First, over the past period, I’ve had conversations with a number of private investors regarding potential investment opportunities in family-owned mining sites within parts of the Sahel region, particularly Niger. One pattern I consistently noticed during these discussions was that many investors appeared significantly more concerned about the perceived security and geopolitical risks of the region than the actual operational realities experienced locally on the ground. What made this especially interesting to me is that, from a local perspective, many mining activities and business operations continue functioning relatively normally when proper regulations, trusted local partnerships, and standard security measures are maintained. I personally know of local companies and mining-related businesses that continue operating, completing contracts, and working with international clients despite the broader regional perception. At the same time, countries like Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso possess major untapped natural resource potential, including uranium, gold, petroleum, gas, and other minerals. In many cases, it feels as though the perception of instability itself becomes a stronger barrier to investment than the day-to-day operational reality on the ground. This may lead to a loss of opportunities for both Sahel countries and international investors. So I’m curious to hear your perspectives: What are the most effective ways for local private mining projects or family-owned mining operations in higher-risk perceived regions to build investor confidence and bridge this gap between external perception and local operational reality?

What I noticed in general is that most people I meet are not naturally curious as to why things are the way they are. In my opinion, this should be different. Curiosity is what got us here and what can potentially get us to greater heights.

Join our next live session this Wednesday with Waqar Khan — former SLB leader who has run $4.5B+ business lines, now working with energy startups at Enertech Scale Up. This is real insight from someone who’s operated at the highest level — across shale, offshore, deepwater, and global strategy. We’ll cover: • His outlook on strategy • How the industry actually works at scale • Leadership & decision-making under pressure • What the next generation needs to understand now 👉 Sign up now to secure your spot: https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/10baf07c-e6e3-4567-8410-a13996155fc5@487c3e0e-062a-48c8-8c4b-d61a3e8e3f00

Hello everyone, my name is Mohammed Alhelali, a Materials Science and Engineering student at KFUPM. I am particularly interested in the intersection of material performance and energy operations, especially how engineering solutions can improve efficiency, reliability, and environmental performance in oil and gas systems. My long-term goal is to contribute to making energy operations more sustainable by reducing emissions while maintaining operational efficiency. I am especially interested in how technical decisions at the field level connect with broader strategic priorities in the industry. I am excited to be part of the TEE360 Future Energy Leaders Network and look forward to learning from diverse perspectives, engaging in meaningful discussions, and gaining insights into how the future of energy is being shaped.

My biggest personal takeaway from the session: A lot of things in energy aren’t impossible — they’re a question of will, execution, and economics. Today, we covered everything from building NESR to leadership, energy transition, and scaling in complex markets. What stayed with you most? Drop your thoughts and reflections in the comments You can find the session recording on the classroom section of the community! And if you enjoyed the session make sure to comment and repost the following post on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/posts/emiliofaulmata_just-this-afternoon-it-was-a-pleasure-to-share-7450232579431034881-dJKo?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAADjn5nwBjGCda-BdkFMTt_ppLAzriqsNUxU