Can you introduce the National Mining Association (NMA) and explain its scope and mission?

The NMA is primarily an advocacy organization, which acts as the voice of mining in the US. We are located in Washington D.C., where we advocate on pro-mining policies with the US government, members of Congress and the regulatory agencies. We are a staff of professionals that manage and leverage the advocacy platforms of the association, such as direct lobbying, media relations and grassroots advocacy at the state and local levels. Our more than 250 members, which have operations across the country, include producers, equipment manufacturers and service providers, who work across the mining sector.

What makes the US an attractive mining investment destination?

The US offers a stable operational base for mining companies due to its solid governance structure and consistent policies that seek to attract investment. The country also offers robust environmental and labor standards that ensure that all the stakeholders are protected.

We are a very patient industry, since it takes a long time to build manufacturing facilities, however, even if it is a long-term process, operators can be certain that the rule of law will not suffer significant changes and negatively impact operations. Our role as the NMA is to ensure transparency, fairness and timeliness throughout this system, and that there is a path for decisions to be made to permit or expand existing and new mines.

How would you describe Nevada’s mining industry relative to that of other states?

Mining is central to Nevada’s economy as the fourth largest producer of gold in the world, but it also holds vast quantities of silver, copper, lithium, iron and molybdenum. Nevada is a particularly attractive mining investment destination due to its skilled labor force, the ease in moving goods and products, the availability of services, and the support by Nevada’s communities.

In Nevada, around 90% of the land is public and owned by the federal government. This facilitates the access to land where hard rock minerals can be found, as they are not locked up under private ownership. Therefore, investors have access to vast and rich deposits in this state.

What socio-economic impact does the mining industry have in Nevada?

According to our most recent data, the state’s mining industry directly employs nearly 50,000 people. The industry also contributes US$11.4 billion to the state’s GDP.

How do you see the prospects for funding mining projects?

We are witnessing an exponential increase in the demand for Nevada’s minerals including copper, nickel, gold, silver and lithium with the transformation of our energy sector. The demand for these minerals will also boom as the world recovers from the pandemic, infrastructure projects take off, along with the manufacturing of technologically advanced machinery and equipment that rely on these metals. The market is aware of that, which is why we are currently witnessing a race to find these deposits and to develop them as quickly as possible.

Do you think the US has the potential to become a significant player in the critical minerals value chain?

We have a campaign underway called Minerals Make Life. It seeks to raise awareness of the importance of a wide range of minerals for society and on the need to source them in the US, whether these are used for electric vehicles, information technology or energy.

By working with the administration and the Congress, the NMA has incentivized actions such as executive orders and directions, additional studies and reviews of the regulatory process to try to promote the reshoring of the mineral and metal supply chain in this country. Nevada has a significant role to play in that.

Do you have a final message?

The future for the US mining industry is extremely bright. As mineral demand grows, so does our membership. The NMA will continue advocating on behalf of its members, the state of Nevada, and other mineralized states in the US.