Canadian mining company signs MoU with Mari Energies in South Asia push

Mari Energies has agreed to work with Canadian miner Ivanhoe Mines under a memorandum signed on Thursday at the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, Dawn reported. Ivanhoe chairman Robert Friedland said the company is beginning preparations for a Pakistan office and expects to sign a further memorandum on Friday.

The tie-up brings Ivanhoe into South Asia, while Mari’s mining arm, Mari Minerals, is already pursuing several mineral prospects in Pakistan, including copper and gold. Forum discussions also highlighted government efforts to attract mining capital: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz cited provincial facilitation measures, including financing of up to Rs5 billion, while Deputy Prime Minister Dar called for local processing and provincial participation in resource development.