Dig Deep Ethiopian Operations and Maintaining Integrity Under Acceleration - with Jorgen Evjen
In this episode, we chat with Jorgen Evjen, CEO of Akobo Minerals, a Scandinavian-based gold producer and exploration company with operations in Ethiopia. They have quietly taken one of the most unconventional paths in modern gold mining, from years of uncertainty and capital pressure to the high-grade Segele discovery. This story is as much about judgment, discipline and trust as it is about geology.
We talk about the moment the project became real, what “responsible mining” actually means when decisions have consequences on the ground, and why Ethiopia’s perceived risk often differs from reality. We’ll also explore execution where plans met friction and how leadership assumptions had to change when operating far from a typical Nordic environment.
Finally, we look forward: investor pressure, maintaining integrity under acceleration and what Akobo’s next phase truly depends on over the coming 12-24 months.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Akobo Minerals has taken an unconventional path in gold mining, transitioning from years of uncertainty and capital pressure to achieving significant discoveries, particularly the high-grade Segele discovery in Ethiopia.
- Building strong relationships with local authorities and understanding the cultural context are crucial for navigating the regulatory landscape.
- The company's approach to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) has shifted from a theoretical framework to practical, on-the-ground actions.
- Akobo Minerals faced significant operational challenges, including delays due to external factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and local conflicts.
BEST MOMENTS
- "In 2015, we did an RC drilling campaign. It didn't come up with much. At that point, we were a bit like, okay, this is hard, this is difficult. But we kept on going."
- "Trust is undervalued or underestimated. It's number one in my book. I cannot compromise, even though I'm being told to compromise."
- "You have to work within the local framework. In Norway, we have an extremely flat management structure. In Ethiopia, you have an extremely silo-based management system."
- "We’re cash flow positive, we can finally lift site from the mine and back on to exploration. The mine will produce, we’re doing a new vertical shaft that will close to 10 double the output by the end of the year."
GUEST RESOURCES
Website: https://www.akobominerals.com
Email: jorgen@akobominerals.com
LinkedIn (Company): https://www.linkedin.com/company/akobominerals/
LinkedIn (Personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jorgen-evjen
X - https://x.com/akobominerals
VALUABLE RESOURCES
Mail: rob@mining-international.org
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/
X: https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast
Web: http://www.mining-international.org
CONTACT METHOD
rob@mining-international.org
https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/
Podcast Description
Rob Tyson is an established recruiter in the mining and quarrying sector and decided to produce the “Dig Deep” The Mining Podcast to provide valuable and informative content around the mining industry. He has a passion and desire to promote the industry and the podcast aims to offer the mining community an insight into people’s experiences and careers covering any mining discipline, giving the listeners helpful advice and guidance on industry topics.
This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/