The Remaking of the Mining Industry

"The emergence of China as a major economic power in the first decade of the millennium prompted the biggest commodity boom of modern times. Soaring prices gave rise to talk of a commodity 'super cycle' and induced a wave of resource nationalism in mineral-rich countries. It also stirred up concerns of supply shortages in mineral-consuming countries. The author, who served as chief economist at two of the world's largest mining companies during these years, describes how and why this resulted in a transformation - a 'remaking' - of the mining industry. The book tells of how the markets in which the industry operated changed, how the industry was restructured through acquisition and investment, and how a cast of new players from emerging economies arrived on the scene. With the boom now passed, the book concludes with some reflections on what the changes imply for the future of the industry and the environmental and political challenges it will face"--