Abstract
It is noted that over the last few years the implementation of several mineral exploration, development and mining projects has been suspended and even completely stopped due to resistance from local communities. The key concerns of local residents typically include perceived or real impact of mining enterprises on the environment, unfair distribution of profits from mining and exploration activities, insufficient contributions to local government budgets and lack of transparency regarding ultimate ownership of companies conducting exploration and mining. The article looks at social conflicts of this kind and suggests some alternative solutions that could prevent such conflicts at the stage of granting exploration and mining rights.
Highlights
IntroductionSubsoil use is activity pertaining to geological exploration, mining, including utilization of waste products of mining and related processing industries, construction and operation of underground facilities unrelated to mineral production, special protection of geological features of scientific, cultural, aesthetic, sanitary and other value (scientific and training grounds, geological reserves, caves and other undergrounds areas), sampling mineral, paleontological, and other geological materials for collection purposes
Social Conflicts in Subsoil UseSubsoil use is activity pertaining to geological exploration, mining, including utilization of waste products of mining and related processing industries, construction and operation of underground facilities unrelated to mineral production, special protection of geological features of scientific, cultural, aesthetic, sanitary and other value, sampling mineral, paleontological, and other geological materials for collection purposes.Over the past ten years, a number of exploration and mining projects in various countries have been delayed or stopped as a result of strong opposition from local communities
Similar examples in other countries with the participation of different peoples and local communities indicate some real trends of increasing negative attitude of the local population toward any exploration and mining work, regardless of exploration methods, mining systems and environmental protection measures
Summary
Subsoil use is activity pertaining to geological exploration, mining, including utilization of waste products of mining and related processing industries, construction and operation of underground facilities unrelated to mineral production, special protection of geological features of scientific, cultural, aesthetic, sanitary and other value (scientific and training grounds, geological reserves, caves and other undergrounds areas), sampling mineral, paleontological, and other geological materials for collection purposes. The Arshanovsky coal mine will be located 1 km from local towns and, according to residents, it will become impossible to live in its proximity due to the foreseen high concentrations of gas and dust, on the site, which a planned depth of 200 m Under these conditions adjacent agricultural lands will be almost impossible to cultivate, which in turn might lead to the disappearance of four ancient villages populated by natives at the moment. Often local populations protest against currently running exploration and mining projects, and against proposed auctions and tenders that distribute the rights to eventually explore and develop various deposits of mineral resources (Table 1).
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