Is it time for municipalities to re-examine value?
In an article explaining why Barron’s was bullish on mining stocks, one reason given was that because it is so difficult to permit a mine, and there are so many delays, those currently operating have become even more valuable. Using copper an as example, Bloomberg Intelligence recently affirmed that the average time to permit a mine from discovery to production has increased from 10 to 14 years. Oddly paradoxical is that every aspect of the “clean economy” is dependent on mined materials.
Now, a large and much needed infrastructure bill is likely to be passed soon, but do our communities and political leadership recognize and appreciate the value of local aggregate and ready-mix sites, or how fortunate they are to have these facilities? Or are these businesses regarded as expendable in order to mollify a minority that perpetrates a false narrative of “dirty industries”?
Perhaps it is time to emphasize the importance, access, and value of these local assets to successfully achieve the intent and outcome of the bill, and to include such stipulation in the written legislation.