The essay, titled Sustainable Development in the Mining and Minerals Sector: The case for Partnership at the Local, National, and Global Levels, was written by Kathryn McPhail of the International Council for Mining & Metals (ICMM). Here is an extract from the abstract:
The objective of ICMM’s research was to identify the critical factors that have allowed some countries to benefit from their substantial resource endowments and to avoid the so-called ‘resource curse’. From the start of the initiative, the hope was to identify the practical steps that might be taken by the mining industry and others, such as governments, local communities and development agencies to enhance the positive impacts of mineral resource investments.
Phase 1 of the Resource Endowment initiative comprised a comprehensive literature review, a quantitative analysis of the performance of 33 mineral dependent countries across a range of socio-economic indicators, and the development of a toolkit to document the impacts (both good and bad) of individual mining projects at a local, regional and national level.
Phase 2 of the project saw the toolkit being applied in four country field-based case studies – Peru, Chile, Ghana and Tanzania. The findings from the four country case studies were synthesized into a single report along with a series of recommendations for industry, host governments, donor organizations and NGOs.
ICMM Wins Bronze Award in World Bank Essay Competition
June 24, 2008 by cawrseHZL leading the way in CSR in India
June 23, 2008 by cawrse
A recent report of Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in India indicts the mining industry for its poor environmental and social responsibility performance, but independent studies by Operational Research Group (ORG) Centre for Social Research shows that not all mining companies are the same, with Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), India’s leading zinc producer, taking a leading role when it comes to corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Although mining is considered by many to be an industry which often causes community displacement, environmental degradation and exploitation, the studies show that for communities surrounding HZL operations, there was a remarkable 72% growth in basic services like safe drinking water, improved sanitary conditions, nutrition of children through mid-day meal, enrolment of pre-nursery school children in Child Welfare Centres and self-employment activities of rural youth and women.
There has also been 40% participation of women in village development committees, and 80% enabled to contribute to family income and developed confidence to voice their concerns in village development committees.
The CEO of HZL, M S Mehta, says HZL is committed to give back to the people and environment. “Two things were paramount in our mind in the entire chain of events. One environment health safety and second corporate social responsibility. We are operating in an area around which there are villages below poverty line. They are not exposed to the modern world, no competency and opportunity for people work. We started working in these areas specially for competence building, agriculture consulting, guidance, seed, health, supply of water during water scarcity.”
Canada Leads Best Practice in Mining Sustainability
June 18, 2008 by cawrse
A new study by Five Winds/Strandberg Consulting indicates that the Mining Association of Canada’s (MAC) Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative has positioned Canada’s mining industry as a leader in sustainable development.
The study was based on a set of benchmarks emerging from a report completed in 2007 for Natural Resources Canada on the Role of Industry Associations in the Promotion of Sustainability. The study concludes that TSM:
- is credible, comprehensive and relevant
- provides excellent opportunities for networking and shared learning among peer members
- has helped put sustainable development on the radar screen of member companies
- is addressing emerging issues, such as biodiversity
- enables successful engagement of stakeholders
- enjoys the high commitment of MAC Board
- leads best practice through implementation of third party verification
“The TSM program is a world class example of the leadership role an industry association can play in promoting sustainable development,” stated Kevin Brady, Director of Five Winds International. “It meets or exceeds best practice on the key benchmarks we examined and the program is well positioned to help MAC’s members respond to market expectations on the sustainability performance of materials in the 21st Century.”
New CE of Sustainability Victoria from Mining Sector
June 18, 2008 by cawrse
Anita Roper has appointed as the new Chief Executive of Sustainability Victoria, the State Government’s sustainability body. She has extensive experience in the mining sector, having worked for aluminium producer Alcoa as the Director of Sustainability in New York and for the International Council on Mining and Metals as Acting Secretary General and Chief Operating Officer in London.
Mining to Green the World?
June 12, 2008 by cawrse
Here’s some food for thought from David Parker, chair of the Mining Association of British Columbia, Canada.
He claims that because more than 90 per cent of solar panels require silver; hybrid cars use more copper and nickel than a conventional car; and 170 tonnes of coal are needed to produce a 70-metre-high wind turbine, society will continue to need mining as its citizens embrace environmentalism.
Yet mining tends to fall under the radar, something people don’t want to think about. Paraphrasing Germany’s first chancellor Otto von Bismarck: “mining is like making sausages, we all enjoy the end result, but no one wants to see where it comes from”.
Mine Closure 2007
October 13, 2007 by cawrse
The Second International Seminar on Mine Closure takes place in Santiago, Chile between October 16-19. More than 90 presentations will be heard over the three days in the following categories:
- Legal and Regulatory Requirements
- Criteria for Closure
- Costs and Financing
- Monitoring
- Water and Acid Water Management
- Revegetation and Phytostabilization
- Reclamation and Rehabilitation
- Closure in Extreme Environments
- Cover Design
Mining industry prepares for climate change
July 22, 2007 by cawrse
The Mining Journal has published an article which details the major risks to the industry, and the response by the big players. There is widespread recognition that carbon trading is inevitable, but nonetheless, coal is here to stay. The industry’s R&D focus is on clean coal technology rather than renewables. With Kyoto expiring in 2012, the message is ‘act now or lose out’.
Using natural resources as peacebuilding tools in Africa
June 25, 2007 by cawrse
In the latest ECSP publication, Report From Africa, eight African leaders and scholars describe their continent’s struggle with conflict over resources and the possibilities for peace that population and environment initiatives may hold. They claim a commitment to sustainability could help turn deadly environments into safe, sustainable neighborhoods.
Nobel Laureate Wangari Maathai says that poor governance and mismanagement of resources spur the violence that plagues many countries in Africa. “Below the thin layer of racial and ethnic chauvinism, religion, and politics, the real reason for many conflicts is the struggle for the access to and control of the limited resources on our planet.” But she sees hope: “When we manage our resources sustainably and practice good governance we deliberately and consciously promote cultures of peace,” said Maathai.
Another African leader, President Marc Ravalomanana of Madagascar, saw the devastation wrought by poverty and unsustainable population growth in his country, and dreamed of a different path. “We can build a strong economy, invest in our people, and maintain the nation’s precious natural treasures.”
The devastating civil conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) was fueled by global demand for the country’s enormous stores of valuable minerals and extensive forests. Instead of being engines of growth, these resources “have largely been to blame for most of the past and current misfortunes visited on the Congolese people,” says John Katunga, who warns that unless the United States and others help the DRC develop stable institutions, governance structures, and regulations to control natural resources, “the country’s forests and minerals will once again be prey for deadly predators, and the people of the DRC will be doomed to repeat their tragic cycle.”
The Nigerian oil industry’s history of spills, lax environmental regulations, and government complicity has severely degraded the rich Niger Delta. Kenneth Omeje sees the residents’ “formidable struggle of unrelenting violent protests, including oil theft, pipeline sabotage, and kidnappings” as an attempt to capture the spoils from corrupt elites. To stop the violence, he is calling for international efforts to hold the oil industry to standards of social and environmental responsibility; and disarm and demobilize all Niger Delta militias and anti-oil combatants.
South Africa to increase local community ownership of mining operations
June 25, 2007 by cawrse
South Africa plans to change its laws to increase communities’ ownership of the mining industry. A team had been appointed to investigate adapting the laws to give larger stakes in operations to communities located near mines and those supplying labour. As yet it is unclear whether the new laws would apply retrospectively. Read the full story here.
Environmental permitting the mining industry growth limiter
June 20, 2007 by cawrse
A top executive of the world’s second largest mining company, CVRD, says that environmental permitting is the largest stumbling block for growth; ahead of labour, resources, and access to capital. José Carlos Martins addressed mining industry leaders at the first Melbourne Mining Club luncheon to be held in London. Listen to Mr Martins’ speech here.
