Timothy Foden 是 Boies Schiller Flexner 的合伙人兼仲裁小组联合负责人，他在代表矿业公司与主权国家的争端中积累了丰富的经验。回顾2024年，Timothy 从一系列国际事件中总结了关键教训，为矿业公司在2025年应对行业复杂性提供了宝贵建议。
Timothy Foden, a partner and co-head of the arbitration group at Boies Schiller Flexner, has extensive experience representing mining companies in disputes with sovereign states. Reflecting on 2024, Timothy identified several key lessons from notable international events, providing valuable insights for mining companies to navigate the complexities of the industry in 2025.
过去一年凸显了矿业公司在政治和监管风险加剧地区面临的挑战。在非洲，马里和布基纳法索等“政变地带”国家通过任意罚款和税务要求增加了对外国矿业公司的压力。例如，在布基纳法索，一些矿业公司被指控未缴税款，尽管这些指控缺乏证据支持。同样，在墨西哥，前总统安德烈斯·曼努埃尔·洛佩斯·奥夫拉多尔（AMLO）开启的资源民族主义政策在其继任者克劳迪娅·谢恩鲍姆的领导下继续推行，新政策要求更高的税收并加强国家对矿业项目的控制。
The past year highlighted the challenges mining companies face in regions with heightened political and regulatory risks. In Africa, countries like Mali and Burkina Faso—part of the so-called "Coup Belt"—have increased pressure on foreign mining companies through arbitrary fines and tax demands. For instance, in Burkina Faso, several mining companies faced allegations of unpaid taxes, often unsupported by evidence. Similarly, in Mexico, resource nationalism initiated by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) persisted under his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, with policies demanding higher taxes and greater state control over mining projects.
以下是 Timothy 对2025年的关键建议：Here are Timothy’s key recommendations for 2025:
1. 优先派律师而非高管出席争端会议
2024年，非洲多个国家召集外国矿业公司代表，就所谓的税务拖欠或监管违规问题进行会谈。在布基纳法索的一个案例中，一家公司派遣高级管理人员与政府官员会面，结果导致这些高管被长时间拘留，进一步恶化了谈判局势。
Timothy 的建议：
公司应避免派遣高级管理人员参与此类高风险会谈，而应派遣当地管理人员和法律代表。律师通常受职业特权保护，更不容易遭遇拘留，这使他们成为更安全和更策略性的选择。
1. Prioritize Lawyers Over Executives in Dispute Meetings
In 2024, several African states summoned foreign mining companies for discussions on alleged tax arrears or regulatory violations. In one notable case in Burkina Faso, a company’s decision to send senior executives led to their prolonged detention, further complicating negotiations.
Timothy’s advice:
Companies should avoid sending senior executives to these high-stakes meetings. Instead, local executives and legal representatives should attend. Lawyers are generally protected by professional privilege and are less likely to be detained, making them a safer and more strategic choice for such engagements.
2. 确保许可证始终合法有效
2024年，在莫桑比克，一家矿业公司因未能履行许可证更新的法定要求而失去了特许权。尽管该公司聘用了顶级律师团队提起仲裁，但政府依法行使权利的行为得到了仲裁支持，导致企业蒙受巨大财务损失。
关键教训：
无论律师多么优秀，如果许可证不符合合规要求，公司在争端中几乎没有获胜的可能。矿业公司必须严格监控并履行所有法律和监管义务，以保持运营权的合法性。
2. Ensure Licenses Remain in Good Standing
A significant case in Mozambique in 2024 saw a mining company lose its concession because it failed to comply with statutory requirements for license renewal. Despite employing a top-tier legal team, the government’s actions were upheld in arbitration, resulting in heavy financial losses for the company.
Key takeaway:
No legal expertise can compensate for lapses in license compliance. Mining companies must rigorously monitor and fulfill all legal and regulatory obligations to maintain their operating rights.
3. 正视资源民族主义的长期性
资源民族主义并非一时之风，而是一个长期存在的挑战。在墨西哥，由 AMLO 推行的政策要求外国矿业公司与国有企业共享收益。这些政策表面上以“保护国家利益”为由，但实际上导致外资公司运营成本大幅上升，许多项目甚至被迫暂停。同样，在布基纳法索等非洲国家，政府以“过度开采”或“利润外流”为由对外资公司实施限制政策，使其运营环境更加艰难。
Timothy 的策略：
- 加强法律保障：在高风险地区投资时，确保合同中明确包含国际仲裁条款，以便在与政府发生争端时拥有合法依据。
- 全面记录每次与政府的接触：包括会议记录、通信邮件，甚至必要时进行录音。这些记录将在未来的争端处理中成为关键证据。
- 保持谨慎态度：避免在任何信件或电子邮件中留下可能被政府或仲裁庭利用的不当言辞。
3. Acknowledge the Persistence of Resource Nationalism
Resource nationalism is not a passing trend. In Mexico, policies introduced by AMLO—such as mandating revenue-sharing agreements with state-owned enterprises—continued to deter foreign investors in 2024. Meanwhile, in African nations like Burkina Faso, governments frequently cited “over-extraction” or “profit outflows” as justifications for imposing restrictive measures on foreign operators.
Timothy’s strategies:
- Include robust arbitration clauses: When operating in high-risk jurisdictions, ensure contracts provide clear recourse to international arbitration.
- Document everything: Keep detailed records of all communications with government officials, including meeting minutes and, where legally permissible, audio recordings. These records are crucial for defending the company in disputes.
- Practice caution: Avoid writing anything in correspondence that could be used against the company in arbitration.
4. 雇用有实战经验的律师
2024年的多个争端案例表明，一些矿业公司因选择经验不足的法律团队而在仲裁中失败。例如，一家非洲矿业公司因法律团队缺乏国际仲裁的实战经验，未能有效捍卫权益，最终不得不接受不利的和解条件。
Timothy 的建议：
矿业公司在选择法律团队时，应优先考虑其实际胜诉经验，而不仅仅是理论知识。经验丰富的律师不仅能够有效推动案件，还能最大化争取有利裁决，并确保裁决的执行。
4. Hire Lawyers with Proven Experience
In 2024, some mining companies hired inexperienced legal teams to manage disputes with sovereign governments, resulting in poor outcomes. For instance, a company in Africa lost a major arbitration case because its legal team lacked familiarity with the nuances of international arbitration.
Timothy’s recommendation:
Select legal teams with a track record of winning arbitration cases against sovereign states. Sovereign governments often recognize which law firms pose a genuine threat, so mining companies should rely on these proven experts.
总结：从挑战中寻找机遇
通过回顾2024年，Timothy 强调，矿业公司必须警惕全球政治环境的变化，并采取更加灵活的策略应对挑战。他指出，法律合规、风险管理和团队选择的专业化是企业稳步发展的关键。
对矿业从业者的寄语：2025年充满未知，但通过严谨的准备和审慎的决策，矿业公司完全可以在挑战中抓住机遇，实现更大的发展。
Conclusion: Turning Challenges into Opportunities
Reflecting on the events of 2024, Timothy emphasizes the need for mining companies to stay vigilant, adapt to evolving political landscapes, and adopt proactive risk management strategies. Success in 2025 will require rigorous legal compliance, meticulous documentation, and partnerships with experienced professionals.
Message to the industry: While the global mining sector faces many uncertainties, careful preparation and strategic decision-making can help companies overcome challenges and seize opportunities in the coming year.
本篇文章由云儿根据作者 Timothy Foden 的原文《New Year’s Resolutions for Miners – 2025》重新整理与编写。This article was rewritten and adapted by Yun’er based on the original article titled New Year’s Resolutions for Miners – 2025 by Timothy Foden.
关于作者：
Timothy Foden 是 Boies Schiller Flexner 的合伙人兼仲裁小组联合负责人，专注于代表矿业公司处理与主权国家的争端。他在2023年被评为“仲裁领域未来领袖的全球精英思想领袖”。
About the Author:
Timothy Foden is a partner and co-head of the arbitration group at Boies Schiller Flexner, specializing in representing mining companies in disputes with sovereign nations. In 2023, he was recognized as a "Global Elite Thought Leader" in the Future Leaders of Arbitration.
（信息来源：矿业杂志，公司网站，自媒体）
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