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Industry risks

Risk management in mining and metals

Mining and metals means heavy production, environmental exposure and long supply chains. We break down the key risks of mining and metals companies and how to manage them.

Updated: June 28, 2026 · Author: Evgeny Telenkov · ≈ 7 min read

Key risks of the industry

  • Technical-operational: equipment failures, accidents at processing and smelting facilities, production line stoppages.
  • Environmental: pollution, tailings dams, emissions; high fines and reputational consequences.
  • Industrial safety (HSE): injuries, hazardous areas.
  • Logistics: long delivery distances for raw materials and products, transport dependence.
  • Market: volatility of metal and raw-material prices, currency risk.
  • Cyber and IT risks: attacks on industrial control systems and corporate systems.

Management approaches

  • Detailed analysis and quantitative assessment of technical-operational risks by stage: extraction, processing, smelting.
  • Barrier model and safety culture in hazardous areas.
  • Supply chain risk management and backup logistics routes.
  • Continuity of critical processes: BIA and continuity plans for key stages and sales.

Global best practices (Rio Tinto, Glencore and major companies) show that systematic risk work reduces accidents and losses, while continuity plans cut downtime during major disruptions.

FAQ

Which metals-industry risks are assessed first?

Technical-operational (failures and accidents at key stages) and environmental — they carry the largest potential damage and regulatory consequences.

How are risk management and continuity linked in the industry?

Risk management lowers the likelihood of accidents, while business continuity ensures a fast return to work of key stages if a disruption occurs.

Continuity for your industry

Start with the assessment: it accounts for critical processes and recovery times. We then match the format, from a programme for your team to a turnkey system.

Take the free assessment → Continuity turnkey → Solutions for companies →
Evgeny Telenkov
Evgeny Telenkov
Director, business continuity practice · PhD in Economics · Academic Director & Chief Examiner
Risk Manager of the Year in Russia 2020 (RusRisk). Built business continuity from scratch at Nornickel, more than 20 plans; led risk functions at Beeline, Rosneft and EY. Chief risk officer of a 20 billion dollar petrochemical megaproject. Deputy chair of Rosstandart technical committee 010 "Risk management", co-author of six national standards. Author of the ERGP and SAFE programmes.
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