrepreneur, an expert in AI, radar, and advanced analytics. He’s built and led companies through IPOs and acquisitions, and helped scale Razor Labs globally. Most importantly, he pioneered AI Sensor fusion in mining and he’s on the podcast today to discuss Razor Labs’ origins, how DataMind AI uses Sensor Fusion to cut costly mining downtime through real-time monitoring, examples of fast ROI, its impact on maintenance practices, the transition to trusted AI systems, and future directions for AI in mining. KEY TAKEAWAYS Unplanned downtime in mining can lead to significant financial losses, often amounting to hundreds of thousands of dollars per failure. The use of sensor fusion, akin to how doctors diagnose illnesses using multiple data sources, allows DataMind AI to identify failures that traditional sensors might miss. Clients have reported rapid returns on investment, with some achieving full payback within three months of implementing DataMind AI. This is largely due to the prevention of costly failures and reduced maintenance expenses. The transition to AI-driven systems in mining requires building trust among teams. DataMind AI provides evidence-based diagnostics, allowing maintenance teams to understand the rationale behind recommendations BEST MOMENTS "We identified the mining sector as a very high potential for AI disruption... essentially like an automated doctor for machines." "The uniqueness here is that it was a bootstrap company, and we actually reinvested the profits into the R&D of that product." "Traditional AI systems are black box... you cannot trust the model." "By monitoring continuously, you make sure that no matter whether it's deteriorating over three weeks or two weeks, you will be able to capture it." 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 SOCIALS Website: https://www.razor-labs.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/razor-technologies-inc/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RazorLabsAI 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/
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    35 m