Rio Tinto and Glencore spoke for months about deal that was once taboo
The news of Glencore and Rio’s discussions “has turned up the temperature on an already simmering M&A environment,” RBC Capital Markets analyst says.
A persistent fear of diminishing phosphorus reserves has pushed mining companies to search far and wide for new sources. Companies identified phosphate deposits on the ocean floor and are fighting for mining rights around the world.
Countries in southern Africa have the potential to set an international precedent by allowing the first offshore mining operations. South Africa specifically is one of the first countries on the continent to begin legislating its marine economy to promote sustainable development, and questions surround mining’s place in this new economy.
