Dig Deep

In this episode, we chat with Stephen Mullowney, CEO of TRX Gold, who are a listed mining company with its flagship project, the Buckreef Gold Project in Tanzania. Stephen’s going to unpack the human side behind Buckreef’s rapid growth: the moments that forced him to rethink his approach, the wins that mattered more to people than markets, and the misconceptions outsiders still hold about this industry. We explore how leaders handle unpopular decisions, where the real bottlenecks are at site level, the technologies reshaping operations and the ones that haven’t lived up to the hype. We’ll also look beyond production metrics to ask a bigger question: what does success truly look like for TRX in the next five years, and how sustainable is its current growth path? KEY TAKEAWAYS Effective leadership in the mining industry involves understanding the human side of operations, making decisions that prioritise long-term success over short-term gains, and empowering team members to contribute to decision-making processes. Many people mistakenly attribute a mining company's success solely to commodity prices. While prices do play a role, a strong focus on operational efficiency, growth, and cost discipline is crucial for sustainable success, regardless of market fluctuations. Mining operations face numerous bottlenecks at various stages, from drilling and blasting to crushing and milling. Identifying and addressing these bottlenecks is essential for maintaining efficiency and productivity. The mining industry is gradually adopting new technologies, particularly in areas like exploration and communication. BEST MOMENTS "Mining is a commodity space, and a lot of people give credit for success based on the commodity price, but if you don't keep a good focus on growth and cost discipline, it doesn't matter what commodity price you have." "There's always a bottleneck, and there's always a problem, and it's always in a different spot. Mining has so many little things along the process timeline that can knock you down." "I think technology is really going to help us on the exploration side. We're doing studies now to identify new structures, and competing technology can be good there." "I think the model of not diluting has been good for TRX at Buckreef, and it could continue. I don't see any reason why it can't." GUEST RESOURCES ●      Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TRXGoldCorp ●      LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/trx-gold-corporation/  Email: [email protected] Tel: (437) 224-5241 VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠[email protected]⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

We're joined by Kurt Budge, CEO of Leading Edge Materials are a European-focused company at the forefront of the energy transition, developing projects in critical raw materials that are essential to the future of clean energy, electric mobility, and advanced technologies. In this episode, we’ll get an overview of Leading Edge Materials and discuss how today’s shifting geopolitical landscape creates unique opportunities for companies strategically positioned in the critical minerals space. We’ll also explore the broader outlook for rare earth elements and natural graphite, and where Leading Edge is focusing its efforts across its three core business areas. Kurt shares why the Norra Kärr project in Sweden is considered so vital to Europe’s supply chain resilience, and we’ll look ahead at what’s next for the company as it helps build a more sustainable and secure materials future for the region. KEY TAKEAWAYS Leading Edge Materials is a Canadian company focused on critical raw materials projects in Europe, including a graphite mine in Sweden and a heavy rare earth project called Norra Kärr, which is vital for Europe's supply chain resilience. The ongoing geopolitical tensions, particularly between the U.S. and China, have heightened the urgency for Europe to diversify its supply chains for critical raw materials Rare earth elements, particularly heavy rare earths, are crucial for defence applications and the energy transition, making projects like Norra Kärr strategically important for Europe’s industrial and military capabilities. The permitting process for mining projects in Europe is often slow and complex, which has hindered the development of critical projects like Norra Kärr BEST MOMENTS "What we've seen in the rare earth space, specifically in geopolitics this year, is a trade conflict between the US and China... the drive for diversification is more important than ever to build... resilience on a single supplier of critical raw materials." "Norra Kärr is the most advanced heavy rare earth project in Europe... it has this long history of other groups saying this is strategically important to Europe." "If you want a mine to produce, you can't just turn a tap and stop the critical raw materials flow. We are talking probably a minimum of 10 years from discovery to a built mine that's producing." "We need to take responsibility for putting these supply chains together... the Critical Raw Materials Act is great legislation, but we need to do more and we need to do it now." GUEST RESOURCES https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurt-budge-b75287/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/leading-edge-materials-corp/ https://www.leadingedgematerials.com/ VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠[email protected]⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In today's episode, we're joined by Elvis Kamba, author of the new book on Mark Bristow and the extraordinary rise of Randgold Resources. Elvis worked inside Randgold and later Barrick under Bristow’s leadership, giving him a unique front-row perspective on one of the most influential mining stories of the last 30 years. In this conversation, we explore what inspired him to capture the Randgold journey, how Bristow’s leadership philosophy shaped the company, and what made Randgold’s approach to Africa so different from everyone else. We’ll dive into the pivotal moments from Morila, the “company maker,” to the hard lessons of Syama, the engineering triumph of Kibali, and ultimately the “merger of the century” with Barrick. Elvis also reflects on Randgold’s culture, its ability to build elite teams, its relationships with governments and communities, and the broader message he wants the industry and young professionals to take from his book. It’s a rare, insider look at one of mining’s most remarkable success stories  KEY TAKEAWAYS Unlike many mining companies that view Africa primarily as a source of resources, there were opportunities for investment and community development The challenges faced at Syama Gold Mine served as a crucible for Randgold, leading to the development of better project selection frameworks and enhanced environmental and social capabilities, ultimately strengthening the company's operational discipline. Morila was pivotal for Randgold, transforming it from a small exploration company into a globally respected producer by generating significant cash flows that funded further expansion and exploration. The final chapter of the book emphasises the positive contributions of mining to society, advocating for a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach while highlighting the industry's role in technological advancements and community development BEST MOMENTS “Mark Bristow is a leader that represents one of the most transformational leadership... He had an inherent interest for the country and the people that were in the places where he did the business." "Morila was Randgold's first world-class deposit... It transformed what was known as a small exploration company into a globally respected producer." "Syama was like a crucible where Randgold's ability to manage future mines was forged... They developed a smarter project selection framework, which they popularly called our filters GUEST RESOURCES www.linkedin.com/in/elvis-kamba-8897b236 Amazon Link to Book: https://bit.ly/3YhqKzA VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠[email protected]⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In today's show, we're joined by Chris Showalter, CEO of Lifezone Metals, the company behind the Kabanga Nickel Project in north‑west Tanzania, one of the world’s highest‑grade, development‑ready nickel sulphide deposits.  We discuss how the company fits into the evolving critical minerals landscape, its role in building Western refining capacity, and why its Hydromet Technology could be a game-changer compared to traditional smelting. Chris will also share highlights from the recent Feasibility Study and the key milestones Lifezone is targeting over the next 12–24 months. KEY TAKEAWAYS LifeZone's innovative approach leverages chemistry to process ores, reducing the carbon footprint and operational costs associated with high-temperature smelting. The recent feasibility study for the Kabanga project revealed a net asset value of $1.58 billion and a 23.3% internal rate of return (IRR) at conservative nickel pricing LifeZone is actively seeking partnerships and funding to support the development of the Kabanga project. The company is working with the U.S. Development Finance Corporation and other international entities to secure approximately $700 million in debt financing Over the next 12 to 24 months, LifeZone aims to finalise its equity consortium and advance its project financing. Additionally, the company is exploring other opportunities, such as recycling metals from autocatalytic converters BEST MOMENTS "We are going to be one of the most critical sources of nickel with byproducts of cobalt and copper for the Western nations to wean away from the tightly controlled Indonesian market." "HydroMet is focusing on water-based solutions and really letting the chemistry do the hard work in a much more energy-efficient process." "Our total ore production is 52.2 million tons, creating 1.98% nickel, which is very high... that drives the economics." "Kabanga's time has come. This mine will be built. It's these flagship projects with this kind of grade, and this is the right time for Kabanga." GUEST RESOURCES LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lifezone-metals/ Website: https://lifezonemetals.com/ Email address: [email protected] VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠[email protected]⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/

In today’s episode, we're joined by Alastair Goodship, COO of Mila Resources, a mining company that targets stranded assets with robust geological potential, by leveraging existing infrastructure and geological data, and then applying their team's multi-disciplinary experience, they are able to identify key value opportunities where they can advance to tangible production-stage studies. We discuss Mila’s strategy and portfolio, then zero in on the Yarrol project in Queensland and what exploration has shown so far, what the next phase is targeting, and the key milestones on the horizon. We’ll finish with the outlook for the wider Queensland portfolio and what shareholders should watch next. KEY TAKEAWAYS Mila Resources' strategy is to find de-risked assets that are stranded due to lack of funding or being lost in a larger portfolio, but which possess clear potential for scalability. Personal career development should include gaining broad experience across various disciplines and dedicated time to up-skill in areas like data set management and remote sensing to improve exploration efficiency. The Yarrol project is compelling because it has a historical resource, significant drill intercepts to depth, and satellite targets that all indicate gold mineralisation but has been largely overlooked for 20-30 years. The near-term focus is on aggressively drilling to expand the mineralised footprint, with a key milestone being the announcement of a new, updated resource for Yarrol to drive future development strategy. BEST MOMENTS "Mila’s aim is to find assets that have already been de-risked and progressed along the development curve, but are stranded due to lack of funds or being stuck in a larger portfolio of projects." "I had the space then to actually spend some kind of dedicated time actually getting understanding how the data works, how these processes work... and build my own skill set at the same time." "The first thing for us was to get some validation drilling in there... Every hole we put in hit, which gave us confidence to really move forward and be a bit more aggressive with Yarrol." "We've got a really prospective ground and we feel we're on to something, as do most juniors obviously, but we think we're backing it up with the data we have." GUEST RESOURCES Website - https://milaresources.com/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/mila-resources/ X - https://x.com/MilaResources VALUABLE RESOURCES Mail:        ⁠[email protected]⁠ LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ X:              ⁠https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson⁠  YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast⁠  Web:        ⁠http://www.mining-international.org⁠ CONTACT METHOD ⁠[email protected]⁠ ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/⁠ Podcast Description Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.  This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/