Tracking the trends 2021

Closing the trust deficit

2020 took the world by surprise. COVID-19 cut through most companies’ best laid plans, forcing leaders across the mining sector to refine their strategic objectives, recommit to their stakeholders, and reset their priorities. Tracking the trends 2021 looks beyond the pandemic and focusses on how the longer-term trends in the industry are impacted and what new trends are on the horizon. A central narrative emerged from this year’s report, namely the issue of trust between the mining industry and its wider set of stakeholders.

The industry is at an important juncture. Mining holds the key to a lower carbon future through many of the minerals it mines, yet the industry is capital starved. It has the potential to create widespread meaningful employment, yet it’s often not the first choice for talent. And while mining companies have played a significant role though the COVID-19 crisis by flying in personal protective equipment (PPE), leveraging their healthcare infrastructure, and keeping workers safe, many governments continue to look towards the industry for additional taxes and royalty payments.

In many ways, these dichotomies still exist because of a deficit in trust. From investors and employees to the communities where they operate, how can mining companies rebuild trust? In this year’s report, we share our perspective on what companies should consider to increase or rebuild trust among their extended ecosystem of stakeholders.

Now in its 13th year, Tracking the Trends 2021 takes a look at the mining sector and considerations for improvement as we lay a foundation for tomorrow. Our global mining professionals once again share real-world case studies and practical examples that mining companies can leverage in building a path forward.