(May 23 2012) When investing in a mining company, an important consideration is where the company has operations. Where a company choses to operate can affect profitability- taxation and permitting requirements vary across the globe, and investors should also heed attention to corruption and labor disputes- which may also greatly impact a company’s bottom line. But how do you know what are the world’s most friendly mining regions? The Fraser Institute compiles data every year to answer this dynamic question.
Since 1997 the Fraser Institute has conducted an annual survey of metal mining and exploration companies to assess how mineral endowments and public policy factors can affect exploration successes. To come to their conclusions, the Fraser Institute surveys executives and exploration managers in mining and mining consulting companies operating across the globe. The survey covers operations on every continent except Antarctica.
The Fraser Institute’s survey is unbiased. The Fraser Institute is an independent research and educational organization. Their work is finance by tax deductible contributions from individuals, organizations and foundations. In order to ensure the survey is unbiased The Fraser Institute does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research.
For the 2011/2012, here are the Fraser Institute’s rankings from best to worse
- New Brunswick, Canada
- Finland
- Alberta
- Wyoming
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Sweden
- Nevada
- Ireland
- Yukon
- Northern Territories
- Western Australia
- Ontario
- Greenland
- Nova Scotia
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Botswana
- Chile
- South Australia
- Manitoba
- Utah
- Minnesota
- Michigan
- Norway
- Alaska
- Idaho
- New Zealand
- Queensland
- Arizona
- Tasmania
- British Columbia
- New South Wales
- Colorado
- Morroco
- Mexico
- Nunavut
- Spain
- Burkina Faso
- Washigton
- Montana
- New Mexico
- Mali
- Ghana
- Victoria
- Namibia
- Poland
- Northwest Territories
- Missouri
- Zambia
- California
The complete list can be seen here