Western Australia is the most attractive jurisdiction in the world for mining investment followed by Finland and the U.S. state of Nevada, according to the Annual Survey of Mining Companies released by the Fraser Institute.
For other Australian states, the survey ranks South Australia at number 6, the Northern Territory at number 13, Queensland at number 15, Victoria at number 43 and New South Wales at number 47.
“The mining survey is the most comprehensive report on government policies that either attract or discourage mining investors,” said Ashley Stedman, senior policy analyst at the Fraser Institute and co-author of the report.
This year’s survey of mining executives ranks 76 jurisdictions around the world based on their geologic attractiveness (minerals and metals) and government policies that encourage or deter exploration and investment.
Rounding out the top 10 jurisdictions are Alaska (4), Portugal (5), South Australia (6), the Republic of Ireland (7) Idaho (8), Arizona (9) and Sweden (10). For the first time in 10 years, no Canadian jurisdiction made the top 10.
This year’s least-attractive jurisdictions include Tanzania, Argentina (Chubut and La Rioja) and Guatemala.
“A sound regulatory regime coupled with competitive taxes are key to making a jurisdiction attractive to investors,” Stedman said.
| Most attractive jurisdictions for mining investment |
| 1) Western Australia |
| 2) Finland |
| 3) Nevada |
| 4) Alaska |
| 5) Portugal |
| 6) South Australia |
| 7) Republic of Ireland |
| 8) Idaho |
| 9) Arizona |
| 10) Sweden |
| Least attractive jurisdictions for mining investment |
| 67) Nicaragua |
| 68) Mali |
| 69) Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) |
| 70) Venezuela |
| 71) Zambia |
| 72) Dominican Republic |
| 73) Guatemala |
| 74) La Rioja, Argentina |
| 75) Chubut, Argentina |
| 76) Tanzania |
