Mining Magazine January 2017 | Page 16

TECHNOLOGY
ACROSS THE MINING industry , one of the major issues that can dictate the very success of a mining organisation is equity and capital . In 2016 and heading into 2017 , as companies and businesses are forced to downsize in a bid to combat increasing debts , finding and raising capital is proving ever more difficult .
This is where Silver Wheaton comes in . Founded in 2004 with a unique and at the time , almost unheard of , business model , the company is now the largest precious metals streaming company in the world .
“ We realised that there are a lot of non-core by products in copper mines and lead zinc mines , including gold and silver , and through Silver Wheaton we offer a low risk , high quality opportunity for companies to invest into the precious metals industry ,” says Randy Smallwood , President and CEO of Silver Wheaton .
Through its precious metals streaming business model , Silver Wheaton enters into agreements to purchase all or a portion of the by-product silver and / or gold from high quality mines . Silver Wheaton pays the mining company an upfront
16 January 2017