In this episode, we chat with Scott Hicks, VP of Corporate Development & Communications for Luminex Resources, a Vancouver-based Canadian & precious metals exploration and development company focusing on a Gold and Copper project in Ecuador.

Over the last decades, Scott has worked on a variety of equity, debt, and advisory assignments in Canada and Australia. He talks about the company, its projects, and the general outlook for commodities. Luminex Resources is one of Ross Beaty’s development companies so be sure to listen.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Luminex has the largest gold deposit in Ecuador, one of the biggest in the world, which also contains billions of pounds of copper.
• In 2022, the focus is their gold drilling programs and are advancing permitting for their vanadium and other projects.
• Their Ecuador-based partners include Anglo American and JOGMEC.
• Much of Ecuador has not been thoroughly explored using modern techniques.
• In 2013/14, the government began to actively encourage mining once again.
• The infrastructure in Ecuador is excellent, with good roads, hydropower, modern port facilities, and plenty of water.
• Many communities welcome mining, but in certain areas, there is some resistance.
• There is potential for more vanadium redox battery usage, so Luminex has a small company targeting that metal.
• Vanadium batteries don´t degrade, which makes a leasing model viable, that reduces the upfront costs involved in their use.
• Luminex has a good mix of assets in mining-friendly jurisdictions.
• The price outlook for gold is positive. In the podcast, Scott explains why he believes that is the case.
• With copper, grades from existing mines are degrading and new facilities are not coming on stream fast enough to meet demand. So, the copper price should remain strong.
• The company is also investing in and incubating other people´s mining projects. Examples of which are shared in the podcast.

 

BEST MOMENTS

‘We are sitting at about 17 million ounces of gold right now and about 2.2 billion pounds of copper. ´

‘In Ecuador, the permitting process… is actually pretty fast.’

‘It´s early days in the vanadium space... but we´ve seen prices north of $600 a tonne for pig iron.’

 

EPISODE RESOURCES

Websites:

https://luminagold.com/

https://luminexresources.com/

https://strategic-res.com/

 

Twitter:

@Scott_ITBM

@lumina_gold

@LuminexRes

@StrategicRes

 

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.mining-international.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theminingpodcast/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast/videos

 

ABOUT THE HOST

Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community insight into people's experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.

Rob is the Founder and Director of Mining International Ltd, a leading global recruitment and headhunting consultancy based in the UK specializing in all areas of mining across the globe from the first world to third world countries from Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and Australia. We source, headhunt, and discover new and top talent through a targeted approach and search methodology and have a proven track record in sourcing and positioning exceptional candidates into our client's organizations in any mining discipline or level.

Mining International provides a transparent, informative, and trusted consultancy service to our candidates and clients to help them develop their careers and business goals and objectives in this ever-changing marketplace.

Podcast Description

Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.