'The copper supply issue has not been solved'
Copper fundamentals remain strong and companies should recognise a deal that is too favourable to them, says Richard Adkerson, CEO of Freeport-McMoRan.
Critical Resource specialises in political, stakeholder and sustainability challenges in energy and mining. We have a reputation for bespoke, high-quality, high-impact work.
We believe that companies can unlock major commercial value by managing these challenges in a strategic and responsible way.
About us
Our belief is that a deep understanding and responsible, strategic management of these issues will be a key source of competitive advantage for companies in the years ahead.
We provide three types of services: due diligence and assurance that stakeholder, political and reputational risks are well understood and managed, prior to our clients making key investments or strategic decisions; practical support at the project level to help in-country teams achieve project outcomes; and finally, group-level strategies to align and position organisations as a whole to mitigate risks and realise opportunities.
Our network of advisors combines strong industry expertise with on-the-ground intelligence in over 80 countries. The senior advisory panel for the company includes eminent figures from industry, finance and global development. Our core team brings together experience working for major resource firms, The Economist, McKinsey, OECD, UN, and Chatham House, among other organisations.
Recent news and articles
Ratings update: Total, Uganda
A standoff between the Ugandan government and the Tilenga project’s joint venture partners – Total, Tullow Oil and CNOOC – underscores the ways in which politics continues to hold up the development of Uganda’s oil sector.
‘We need less talk and more action on improving ESG performance’
Incoherence in the ESG movement is posing major challenges to resource companies and holding back on-the-ground outcomes, argues Lisa Sachs, Director of the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment.
The Unsustainable Sustainable Investing Boom
In an article published by Project Syndicate, Critical Resource Founder & MD Daniel Litvin argues that the movement championing more enlightened financial capitalism is beginning to exhibit some familiar flaws.
New stakeholder skills for the future economy
Mining companies will need an expanded set of stakeholder skills to navigate the new challenges posed by battery metals, rare earth elements and other technology minerals.
'It cannot be right that companies that disregard standards can operate and grow at the expense of reputable ones'
Greater government action is needed to encourage natural resource companies to make a positive contribution to societal outcomes, says Eric Rasmussen of the EBRD.
'Before focusing on targets there needs to be a maturity of understanding of the scope 3 challenge'
Matthew Bateson, Critical Resource senior advisor, argues that companies should avoid knee-jerk reactions to target-setting, and that mining can learn from the oil and gas sector’s approach to industry-wide climate action.
Ratings update: MMG, Peru
A long-running blockade at MMG’s Las Bambas mine, which is among Peru’s largest and accounts for roughly 2 percent of global copper production, points to a difficult stakeholder environment for resources investors in the country.
'ESG investment is an unstoppable force'
ESG investing is unstoppable and companies will need an adaptable mindset as the energy transition proceeds, says Edward Mason of the Church of England, which leads high-profile investor pressure on climate change.