The M&E Dispatch // 037

Hello Everyone,

As I write this, the U.S. Supreme Court has upheld a law that could force TikTok to shut down in the United States unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, divests its ownership. The move, driven by national security concerns, feels like part of a much larger geopolitical shift between Western nations and China. It’s a story that’s hard to ignore, especially for those of us in industries like mining and energy that rely heavily on China as the largest buyer of coal and energy products in the world.

This is interesting because it raises questions about how trade relationships are evolving under growing political tensions. If tech companies like TikTok are being scrutinized and isolated due to security concerns, could similar pressures eventually extend to other industries? Mining and energy exports, especially coal, are already critical to global supply chains. But how secure is our access to Chinese markets when the geopolitical winds seem to be shifting?

Which leads me to wonder—are we prepared for a future where China might not play as central a role in our exports? Are we diversifying enough to mitigate risks from trade disruptions? It’s worth asking whether we’re too reliant on a single buyer, and whether our strategies reflect the potential for a more fragmented global market.

How are we, as an industry, ensuring resilience in the face of these shifts? Does this mean new trade partnerships should be a priority? Or should we be looking inward, focusing on technology, sustainability, and innovation to strengthen our foothold in a changing market? The TikTok ban might seem like a tech-world issue on the surface, but its underlying message—of shifting alliances and increased scrutiny—is one our industry can’t afford to ignore.

Day 1 is going to be… interesting.
3 days - 2 hours to go.

// The Dirt

i-80 Proposes Amendments to Convertible Debentures
i-80 Gold Corporation proposes changes to its convertible debenture agreements to enhance financial flexibility.
Read more

Nevada Lithium Heads to Mining Conference
Nevada Lithium’s CEO to present at the 2025 Mining Conference, showcasing critical minerals from the Bonnie Claire Lithium Project.
Discover details

Haile Gold Mine Earns Training Award
OceanaGold’s Haile Mine wins recognition for its innovative virtual reality training programs, improving equipment operation efficiency.
Learn more

Quebec Backs Gaspé Copper Project
Osisko Metals announces Quebec’s support for the Gaspé Copper Project, located on traditional Mi’gmaq territory.
Read more

Trailbreaker Advances BC Copper Project
Trailbreaker Resources reports significant geophysical findings at its Liberty Copper-Molybdenum Project in British Columbia.
Discover details

Robex Updates Kiniero Feasibility Study
Robex Gold reports a 46% increase in Kiniero gold reserves, boosting the project’s NPV by 89% to $322 million.
Learn more

Radisson Outlines 2025 Plans
Radisson Mining unveils its exploration and development strategy for the O’Brien Gold Project in Quebec.
Read more

Kutcho Copper Reviews 2024 Achievements
Kutcho Copper reflects on a successful year and shares plans for advancing its high-grade copper-zinc project in BC.
Discover details

FPX Nickel Shares Economic Impact Study
FPX Nickel reveals the Baptiste Nickel Project’s potential economic benefits across regional, provincial, and national levels.
Learn more

Once again I’m on the road for hockey this weekend, to another industrialist city, in the hopes of adorning our necks with gold while we have our pockets pilfered of silver…

If you need a business idea, a chain of hotels geared solely to sports teams with mini stick rinks for the kids, sports bars for the parents and ventilated gear storage.

You’ll print money.

Have a great weekend.

- Lee