A PwC report reveals that the world’s top 40 mining companies experienced a strong financial year in 2025, with revenues rising 3.3% to $909 billion and net profits increasing to $120 billion, supported by higher commodity prices and disciplined cost management..
South Africa’s strategy to secure new investment in mining critical minerals remains largely diagnostic, with implementation lagging behind policy intent, according to PwC Africa energy, utilities and resources leader Andries Rossouw.
Speaking at the launch of PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Global Mine Report 2026 on Thursday, Rossouw said the country’s plans to unlock capital for minerals needed in the energy transition are “well-meaning”, but not translating into effective execution, as per Business Report.
The report, which assesses trends across the world’s top 40 mining companies, highlights a significant shortfall in new investment in commodities such as copper and lithium. These minerals are seen as essential for the global shift to cleaner energy systems and the expansion of data centres.
Rossouw noted that, globally, mining continues to attract relatively limited investment compared with the broader energy system. He pointed out that mining development capital reached about $55 billion in 2025, against roughly $3.3 trillion invested annually in global energy systems.
