PDAC showcases potential of Australian sector

CONFERENCE CORRESPONDENT: It may have been minus 10 degrees in Toronto but the cold weather didn’t stop over 20000 mining types assembling at this year’s Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Conference in Toronto.

The mood of the conference was as cautious and circumspect as anywhere else at the moment with plenty of small cap Canadian companies turning all the rocks on display hoping to find some much needed funds loitering beneath.

It would appear that they will have to wait a bit longer yet.

Once upon a time the Canadians led the charge when it came to everything mining but from what I could see wandering about the conference floor it became clear the Australian miners are the trend setters and the rest are following.

The Aussies are more upbeat, more purposeful and for the 40 or 50 companies that were there waving the flag (mainly as delegates) more advanced in their projects.

The Australian booth pavilion was again a standout with Geoscience Australia and all state and territory government mines departments in attendance.

 

Gold stood out as the mineral of choice but the memo for investors was to keep a close eye on what nickel could do at the tail end of the year.

The ice and snow didn’t stop the alcohol consumption and the all-too-many receptions and parties.

The Australian reception was addressed by the Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb, who praised the Aussies for their perseverance, especially in the mining services sector.

There’s hope yet for the sector to rise in 2015 was the message PDAC wanted us all to take away, and I think most of the conference delegates have.

The encouraging thing is that it all means there is plenty to think about for executives as they make a weary retreat to their warmer homeland.

Stewart McDonald is managing director of Australian resources conferencing specialists Vertical Events