After a year of accounting write-downs, cost cutting, internal adjustments and asset sales, the global mining sector will go through a period of collaboration among companies, according to PriceWaterHouseCoopers’ chief executive for the mining sector, John Gravelle.  Mr. Gravelle, who spoke in an interview with Valor, says that recent discussions among executives in the sector have shown that companies have been increasingly opting for joint ventures to finance their projects.  

“There’s an idea of ‘not assuming risks’ across the entire mining sector,” he says. “Still, companies need to continue finding ways to grow and guarantee their future.”  Mr. Gravelle notes projects for nickel, platinum, copper and gold have recently spurred promising joint ventures in North and South America, and that such operations should make attractive bets for investors with available funds on hand, especially from Asia. 

Although metals commodities prices have been low, the executive expects that continuing development in countries regions like China, India and Africa will contribute to an acceleration of demand for the sector in coming years.