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Industry risks

Risk management in mining and metals

Mining and processing ore means heavy industry, environmental impact and long supply chains. We look at the key risks of mining and metals companies and the approaches to managing them.

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

Key industry risks

  • Technical and production: equipment failures, accidents at concentrating and smelting facilities, production line stoppages.
  • Environmental: pollution, tailings storage facilities, emissions; high fines and reputational consequences.
  • Industrial safety (HSE): injuries, hazardous areas.
  • Logistics: long delivery routes for raw materials and products, dependence on transport.
  • Market: volatile prices for metals and raw materials, currency risks.
  • Cyber and IT risks: attacks on industrial control systems (ICS) and corporate systems.

Management approaches

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

Global best practice (Rio Tinto, Glencore and large Russian companies) shows that systematic risk management reduces accidents and losses, and continuity plans cut downtime during major disruptions.

Frequently asked questions

Which risks in the metals industry are assessed first?

Technical and production risks (failures and accidents at key processing stages) and environmental risks: they carry the greatest potential damage and regulatory consequences.

How are risk management and continuity linked in the industry?

Risk management reduces the likelihood of accidents, and business continuity ensures that key processing stages return to work quickly if a disruption happens.

Business continuity for the needs of your industry

Start with the assessment: it takes into account critical processes and recovery times. Then we will choose a format, from a programme for your team to a turnkey system.

Take the free assessment → Turnkey system → Solutions for companies →
Evgeny Telenkov
Evgeny Telenkov
Director, Business Continuity Practice · PhD in Economics · Academic Director and Chief Examiner
Best Risk Manager of Russia 2020 (RusRisk). Built business continuity at Nornickel from scratch. Author of more than 30 continuity plans. Worked in the risk functions of Beeline, Rosneft and EY. Chief Risk Officer of a USD 20 billion petrochemical megaproject. Deputy Chair of Rosstandart Technical Committee 010 “Risk Management”, co-author of six GOST R standards. Author of the ERGP and SAFE programmes.
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