MINING
Demand-side funding continues to expand, with OEMs and battery manufacturers providing upfront capital through offtake agreements to secure long-term volumes. Streaming and royalty models now account for 8 – 10 % of project funding in transition metals, offering mines non-dilutive options and investors exposure without taking operational risk.
Capital is also concentrating in energy-transition minerals and midstream hubs. BCG’ s upcoming Critical minerals ecosystem report( January 2026) highlights the shift from isolated projects to regional investment ecosystems that align supply, capital, and regulation to accelerate bankability.
REGULATION, GEOPOLITICS, AND ENERGY SHIFT INVESTMENT PRIORITIES
These are increasingly central to investment decisions across the value chain.
• ESG and traceability: digital track-and-trace systems are now common requirements for funding and market access, with recent OECD guidance emphasising verified origin and compliance.
• Regionalisation of supply chains: Trade fragmentation is prompting a pivot from efficiency-driven to resilience-driven supply strategies, especially in refining and processing.
• Energy reliability and cost: South Africa’ s improved electricity availability is a positive, but rising tariffs and geopolitical volatility continue to pressure margins.
• Policy predictability: Clarity and consistency in regulatory frameworks will influence South Africa’ s ability to attract beneficiation and midstream investment.
TECHNOLOGY AND AUTOMATION: SCALE BECOMES THE PRIORITY
Digital adoption in mining is shifting to full operational integration. The value of advanced analytics and AI is well established, but meaningful impact is realised only at scale. Companies are moving from isolated-use cases to enterprise-level deployment, embedding real-time decision systems, automating setpoints, and reducing manual override. The focus has shifted from collecting data, to generating measurable performance improvements. IB
JANUARY 2026 / INBOUND SA 19