Since 1962, WGM has provided expertise to the exploration and mining sectors, and to governments which are responsible for regulating the exploration and development of minerals. In an ever competitive world, international bodies such as the United Nations, and the World Bank have looked to WGM to provide leadership on institutional strengthening projects, in areas such as:

• Independent Qualified Persons Reviews
• Capacity Building Programs
• First Nations Services

These involve mineral policy/legislative design, design of mineral databases, assessment of human and equipment resources, design and implementation of National Mineral Development Programs, establishment of programs to attract foreign investment and training of government personnel.

The competition for exploration lands has increasingly led mining companies to look far afield to under-explored regions, many of which are in Developing Countries. Government bodies charged with the administration of the mining codes may discover that certain regulations and policies actually impede investment, or that they cannot supply the geoscience information needed as a catalyst to explore.

In recent years, the TSE/OSC Mining Standards Task Force released a report including key recommendation to formalize and enhance the Qualified Person ("QP") concept in the Canadian mining industry. A QP can be an in-house person, but there are specific circumstances where reports must be prepared by a QP who is independent of the company. These are technical reports filed by a mining company in connection with:

Becoming a reporting issuer; Filing a listing application; Filing a prospectus that is not eligible for the POP system; The first disclosure of, or a 100% change in, estimates of material resources or reserves, unless the company has resource revenues of at the last three years; A valuation that is required by securitieslegislation.

Companies are retaining independent QP's for technical review of their projects on an ongoing basis. This affords management, directors, as well as investors and regulatory authorities, with an additional level of comfort. An added benefit of such an ongoing review is that when an independent report is required, the independent QP is already familiar with the project and has signed off on the work. Thus, the reports can be prepared in a timely and cost effective manner and no unpleasant surprises are encountered.

WGM is ideally suited to this kind of a QP role. WGM is a long established firm with an excellent reputation. Our geologists have extensive experience in a variety of geological environments worldwide. With its experience in geological, mining and metallurgical aspects of projects, WGM is in an excellent position to be involved in the project from initial exploration through to production.

In carrying out these type of assignments, WGM typically reviews work plans, budgets, exploration progress and results, and provides the client with its comments on the suitability of the programs on a monthly basis. WGM evaluates the geologic models considered, and provides advice on exploration strategies. This includes advice on the best practices to be followed, and the quality control required to ensure validity of the exploration data. WGM reviews exploration results provided by the client, including monthly progress reports, and provides the client with an independent opinion on the significance of the results.

Mineral Sector Reform

WGM has helped Governments around the world institute reforms needed to make the regulatory regime more attractive to foreign investment. Three tenets form the basis for WGM’s approach: Security of Title; Regulatory Transparency; and an Attractive Fiscal Regime.

Sustainability

Our ultimate goal is to identify the long term potential of each nation’s mineral sector, to strengthen its administration and improve its ultimate benefits such that the minerals industry becomes a major pillar of the economy. We see sustainability and responsible development as the key requirements of the industry, and strive to ensure that communities and local stake-holders are fully engaged such that increased support for mineral sector development can be realized.

Mining Value Chain

Our reforms enable efficiencies and help remove impediments to investment, recognizing that progress takes time and nothing meaningful is ever accomplished “over-night”. We understand our clients’ over-arching desire to improve corporate social responsibility (“CSR”) practices right through the mining value chain.

Institutional Strengthening

banner_institutionalstrengtheningWe believe that institutional services in the government must be competently staffed, employ sound administrative practices and provide a broad range of support to the investor including basic geological data, geoscience survey data and land title data. If a Government wishes to provide a local analytical capability, then it must provide high-quality data in a cost effective manner.

WGM brings together experts in administration, language and technical training, data management, GIS, computer science, geoscience and laboratory management. WGM has completed institutional strengthening projects in the Republic of Yemen, Ghana, Tanzania, Ecuador, Argentina and Saudi Arabia.

First Nations Consultation

Many of Canada’s First Nations communities are entering into high stakes negotiations with governments and exploration/mining companies, aimed at clarifying the rights and responsibilities of each party to manage, protect, and develop the resources within traditional territories.

Whether First Nations are interested in jobs, partnerships and joint ventures, or simply exercising greater oversight to protect the land and community, WGM can help First Nations communities make informed decisions in order to realize long-term benefits and manage the risks of mineral resource development.

Win-win

At WGM, we believe that “win-win” outcomes can be achieved if all parties are pro-active in building relationships based on the principles of open communication, mutual respect, and sustainable development, right from the early stages of exploration. WGM can also offer support to First Nations as they negotiate land claims or land management agreements with the Crown. In these negotiations, it is vital for First Nations to understand the true economic potential and likely locations of the mineral resources within their territories.

Empowerment

WGM advised and helped Native groups in Alaska select territory containing the best mineral prospects for their land settlements, which ultimately led to new discoveries and mines being developed. More recently, WGM was selected by the government of Nunavut to develop a land resource management regime for the Territory, which encompasses 20% of the area of Canada.

WGM is interested in empowering First Nations to make the best decisions possible for the sustainable development of our land and communities.

Capacity Building

WGM brings together experts in administration, language and technical training, data management, GIS, computer science, geoscience and laboratory management.

WGM believes institutional services in the government must be competently staffed, employ sound administrative practices and provide a broad range of support to the investor including basic geological data, geoscience survey data and land title data. For example, if the Government wishes to provide a local analytical capability, then it must provide high- quality data in a cost-effective manner.

WGM-led teams of professionals include experts in: geoscience; mineral exploration, advisors to Government in establishing mineral sector policy; providing sectoral input into mining law, and; administration of mining regulations.

Market Reviews

banner_marketreviewsWhether funded by World Bank or by local governments, our studies have helped raise the profile of a diversity of mineral rich regions in the world market. To this day, our work remains the quintessential resource for modern explorers in countries like Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Zambia, Afghanistan and Tanzania.

Over the past 60 years, WGM professionals have mapped and cataloged the geological diversity of some of the most mineral rich countries in the world, a foundation on which future economic development strategies can be built.

Reginal Land Studies

Each nation draws strength from a diversity of mineral wealth, and our goal is to identify those commodities with a natural competitive advantage in terms of the quality of resource, market potential, and the potential for value-added down stream products. We analyze the global investment outlook for key minerals and help identify trends in these mineral sectors.

Supply and Demand

We recognize that commodity price is affected by more than just supply and demand since there are often substitute materials available. While demand is a function of world economic activity, supply is largely a function of the industry’s investment dynamics and tends to be dominated by expectations regarding future demand growth on the one hand and future profitability, the relationship between prices and costs, on the other.