Mining faces 'one of the greatest transformations'

Great sums ready to be unlocked and flow into mining as long as environmental social governance (ESG) issues are addressed, said the founder of Digbee, Jamie Strauss.

On Friday Strauss recorded Kitco Roundtable podcast with correspondent Paul Harris, Mining Audiences Manager Michael McCrae and editor Neils Christensen.

On its website, Digbee describes itself as a on-demand data, research and ESG platform for the mining industry. We offer a free database of in-development and producing mines, objective and accredited peer reviews of mining studies, and ESG disclosure for mining companies.

Socially conscious investors use ESG to screen potential investments. Strauss said there are a lot of ESG and impact investing funds who are interested in mining. The resource sector is fundamental to energy transition. However, the ESG investors have not fully commited to mining.

"They all say to me, 'give us a means to credibly track ESG within these companies,'" said Strauss.

Mining has a small market cap relative to other major industies, said Strauss, and a flood of investment could have an out-sized impact upon miners and exploration companies.

"You'll get better valuation and ultimately...one of the greatest transformations of an industry."

Panelists also discussed gold's drop, the Peru election and Zijin Mining's big milestone at its Cukaru Peki copper and gold mine located in Serbia.