Makor Resources announced the launch of MineHive, a pioneering social initiative designed to empower artisanal, small-scale, and community miners (ASM) by giving them access to the same knowledge, networks, and authentic data often reserved for large-scale industry players.
MineHive isn’t a certification or compliance platform, it’s a learning and connection space. It empowers miners through access to knowledge, tools, and community while encouraging responsible practices in their own operations. Participation is voluntary and self-directed, reflecting MineHive’s commitment to empowerment over enforcement.
A new kind of platform for a new kind of mining future
“MineHive was created to bring humanity back into the conversation around artisanal and small-scale mining,” said Brooke Bibeault, CEO of Makor Resources. “For too long, ASM has been spoken about but rarely spoken with. This platform changes that. It’s social by design – built on WhatsApp, built for connection, and built to make knowledge accessible to anyone with a mobile phone.”
Bibeault continued, “We’ve spent years on the ground seeing how information gaps hold back progress. MineHive closes those gaps by giving miners direct access to safety training, sustainability resources, and real-time market insight – but just as importantly, to each other. The real power lies in the network itself.”
She added, “The future of responsible mining won’t be defined by policies alone. It will be defined by how connected, informed, and included people are at every level of the value chain. MineHive is about creating that inclusion – a living community, not a compliance checklist.”
A tool for industry collaboration and risk reduction
Ricus Grimbeek, former BHP Executive and now Chairman and Co-Founder of Makor Resources, said the platform fills a critical gap for mining companies, investors, and governments.
“Every mining company in Africa is aware of the role ASM plays in the broader landscape. What’s been missing is a clear and practical way to engage with those miners constructively. MineHive provides that bridge. It builds transparency, it builds relationships, and it builds pathways toward formalisation – all of which reduce risk for the industry as a whole.”
Grimbeek continued, “This is not about replacing existing systems; it’s about complementing them. MineHive gives the sector visibility into what’s happening at the grassroots – a way to understand the realities, not just the reports. That level of insight strengthens ESG performance and social license, while supporting long-term stability in mining regions.”
What MineHive offers
- Knowledge sharing – Digital training, starting with a free session on 11th November 2025, plus accessible materials on legislation, sustainability, safety, and responsible practices.
- Community engagement – WhatsApp and digital forums connecting miners with one another, Makor’s network, and key industry stakeholders.
- Authentic data access – Real-time pricing visibility and grassroots-level insights into mineral flows that strengthen transparency.
Chiko Mando, artisanal mining advocate and Makor partner, underscored the importance of inclusion:
“Artisanal miners are part of Africa’s mining story. MineHive gives them visibility, information, and dignity – a seat at the table instead of life on the margins. It’s simple technology being used to create real change.”
Proven model, scaled for communities
MineHive builds on Makor Resources’ Hubology Model, tested successfully with large-scale operators in Zambia. The model demonstrates how integration – not elimination – creates stronger compliance, transparency, and growth outcomes.
“Mining companies across Africa are looking for ways to engage responsibly with ASM communities,” Grimbeek said. “MineHive provides that pathway. It’s practical, transparent, and scalable – a model of shared opportunity built on respect.”
Bibeault added, “Our Hubology work proved that partnership drives progress. MineHive is simply the next evolution – taking what works at a large-scale operational level and translating it into something accessible and inclusive for communities.”
Advancing the UN SDGs
By equipping miners with access to networks, knowledge, and authentic data, MineHive contributes directly to:
- SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – Integrating miners into safer, more transparent markets.
- SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – Leveling the playing field through access to tools and networks.
- SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production – Promoting sustainable practices from the ground up.
“MineHive embodies what development should look like in the modern mining era,” Bibeault said. “It’s grounded in real relationships, accessible technology, and shared accountability. That’s how you make the SDGs tangible.”
A platform for collaboration and impact
“MineHive is an invitation,” Bibeault concluded. “It’s for miners seeking opportunity, for companies looking to engage, and for investors and funders who want to see measurable impact. Connection is the currency of the future – and MineHive is how we start investing in it.”
Grimbeek added, “Mining’s next chapter will be written through collaboration. When industry and communities have access to the same information, we all make better decisions – and that’s the real foundation for sustainable growth.”
