Modelling & Advisory
We build intuitive, reliable financial models and pair them with practical guidance that supports planning, investment, and long-term performance.
Allocate costs accurately across processes, equipment, and activities to reveal the true cost drivers in your mining operation.
Why Standard Cost Allocation Fails in Mining
Traditional cost allocation in mining often relies on simple volume-based methods — distributing overhead costs evenly across tonnes mined or processed. This approach systematically misrepresents the true cost of different activities, products, and processes.
Activity-based costing (ABC) solves this by tracing costs to the activities that actually cause them, then allocating those activity costs to the products or processes that consume them. The result is a far more accurate picture of where money is being spent and why.
What We Deliver
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Activity identification and mapping across the full mining value chain
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Cost driver analysis — identifying what truly drives resource consumption
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Accurate allocation to give true cost per tonne, per metre, per product
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Scenario and what-if capability — change a plan and see the cost impact immediately
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Integration with budgets ensuring budgets reflect operational reality
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Forecast OPEX with transparency and structure CAPEX estimates for projects, expansions, and sustaining capital.
Getting Mining Costs Right
Operating and capital cost estimation is the foundation of every mining investment decision. In African mining, cost estimation carries additional complexity - volatile electricity costs, variable labour markets, supply chain challenges, and currency movements. A cost model built with generic assumptions will produce numbers that are precisely wrong.
163 Solutions builds cost models that reflect the specific realities of your operation and jurisdiction. Every cost line is linked to its underlying driver, escalated according to its own trajectory, and structured so that operational plan changes flow through to cost impacts immediately.
OPEX Coverage
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Mining costs - drilling, blasting, loading, hauling, ground support
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Processing costs - crushing, milling, flotation, smelting, refining
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Maintenance, labour, energy, consumables
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Surface infrastructure, G&A, logistics
CAPEX Coverage
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Initial capital - mine development, processing plant, infrastructure
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Sustaining capital - replacement equipment, ongoing development
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Expansion and closure capital
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Working capital modelling
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Long-horizon economic models that integrate production schedules, ore body characteristics, and cost drivers to support multi-decade planning, valuation, and strategic investment decisions.
Why Life-of-Mine Models Matter
A life-of-mine (LoM) model is the single most important financial tool for any mining operation. It captures the full economic picture of a mine from first ore to closure — projecting revenues, operating costs, capital expenditure, tax, royalties, and cash flows over the entire productive life of the asset.
For mining executives and investors, the LoM model is the foundation for every major decision: whether to proceed past a feasibility gate, how to optimise the mine plan, when to invest in expansion, and how to value the asset for M&A or reporting purposes.
What We Build
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At 163 Solutions, we build LoM models designed for ongoing use, not just a one-time feasibility deliverable:
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Driver-based: Every cost and revenue line linked to its underlying operational driver — production tonnes, ore grade, strip ratio, processing recovery, commodity price, and exchange rate.
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Scenario-ready: Built-in scenario switching to compare base case, upside, and downside futures side by side.
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Transparent and auditable: Clear separation of inputs, calculations, and outputs so anyone can follow the logic.
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Aligned to operational reality: We travel to site to understand the mining method, processing flow, and constraints before we start building.
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Multi-commodity capable: Experience across PGMs, copper, iron ore, gold, coal, manganese, nickel, diamonds, and cobalt.
From Excel to Anaplan
Many LoM models start in Excel, and for single-site operations that can work well. But as mining companies grow across multiple sites, the limitations become acute. As an official Anaplan implementation partner, we can help you migrate your LoM model into a connected Anaplan environment — preserving the business logic while unlocking real-time collaboration and instant scenario modelling.
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Driver-based budgeting tools aligned to operational realities — with rolling forecast capability to keep planning current.
Beyond the Annual Budget Cycle
The traditional annual budget process in mining is slow, labour-intensive, and often out of date before the financial year begins. Modern mining finance demands rolling forecasts, continuous planning, and the ability to reforecast quickly when conditions change.
Our Approach
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Operational drivers first — production plans and mining schedules drive the numbers, not top-down percentage adjustments
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Cost centre structure aligned to your organisation for clear accountability
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Rolling forecast capability — update monthly or quarterly without rebuilding
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Variance tracking — automated budget vs actual vs forecast comparison
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Multi-site consolidation — seamless rollup preserving site-level detail
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Board-ready outputs — automated reporting packs and dashboards
As both expert Excel modellers and certified Anaplan implementers, we can build your budget in either environment — or help you migrate from one to the other.
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Compare scenarios side by side, model sensitivities, and quantify risk to support investment decisions with confidence.
Beyond a Single NPV Number
A single-point valuation gives the illusion of precision but masks the range of possible outcomes. Mining Indaba 2026 highlighted that investment frameworks now incorporate 10-15 year horizons with multi-dimensional risk analysis. Scenario analysis is a requirement, not a nice-to-have.
What We Deliver
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DCF valuations with transparent assumptions and appropriate discount rates
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Scenario analysis: base, upside, downside, and custom scenarios compared side by side
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Sensitivity analysis: tornado charts showing which variables matter most
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Monte Carlo simulation: probabilistic modelling with probability-weighted outcomes
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Fair value and value-in-use assessments for accounting and impairment testing
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Comparative analysis of multiple project options or investment alternatives
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Independent financial assessments to validate assumptions, quantify risk, and support project stage-gates.
The Financial Backbone of Feasibility
A feasibility study is only as credible as its financial model. The geological resource, mining method, processing route, and infrastructure design all feed into the financial model - and it is the financial outcomes (NPV, IRR, payback) that determine whether a project proceeds.
We provide the financial modelling and advisory component from concept-level through to bankable feasibility, working alongside geological, mining engineering, and processing consultants.
What We Cover
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Capital and operating cost estimation
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Revenue modelling: production profiles, commodity prices, recoveries
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Tax and royalty modelling: jurisdiction-specific fiscal regimes across Africa
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Integrated three-statement financial model
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Sensitivity, scenario analysis, and economic evaluation (NPV, IRR, payback)
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Independent review and audit of financial models prepared by others
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Automated, accurate reporting packs linked directly to model drivers for real-time visibility
Software & Anaplan
We help organisations move from Excel-driven processes into a unified Anaplan environment that supports faster, more accurate, and more collaborative planning.
As an official Anaplan partner, we help mining companies move from siloed spreadsheets to connected, real-time planning.
Why Anaplan for Mining
Mining financial planning is uniquely complex. Multiple sites, multiple commodities, volatile prices, and remote operations create challenges that spreadsheets cannot handle at scale. Anaplan connects finance, operations, supply chain, and workforce planning onto a single platform where changes flow through in real time.
Both our directors are Anaplan Level 1 Certified and personally hands-on in every implementation. The people you meet in the pitch are the same people who deliver the work.
Our 6-Step Approach
1. Discovery & Scoping: understanding your processes, pain points, and desired outcomes. We visit operations first.
2. Model Design & Build: collaborative design with iterative sprint reviews
3. Data Integration: connecting Anaplan to your ERP and source systems
4. User Training: role-specific, hands-on training for every user type
5. Go-Live Support: on-site support through the first planning cycle
6. Ongoing Optimisation: maintenance, enhancements, and continuous improvement
Transition your existing spreadsheet models into a connected cloud environment - without losing the business logic your team trusts.
Excel Got You Here. Anaplan Takes You Further
There is nothing wrong with Excel. Most of the best financial models in mining were built in Excel. But there comes a point - multiple sites, dozens of budget contributors, critical scenario needs - where Excel reaches its limits. That is where Anaplan adds transformative value.
163 Solutions is uniquely positioned for this transition because we are genuinely fluent in both worlds. We build excellent Excel models and we implement Anaplan. We understand the business logic inside your spreadsheets and we know how to translate it.
Why Migrations Fail (And How We Prevent It)
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We understand the Excel model first: documenting business logic, not just cell references
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We design for Anaplan: not just copying a flat spreadsheet into a new tool
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We preserve what works: trusted calculations and report formats are maintained
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We run parallel: both systems running until your team validates the results
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We train thoroughly: every Excel user needs to feel confident in Anaplan before cutover
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Build collaborative budgeting and forecasting processes that link operations to finance in real time
Model multiple futures instantly to support faster, more confident decisions
Real-time visibility across KPIs, cost centres, and operational drivers
Connect Anaplan to your ERP, source systems, and reporting tools for automated data flows
Post go-live model maintenance, user support, and continuous improvement
Change Management
Successful transformation depends on people, not just technology. We ensure new ways of working become part of everyday practice.
Successful transformation depends on people. We ensure new ways of working become everyday practice; on-site, across Africa.
Technology Without Adoption is Waste
We consistently see mining companies invest heavily in new systems, only to find teams revert to spreadsheets six months after go-live. The technology works. But the people never changed the way they work. At 163 Solutions, change management is a core part of every engagement.
Our Approach
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On-site, face-to-face: We travel to your operations - DRC, East Africa, Southern Africa; because remote training alone does not drive adoption in mining.
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Role-specific training: Tailored to mine planners, cost accountants, and executives separately.
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Scalable digital learning: Through Insights Online and FLEX Digital Training System for large-scale rollouts.
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Adoption tracking: We monitor who is using the system, who is not, and why.
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Capability building: Developing internal champions so your organisation becomes self-sufficient.
Why Africa Needs a Different Approach
Change management designed for London or Sydney offices does not work at a mine site in Limpopo or Kolwezi. Operations are remote, connectivity limited, workforces diverse. Where other firms see Africa as too high-risk to travel to, we pack bags and get to site. That presence is what drives real adoption.
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Developing internal skills so your organisation isn't dependent on external consultants long-term
Scalable digital training through our Insights Online partnership for large-scale rollouts
Monitoring and reporting on user adoption to ensure transformation sticks