Fraser report: Utah 'most attractive' in the world for mining investment

A group of Utah dignitaries led by the University of Utah's "Utah Across Utah" tour program
gets an up-close look at Utah's coal mining industry deep inside Wolverine Fuel's Sufco Mine
near Salina in Sevier County. A Canadian think tank has designated Utah the most attractive
place in the world for mining investment. Photo by Dave Titensor/University of Utah.

Utah is the most attractive jurisdiction in the world for mining investment, according to the Annual Survey of Mining Companies released by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan policy think tank based in Vancouver, British Columbia. Nevada and Saskatchewan, Canada, follow Utah in the rankings.

“The Fraser Institute’s mining survey is the most comprehensive report on government policies that either attract or discourage mining investors, and this year Utah ranks highest of anywhere in the world,” said Elmira Aliakbari, director of the Fraser Institute’s Centre for Natural Resource Studies and co-author of the report.

The Fraser report ranks 86 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 five jurisdictions are Quebec and Western Australia, while the least attractive jurisdiction for mining investment is Niger. Of the 10 least attractive jurisdictions in the world, four are in Africa.

“A sound regulatory regime coupled with competitive taxes make a jurisdiction attractive to investors,” said Aliakbari. “Policymakers across the globe should understand that mineral deposits alone are not enough to attract investment.”