Time For Mining Industry To Take Action

Time For Mining Industry To Take Action

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In the wake of commodity prices beginning to show signs of recovery in 2016, mining companies globally have taken steps to strengthen their balance sheets, building a plat­ form from which to take decisive action for the future, says multi­ national professional services provider PwC Africa energy, util­ities and mining industry leader Michal Kotzé.

The 2017 Joburg Indaba, held at the Inanda Club, in Sandton, Johannesburg, from October 4 to 5, will provide an ideal opportunity for South African industry players to con­ sider their next move, with PwC highlighting its potential to assist in this endeavour as the lead sponsor of the event.

According to PwC’s ‘Mine 2017’ report, the world’s top 40 miners recovered from a race to the bottom, with the drive to tail off impairments and avoid any new bankruptcies, together with the absence of any significant streaming transactions reinstat­ ing a positive gap between mar­ ket caps and net book values that were absent in 2015.

The company notes that a return to profitability in 2016 has given many miners the much­ needed space to start planning their next move.

“The narrative of the top 40 in 2016 tends to read like a mine site safety mantra: Stop. Think. Act.

“The industry has moved out of danger, but 2016 was not a year of significant action and we now wait to see who will be bold and step out beyond the fluctu­ating market confidence. While many will be willing to ride the waves of industry sentiment, others will see the conditions as ripe for value­accretive moves, with market differentiation their immediate goal,” says Kotzé.