I have spent most of the past thirty-five years working as
an economic geologist in the area of exploration and
development of base and precious metals. Most of this
period has been as an employee of
Trans-National-Corporations (TNC's). I presently act as a
consulting geologist to a joint venture company, bringing
together two such TNC's: Anglo American' Corporation
and affiliated companies De Beers (Diamonds) and
Minorco (Metals mining outside of Southern Africa), and
Normandy Mining Limited of Australia. Normandy is
presently through its gold arm PosGold, Australia's largest
gold miner and Anglo American can claim to be the
world's largest gold company producing over 280 tonnes
of gold a year, more than twice its nearest rival Gold Fields
of South Africa. In addressing this topic, the role that
Government can, and should play in mineral development,
I will be drawing heavily on some examples from these
and other TNC's experience in recent offshore mining
Investment.