Alignment of power to increase the pace of transformation

Mining and metals

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Australia’s mining industry stands at the forefront of a dynamic decade. Driving innovation. Sustainability powering the global economy forward.

At the same time, expanding demand for critical minerals sees organisations face the unique opportunity to fuel emerging industries by broadening horizons and revisiting traditional business models.

However, economic unpredictability, geopolitical shifts, and changing trade patterns present ongoing challenges. To unlock measurable advantages, mining companies must embrace sector collaboration and invest in transformative technologies - AI and automation.

Key trends impacting mining and metals

Demand for new minerals

Critical mineral demand is increasing to meet the needs of defence, technology advancement and net zero requirements. Lithium alone is expected to grow over 40-fold by 2040, and graphite and cobalt, nickel and copper demand are also rising. These trends present massive opportunities for exploration and development.

Productivity through AI

Embracing AI-driven technologies can significantly enhance productivity by optimising operations, reducing downtime, and enabling smarter decision-making, supporting sustainable growth and innovation. 

ESG as a driver

Embedding ESG principles into your operations not only boosts long-term growth and strengthens investor confidence but also enhances your company’s social license to operate. Sustainable products, such as low-carbon aluminium can fetch premium prices in the market. And high ESG scores improve access to capital and financing, providing additional momentum for growth.

Deals to secure supply

The Australian sector must navigate critical alignment challenges to attract investment and manage business risks. Despite economic unpredictability, geopolitical conflicts and changing trade patterns gold achieved record prices in 2024 with a 15% increase in gold revenues and gold EBITDA by 31%. 

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How we can help

We help companies transform to help deliver to future needs.  To move up or down the value chain, or to move into new markets meeting the needs of the changing world.

Stay relevant. Stay ahead. Plan for the future. We help you navigate regulations, boost efficiencies with the use of AI, secure future ready supply chains, future proofing through acquisition or mine development.

Environment, Social and Governance (ESG)

We help you embed ESG into your corporate strategies so that you can realise new opportunities and future growth. To support this ESG journey we can provide end-to-end transformation and help you establish and build trust and credibility in the mining industry with our rigorous, transparent reporting and assurance programs. ESG is here to stay and we can help you make sense of it.

Infrastructure

We work together with you to deliver complex mining infrastructure projects end to end. These projects create real value and tangible outcomes for your company and the communities they affect. From strategy to final handover, our Integrated Infrastructure team works alongside you and the community to build Australia’s future.

Assurance

Here we help you navigate regulatory complexity and strengthen trust and transparency. We do this by conducting an internal audit, an external financial statement audit and risk assurance services, including industry-focussed services such as risk and controls optimisation.

Consulting

We give your mining organisation the tools and knowledge you need to work and grow smarter. We work with your team to help build a more effective organisation to deliver your strategy, to innovate your business model and approach to working, to reduce costs and manage risk and regulation through our mining-specific consulting services. 

Cyber Security

Successful digital transformation requires strong planning, governance, and cybersecurity frameworks. We help you safeguard your IT and OT operations by translating our deep knowledge of emerging threats into practical, tailored insights. As AI adoption grows and cloud reliance increases, being cyber conscious is essential to managing the rising risks and protecting your business.

Workforce

The mining industry is navigating a transformative era where AI technologies are driving significant productivity gains by optimizing operations and enhancing safety. At the same time, addressing issues like wage theft is critical to maintaining workforce trust and compliance. We can help you harness AI and ensure fair labour practices for sustainable success.

Taxation

Combining the skills of financial and tax specialists with those of economists, lawyers and our other in-house specialists, we help solve your mining-specific tax problems from the ideas stage through to execution. Mining companies should be proud to report the taxes they pay and the social benefits these outlays deliver—such as funding hospitals, infrastructure improvements and schools—and they should join with local governments in helping to create tax policies. We can help you implement these strategies.

Legal

Bringing you deep expertise in corporate and commercial law, delivered alongside leading experts in all our other disciplines, our Legal team delivers innovative, commercially aware solutions to some of the most challenging mining business issues.

Deals

Whether your mining business is domestic, outbound or inbound we will work with you to raise capital and complete acquisitions, divestitures, and strategic alliances. We bring our deep experience with the mining industry and our international networks to help you succeed across the deal lifecycle. We can also help you understand and harness the upside of making ESG-led deals.

Contact us

Kerryl Bradshaw

Kerryl Bradshaw

Partner, Advisory, Energy Utilities & Resources Industry Leader, PwC Australia

Tel: +61 447 203 471

Franz Wentzel

Franz Wentzel

Partner, Global Mining and Metals Leader, PwC Australia

Tel: +61 418 126 217

Simon McKenna

Simon McKenna

Australian Mining Tax Leader, PwC Australia

Tel: +61 0411 030013

Justin Eve

Justin Eve

Partner, Assurance, PwC Australia

Tel: +61 422 002 354

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