Team

From the field to the boardroom: 21 years in critical minerals.

Prudentia Mineralis is an independent advisory firm focused on critical minerals. It brings together mining engineering, international trade and executive experience at listed companies under one roof.

Sait Uysal

Founder · UMREK & JORC Competent Person

Mining executive with a 21-year international trade and mining career, focused on critical and battery raw materials (graphite, vanadium, titanium, manganese, nickel, rare earths) across ASX-listed and private companies.

Combines a mining engineering degree and UMREK/JORC Competent Person status with an international trade background, covering the full cycle from project development and due diligence to market entry, off-take negotiation and P&L responsibility. Most recently Chief Marketing Officer at Sierra Rutile; previously led global marketing for Syrah Resources’ Balama graphite project and for Mineral Commodities. Founder of Critical Minerals Initiative Türkiye.

UMREK / JORC Competent PersonDue diligence and valuationM&AOff-take negotiationMarket entryProcess developmentFinancial modellingBoard and investor relations

Selected impact

US$100M+Sales and P&L under commercial responsibility at Sierra Rutile (US$50M+ at Mineral Commodities)
US$300M+Balama CAPEX decisions informed by commercial and market input (total investment c. US$800M)
US$10M+Skaland Graphite Mine acquisition: due diligence, valuation, negotiation and Board recommendation
~100Mining projects reviewed across Türkiye

Experience

2025 – 2026Chief Marketing OfficerSierra Rutile Limited

Commercial responsibility for US$100M+ in sales and associated P&L. Turnaround of the global marketing function, new product blends and commercial routes for by-products including rare-earth concentrate (monazite).

2010 – 2025Founder & Managing DirectorSpil Mining Ltd.

Transactions and investments typically in the US$1–15M range: due diligence, valuation, negotiation, Board and investor recommendation. Development work on the Tethys Ocean (Mn-Ni-Co) and Amasis (Fe-Ti-V) projects and on graphite, antimony, rare-earth and lead-zinc projects.

2020 – 2022Technical Development DirectorBluecap Resources / Turkuaz Mining A.Ş.

Metal-recovery projects from slags and tailings, including the Gümüşköy polymetallic project (Pb, Zn, Ag, Au, Fe, Ga). Process-development programmes with UK and Canadian laboratories.

2018 – 2019Marketing ManagerMineral Commodities Ltd. (ASX: MRC)

Global marketing with US$50M+ sales responsibility for a mineral sands and graphite producer. Due diligence, valuation and negotiation of the Skaland Graphite Mine acquisition, Norway.

2012 – 2018Global Marketing ManagerSyrah Resources Ltd. (ASX: SYR)

Advanced the Balama Graphite and Vanadium Project (Mozambique) from early development to production. Anode-grade graphite development with Panasonic and Mitsubishi Chemical; vanadium for redox flow batteries with Sumitomo Electric.

2008 – 2012Country Manager – TürkiyeBlack Mountain Minerals Holding (UK)

Established and managed Turkish operations: project development, audits and commercialisation of ores and concentrates (Pb, Zn, Sb, Mn, graphite, Cu). Reviewed around 100 projects across Türkiye.

Earlier: Karabacak Mining (graphite and antimony), 2007 · Barsan Global Logistics, 2005–2007

Selected projects

Balama Graphite & VanadiumMozambique
Skaland GraphiteNorway
Munglinup GraphiteWestern Australia
Tormin Mineral SandsSouth Africa
Margosa GraphiteSri Lanka
Gümüşköy slag recoveryTürkiye
Fly-ash V-Ni-Mo recoveryTürkiye
Tethys OceanMn-Ni-Co
AmasisFe-Ti-V

Industry leadership & publications

2023 – present

Founder, Critical Minerals Initiative Türkiye

Türkiye’s first non-profit initiative dedicated to critical minerals, convening industry, academia, public institutions and international stakeholders.

April 2024

Türkiye Critical Minerals Summit

Organised the inaugural summit: 250+ attendees and 35 speakers from 18 countries.

Speaking & writing

~20 talks, 10+ articles

Talks at local and international conferences; articles in sector publications on critical minerals, graphite and vanadium.

Professional bodies

Chamber of Mining Engineers of Türkiye

Alternate board member, İzmir Branch. Former board member, Mining Engineers Professional Development Association.

Education & credentials

Competent Person UMREK (Türkiye) and JORC
B.Sc.Mining EngineeringDokuz Eylül University, İzmir (2020)
B.A.International TradeCelal Bayar University, Manisa (2004)
LanguagesTurkish, EnglishTurkish (native), English (professional), Russian (beginner)

How we work

Verified sources

Findings trace back to primary documents, official data and field checks. Every claim in a report is referenced.

Independence

We take no positions in projects we assess. Our conclusions are not tied to deal outcomes.

Local depth, international language

Turkish-language sources, regulatory practice and institutional relationships, presented in a format international investors can use.

Report request