Oil, mining titans launch venture to tackle resource conflicts 

By Hannah Northey | 01/23/2025 01:30 PM EST

Resource Resolutions, a for-profit group, is focused on addressing conflict that may arise around mining and oil and gas development.

The sun sets behind an oil pump jack near Fredrick, Colorado.

The sun sets behind an oil pump jack near Fredrick, Colorado. Ed Andrieski/AP

Current and former global energy heavyweights have formed a new venture aimed at resolving conflicts around energy production.

The for-profit group, dubbed Resource Resolutions, is being led by Daniel Litvin, a former adviser to the metal and mining giant Rio Tinto who previously founded the advisory firm Critical Resource, and Chris Melville, who previously advised Tullow Oil Plc, an oil exploration company. Under the group’s current structure, governments, companies or organizations could hire Resource Resolutions to help resolve disputes around resource development, but founders of the group maintain they will not take sides and provide transparency throughout the process.

Litvin, who focused on sustainability and resource development at Critical Resource, said in an interview that the venture is focused on reducing societal and geopolitical conflict. Resource Resolutions, he said, plans to carefully select projects, mostly around minerals and renewable energy, and do a good amount of upfront work to assess if the situation could generate a “win-win” outcome.

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Resource Resolutions is kicking off as demand for critical minerals tied to defense and energy applications surges across the globe. At the same time, the Trump administration has signed off on a slew of executive orders that could open up more public land to both mining and oil and gas exploration and production.

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