The hidden cost of loss
Theft and fraud at mine sites rarely announce themselves. Small, persistent losses of gold, fuel, explosives, consumables or equipment blend into reconciliation differences and accepted variance. Procurement and contractor fraud can run for years before anyone looks closely.
MineRight looks closely. We combine operational security experience with structured analysis to test whether losses are happening, how large they are, and where controls are failing.
Common loss areas we examine
- Gold room, processing plant and high-grade ore security
- Fuel, diesel and consumables theft
- Explosives and controlled materials accountability
- Inventory, warehouse and equipment losses
- Procurement, contractor and invoicing fraud
- Insider collusion and links to illegal or artisanal mining networks
How we work
Exposure review
We review production, reconciliation and inventory data alongside site processes to identify where losses could be occurring and how large they might be.
Control testing
Physical, procedural and access controls are tested on site — from gold room procedures and camera coverage to access, search and chain-of-custody practices.
Loss quantification
We estimate the financial impact with a clear, defensible method that management and Boards can rely on.
Investigation support
Where theft or fraud is identified, we support investigation to evidentiary standards and coordinate with your legal team or authorities as needed.
Prevention strategy
A practical, proportionate prevention plan covering controls, technology, people and culture — designed to work without escalating community or workforce tension.
What you receive
- A loss exposure assessment with quantified estimates
- A control gap analysis across physical, procedural and personnel security
- Prioritised prevention recommendations with indicative costs and benefits
- Investigation findings, where an investigation is commissioned
- Management and Board briefing materials
Relevant experience
- Developed a gold theft reduction strategy with measurable financial recovery
- Established the security function at Newcrest Mining from the ground up
- Co-led an artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and illegal mining mitigation program in Indonesia
- More than 18 years of mining security work across 15 countries
Frequently asked questions
How do we know if we have a theft problem?
Warning signs include unexplained reconciliation differences, grade or recovery shortfalls, fuel use that does not match activity, repeat inventory write-offs, and concentrated access to high-value material. An exposure review tests these signals against your data and controls.
Will a theft review disrupt operations?
We design reviews to be discreet and to fit around production. Much of the early work is data and document analysis, followed by targeted site testing.
Can you help if we already suspect a specific person or group?
Yes. We can move quickly into an investigation, working to evidentiary standards and protecting chain of custody so findings can support disciplinary, civil or criminal action.
Do you work with illegal mining and ASM-related losses?
Yes. We have co-led ASM and illegal mining mitigation work and understand how to address it without inflaming community conflict.