As global demand for critical minerals intensifies,
businesses - particularly in the extractives sector - increasingly
find themselves drawn to strategic deposits in emerging markets
and, at times, in conflict-affected and high-risk areas
(CAHRAs).
With institutional investors, customers and regulators
demanding robust environmental, social and governance (ESG)
standards across the value chain, companies that can uphold strong
ESG practices while operating in higher-risk jurisdictions will be
well-positioned to gain an edge in a resource-competitive
world.
The numbers are persuasive. The Democratic Republic of Congo
controls roughly 70% of global cobalt reserves, while the Lithium
Triangle - spanning Bolivia, Argentina and Chile - supplies over
75% of the world's lithium. Australian companies alone invested
$60 billion across 234 African mining projects in 2023, becoming
the largest private investors in countries like Burkina Faso and
Mali. With regional mineral
