Independent think tank Fraser Institute has released the findings of its third Annual Survey of Mining Companies, revealing that it is Western Australia – no longer Nevada – that is the most attractive jurisdiction for mining investment in the world.
In fact, according to the report released April 12, Nevada has slipped to third, now also behind Saskatchewan.
The non-partisan group compiled 84 global jurisdictions and examined geologic attractiveness for minerals and metals, as well as government policies “that encourage or deter” mining investments and exploration efforts.
The Americas did fare well overall in the top 10, also taking fourth (Alaska), fifth (Arizona) and Idaho placed seventh. Quebec was sixth and Yukon was ninth; in eighth and tenth, respectively, were Morocco and South Australia.
Rounding out the least attractive was Zimbabwe, according to the report’s findings. Spain, DRC, Mali, and Nicaragua also placed in the 80s of the rankings, beaten out in relative terms by China, Panama, Argentina, Venezuela and South Africa.
“A sound regulatory regime coupled with competitive taxes make a jurisdiction attractive to investors,” said Jairo Yunis, Fraser Institute policy analyst and report co-author.
On a positive note, Fraser said in its Overall Investment Attractiveness Index that Saskatchewan has ranked in the global top three for the fourth time in five years, having jumped from third in 2020 to second in 2021.
The Yukon went from 18th last year to ninth this year. This is due, it said, to the solid mineral potential of the territory, along with recent perceived policy improvements.
“Ontario’s overall investment attractiveness ranking improved this year (20th in 2020 to 12th in 2021) largely driven by its improved policy performance on regulatory factors,” the Fraser report authors noted.
“Conversely, British Columbia continues to perform poorly on the policy front largely due to investor concerns over disputed land claims and protected areas.”
The report can be read in full here.
Source: Fraser Institute