Mining the gap
Resourcing Tomorrow 2025
Resourcing Tomorrow, one of the leading global events for mining and critical minerals, returned to London on December 2-4. Stronger than ever in 2025, this year’s rendition welcomed more than 2000 attendees on its opening day.
Bringing together industry leaders, investors and government representatives from more than 90 countries around the world, the conference again set the stage for powerful discussions on the geopolitical turbulence and energy-security pressures pushing mining to the forefront of global strategy.
As the anchor of London Mining Week, Resourcing Tomorrow exists to advance global progress by bringing the mining industry together to secure the metals and minerals that power our future.
In an increasingly resource-constrained world, the future depends on building strategic partnerships, fostering honest conversations and sharing knowledge to drive progress. Resourcing Tomorrow brings global leaders together to make this happen.
As geopolitical uncertainty, energy security concerns and the transition to renewables converge, the mining sector has never been more integral to the global economy. This year’s event delved into the transformative challenges and opportunities that are defining the future of mining, from securing critical minerals and navigating global geopolitics to advancing sustainability and fostering industry collaboration.
The three-day event opened with a compelling welcome from International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) chief executive and president Rohitesh Dhawan who issued a clear call to action, urging the industry to go beyond the headlines and confront the real forces at play.
“The headlines shout about soaring mineral demand, looming shortages and an urgent need for new mines,” he said.
“The G7, G20, IEA, UN — every major body has critical minerals at the top of their agenda. Over 100 countries have released strategies. Never has mining had so much global attention.
“Yet metal plants are closing. Majors are restructuring. Outside of gold and copper, prices are weaker. New projects are stalling. And the entire mining sector is valued at less than one-third of Nvidia. Something doesn’t add up.
“I believe the disconnect comes down to three paradoxes — rarely understood outside niche corners of the industry.”
Mr Dhawan said the three were the paradoxes of demand without supply, of green ambition without affordable energy, and mining’s “internal” contradiction of urgent need without innovation adoption.
“My hope is that by naming them we can unlock the collective action needed to achieve the mission of Resourcing Tomorrow 2025 — a responsible and resilient mineral supply chain,” he said.
Government Roundtable
Following a landmark Government Roundtable, which convened ministerial-level representatives from 64 countries, the agenda built on this momentum with a standout session, Key insights from the Government Roundtable.
The panel featured:
- Québec Mines Deputy Minister Ian Morrissette
- WA Government Agent General Rebecca Tomkinson
- Ontario Government Mines Minister Georgie Pirie
- New Brunswick Government Deputy Minister Cade Libby
The session reinforced the event’s reputation for genuine public-private dialogue and showcased the collaborative spirit driving this year’s theme — securing metals and minerals, empowering the future.
Standout speakers
Presentations and panels leaned firmly into the industry’s most urgent conversations of navigating geopolitical risk, enabling energy transitions and accelerating critical minerals development with both ambition and accountability.
One of the centrepiece discussions was Mining’s role in securing critical minerals and addressing supply chain vulnerabilities in the defence industry.
The high-level panel included NATO policy, plans and partnerships head Zoe White and US Department of Defence strategic and critical minerals technical director Adam Burstein.
Moderated by Euromines director general Rolf Kuby, the session explored the defence sector’s surging demand for critical minerals, the geopolitical realities of supply concentration and the policy levers needed to strengthen resilience.
Timed just weeks after COP30 in Brazil, Resourcing Tomorrow offered the global mining community a powerful platform to respond, align and act.
Global consultancy dss+ unveiled its new climate resilience methodology at Resourcing Tomorrow, showcasing how the company is transforming how high-hazard industries manage operational risk.
The 10-step framework is designed to quantify climate risk exposure with precision and elevate it to a core financial decision for boards and executive teams.
The methodology delivers a clear and factual message — climate risk has implications which are extending beyond environmental concerns. It is also a material business disruptor, already reshaping asset integrity, operational continuity and capital allocation across heavy industry.
The author of the article, dss+ climate sustainability principal Gerhard Bolt says when climate transition becomes directly connected to operational risk and financial outcomes, it becomes a powerful lever for long-term resilience and value creation.
“Our new framework gives mining companies a precise view of where they are exposed and which interventions will deliver the highest return on investment,” he said.
“The methodology integrates advanced analytics, engineering insight and organisational readiness into one decision-ready system.”
The framework marks a decisive shift — from intuition-driven assessments to evidence-based climate risk management that aligns directly with operational and financial performance.
A global forum
Delegates from across the global value chain — policy, finance, operations, technology and academia — converged to share strategies and spotlight innovation. Country pavilions were a standout feature, offering insight into regional capabilities and showcasing how jurisdictions are jockeying to position themselves in a rapidly shifting minerals landscape.
The hand behind a raft of mining regulatory changes under Bola Tinubu’s two-year-old government in Nigeria, Nigeria solid minerals development minister Dr Oladele Henry Alake says the administration’s ambition was to make Nigeria the hub of critical minerals processing and innovation in Africa.
“We are expanding transport corridors to connect mining zones with ports and industrial parks,” he said.
“We are investing in green-energy corridors and refining capacity for lithium, nickel, cobalt and tin. We are developing research collaborations with global universities and technology firms to unlock new applications for our mineral endowment.
“Our vision is crystal clear — no mineral leaves Nigeria unprocessed.
“We are determined to add value where value is created — in Nigeria. That means establishing processing clusters, lapidary and jewellery centres and battery-grade mineral plants that generate employment and industrial capacity.”
Dr Alake says Africa’s minerals had powered industrial revolutions abroad while its people remained on the margins of prosperity.
“That era is ending. Nigeria is changing that narrative boldly and decisively,” he said.
“We are moving from a raw-material exporter to a value-adding nation.”
A vivid showcase of all things mining
Innovation also stole attention on the show floor, not least with Forze Hydrogen Racing’s hydrogen-powered race car — a memorable demonstration of how next-generation materials and engineering can intersect to produce bold, sustainable outcomes.
Delegates discovered fresh inspiration, practical solutions and live demonstrations of the latest innovations — from ambitious startups to some of the biggest names in the sector.
Whether attendees were focused on exploration, mine development, sustainability, safety, finance, legal, consulting or technology, Resourcing Tomorrow offered the tools and connections to move businesses forward. With more than 150 exhibitors and more than 2000 attendees under one roof, it was the go-to destination for the entire mining value chain.
Resourcing Tomorrow event director Nick Rastall says it was fantastic to see such a diverse group of leaders and innovators come together.
“The energy [was] exceptional — new partnerships are already emerging, the discussions have been substantive and there’s a clear recognition across the sector that the time for decisive action is now,” he said.
Bringing together leadership, innovation and collaboration at every level, Resourcing Tomorrow set a new benchmark reinforcing the event’s reputation as the premier global platform for the critical minerals’ ecosystem.
Planning for next year’s Resourcing Tomorrow is already underway, with the event set to return to London on December 1-3, 2026.
