Mining Investment North America Conference: Notes from the Floor

The two-day Mining Investment North America conference just wrapped up in Toronto after running from Thursday (June 14) to Friday (June 15).

The Investing News Network (INN) editorial team kept busy engaging with companies, attending panel discussions and of course interviewing industry experts.

Below we’ve put together some highlights from the conference. Scroll on to read more about what happened on the floor.

Mining Investment North America conference: Day 1

The first day brought panels and presentations from experts discussing economic and political trends, as well as gold and precious metals and the outlook for commodities. North America’s role as a mining investment frontier and leader in stakeholder engagement was recognized by participants.

We are here at the Mining Investment North America conference in Toronto pic.twitter.com/lCamIn3hTW

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

The day kicked off with a discussion of the challenges the gold-mining sector is currently facing in terms of securing exploration investment.

Opening keynote panel is discussing the challenges faced by the gold mining sector in relation to securing exploration investment. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmetica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

“A big discovery could spur excitement in the gold sector,” Christina McCarthy, director corporate development McEwen Mining Inc.

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

Next, INN sat down with Drew Clark, vice president, corporate development at Metalla Royalty and Streaming (TSXV:MTA), to discuss his company and the landscape for royalty/streaming deals.

The second presentation of the day included Andrew Cosgrove, head of metals and mining at Bloomberg. Cosgrove discussed the current copper bull market.

Andrew Cosgrove, head of metals and mining at Bloomberg is now presenting on the copper bull market. According to him the disruptions that were forecast haven’t materialized. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

Cosgrove believes Peru and Chile will play key role in future copper supply. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica pic.twitter.com/3O3VFiuIrA

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

Bloomberg’s models indicate copper demand could average 2.7 percent through 2030. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

Increased copper demand will be a result of emergence of new/green energy trends. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

After Cosgrove’s presentation, a panel on the role gold and precious metals should play in an investor’s portfolio was discussed.

Brian Leni, founder of Junior Stock Review, Chen Lin w/ Lin Asset Management and Bloomberg’s Andrew Cosgrove are panelists talking about the role of gold and precious metals in an investor’s portfolio pic.twitter.com/ng3wRKVwGB

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

On Buying physical VS ETFs Lin believes they are on an even footing but expects things could change. Leni believes physical and central funds are good investments right now. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

“To make money on a consistent basis you need to buy quality [stock],” Brian Leni, founder of Junior Stock Review. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

INN ended day one by listening to Brian Leni, founder of Junior Stock Review, discuss nickel and the current state of the market for the base metal.

Junior Stock Review’s Brian Leni is discussing the the current state of nickel investment. His opinion is that there is currently an under investment in nickel sulfides. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

Chart: Depicting present nickel demand. 67 percent is used in stainless steel production. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica pic.twitter.com/3hucO1y9GV

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

Brian Leni’s slide on what to look for in a nickel company. #MiningInvestmentNorthAmerica pic.twitter.com/OptLPzdTJi

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 14, 2018

Mining Investment North America conference: Day 2

A highlight of the second day of the conference was a discussion on the collaboration between mining and technology.

“We are seeing tech and innovation across all sectors of the discovery curve,” Miranda Werstiuk, senior VP IBK Capital. #Mininginvestmentnorthamerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 15, 2018

Dr. Sam Peralta, co-founder of Cobalt Blockchain is now presenting on the ethically sourcing cobalt. #Mininginvestmentnorthamerica pic.twitter.com/sSIhGaDHXe

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 15, 2018

Dr. Peralta, sees a cobalt shortage from 2018-2023. 50 percent of global cobalt supply is produced in DRC a problematic mining jurisdiction and that will impact supply. #Mininginvestmentnorthamerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 15, 2018

Dr. Peralta’s slide on the evolution supply chain traceability pic.twitter.com/fh5xELwHKR

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 15, 2018

Another benefit of block chain will be the ability to bank the unbanked in remote areas and conflict areas like the DRC. #Mininginvestmentnorthamerica

— Resource Investing (@INN_Resource) June 15, 2018

Day two also involved a presentation on women in mining that was led by Angelina Mehta, senior mining advisor at Paradigm Capital and founding member of Women in Mining.

Mehta discussed the cross-cutting issues in the North American mining sector, as well as strategies and best practises that can be used for gender empowerment.

Finally, INN ended the conference by attending two roundtable discussions.

The first addressed how investors should evaluate mining investment prospects and the second explored investing in gold and gold mining.

Keep an eye out for more of our content from the Mining Investment North America conference.

Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Resource for real-time news updates!

Securities Disclosure: I, Nicole Rashotte, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.