Mineral-rich Countries Research Articles

The elephant in the mine: Why voluntary sustainability standards are insufficient to ensure responsible mining

Environmental, social, and governance standards, along with mining sustainability and transparency initiatives, have taken centre stage in mainstream discussions about how society can source energy transition minerals responsibly. While we acknowledge the importance of private voluntary sustainability standards for improving mining performance and accountability, these must support and complement the crucial regulatory role played by the state and its enforcing agencies in resource-rich countries. From this perspective, we argue that the quality of public institutions remains ‘the elephant’ often overlooked in the room of global mining standards, and we call for re-centring the responsible mining debate around it.Tailings dam failures and uncertainties on the water impacts of brine-based lithium mining provide examples of why institutional strengthening in mineral-rich countries is crucial. The responsible mining agenda and its implementing instruments should shift from a focus on companies’ performances to one that is embedded in society with the aim of building trust in the sector and its governing authorities. For countries rich in transition minerals, this entails, among other things, reviewing organisational structures, strengthening authorities’ enforcement capacities, and allocating sufficient budget for regulators to deliver their oversight duties and avoid over-reliance on private standards.

Fintech and green finance revolutionizing carbon emission reduction through green energy projects in mineral-rich countries

The primary objective of this study is to examine the impact of green finance, fintech, and renewable energy on the eight mineral-rich countries, namely Russia, the United States, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Iran, China, Brazil, and Australia. In addition to that, the study has also examined the moderating role of renewable energy in the relationship between fintech, green finance, and CO2 emissions. The study is among the pioneers to investigate the issues related to fintech, green finance, renewable energy, and CO2 emissions in eight mineral-rich countries. The study used data from eight mineral-rich countries over a 30-year period, from 1990 to 2019. To achieve the research objectives, the study has employed a robust estimate, namely MMQR. The MMQR approach is a robust technique that determines the impact of green finance, fintech, and renewable energy across different quartiles. The results of the study highlight that an increase in green financial practices, fintech adoption, and the use of renewable energy help mineral-rich countries reduce CO2 emissions. The study's findings provide policymakers with guidelines for making informed decisions in selected economies. In addition to that, the results of the study demonstrate the importance of incorporating renewable energy into the energy mix. The study not only improves our understanding of the interconnections between these factors, but it also establishes a strong foundation for future research and policymaking.

Integrating fintech in natural resource management: Assessing the EKC hypothesis for sustainable development in E7 countries

The main objective of the study is to examine the impact of green finance, fintech and mineral resources on environmental sustainability is of great importance in the E7 nations namely Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Russia, and Turkey. The E7 countries are selected as these countries are mineral rich countries and account for a major portion of global mineral export. The data of twenty-five years spanning from 1998 to 2022 is used for the analysis. The study has employed the three measures namely carbon dioxide emissions, ecological footprint, green economic growth to conceptualize the sustainable growth. For the data analysis the study has employed the nonlinear auto-regressive distributed lag (NL-ARDL) model. The results of the study highlights that encouraging and promoting the green finance, and fintech in E7 countries promote sustainable growth, by reducing CO2 emission, improving economic growth, and reducing ecological footprints. The results of the study are in line with the proposition of EKC hypothesis. Moreover, the results of the study also highlight that mineral resource abundance have significant impact of environment sustainability. The study suggests that E7 countries should establish dedicated funds or subsidies to help businesses transition to green technologies and practices, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises. Fintech is seen as a transformative tool in advancing environmental sustainability by improving financial service efficiency and offering new green investment platforms in E7 countries. This could help mitigate initial costs associated with green technology adoption.

Foreign trade, foreign direct investment, and urban inequality: The effects of China

ABSTRACT The concentration of population and socioeconomic activities in large cities in developing countries has sparked broad concerns regarding inequality in national urban systems (NUS). This paper examines how Chinese foreign trade and overseas foreign direct investment (OFDI) affected host countries’ NUS from 2000 to 2018. Chinese foreign trade reduced NUS inequality, particularly countries with more cultural distance from China, while OFDI increased NUS inequality only in mineral-rich countries. For Asian Belt and Road countries (BRCs), Chinese foreign trade reduced NUS inequality, especially those with greater institutional distance to China and more government intervention. Chinese OFDI plays the opposite effect, notably for high government intervention countries. Globally, roles of foreign trade and OFDI change with resource endowments and cultural distance, while for Asian BRCs, these roles change with institutional distance and government intervention. This paper bridges gaps in the effects of Chinese foreign trade and OFDI on NUS inequality.

State-of-Art of Heavy Machinery Monitoring System, Peru case study

This paper delves into the present landscape of heavy machinery monitoring systems in South America, with a particular emphasis on Peru. Through a comparative analysis of Peru and other mineral-rich countries in the region, the study unveils both the technological advancements and unique challenges faced by Peru. Beginning with a macro-analysis encompassing various heavy machinery monitoring systems throughout South America, the research further conducts a micro-analysis specifically tailored to the Peruvian context. The objective is to furnish a comprehensive examination of heavy machinery monitoring practices in South America. Detailed insights and current challenges are outlined in each segment, providing a nuanced understanding of the heavy machinery monitoring landscape within Peru’s mining sector. Additionally, a dedicated discussion chapter on sustainability has been incorporated to address pertinent environmental concerns.

Can Extractive Industries Make Countries Happy? What Are Potential Implications for the Geoscientist? Overview and Case Study Examples from Papua New Guinea and Worldwide

Geoscientists are involved in both the upstream and downstream side of the extractive industries. As explorationists and field geologists, they are often the first technical people related to extractive industries that communities meet. It is imperative in an increasingly globalized and holistic world that geoscientists gain greater awareness of the socio-economic impact of extractive industries and become a more proactive part of improving outcomes for all with respect to extractive industries. When Jigme Singye Wangchuk, the King of Bhutan, first suggested the concept of ‘Gross National Happiness’ (GNH) in 1972, it was met with widespread cynicism and puzzlement. Was the concept meaningful in a hard, economically competitive world? A series of measures, including the Human Development Index (HDI), the Gini Coefficient (GC), and the now annual World Happiness Report (WHR), are evolutionary responses to the 1972 GNH and are widely accepted as proxy measures of holistic human progress. These measures go beyond the narrow confines of Gross Domestic Product and similar economic proxies, placing economic parameters alongside the social, environmental, spiritual, human rights, health, and holistic societal issues. The broad conclusions of the plethora of metrics are that ‘happiness’ links to issues and ideas such as equity, minimal economic inequality, excellent governance, human rights, individual freedom, and so forth. We ask the question: what is the relationship between extractive industries (EIs) and GNH? We present a wide range of data and analytical diagrams/text examining potential correlations and associations between GNH and EIs. We examine potential relationships using global data and case studies for Papua New Guinea, Mongolia, the DRC, and Jamaica. The conclusions of this analysis of course suggest a complex relationship between EIs and GNH. We acknowledge that in situations of weak governance and institutions, EIs struggle to make any tangible difference with respect to GNH. A counter conclusion that EIs may even be a major cause of weak governance, which in turn suppresses happiness, must be seriously considered. We document examples where EIs have made a definitive positive improvement to GNH. Data suggest that hydrocarbon-rich countries have made better progress with respect to GNH than mineral-rich countries. However, the main conclusion is that the link between EIs and GNH remains a work in progress, and that a narrow focus on profit and shareholder return is an antithetical approach to the GNH paradigm. A key recommendation is that industry must adopt a far more active role (rather than merely a passive role) with respect to translating the many potential benefits of EIs into GNH than has hitherto been the case.

Does the use of cocoa farmlands for artisanal small-scale gold mining really increase household food insecurity? Evidence from Ghana

In recent years, the use of cocoa farmlands for artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) in mineral rich countries in sub-Saharan Africa has been on ascendency. Previous studies have examined the environmental, health and livelihood implications of the land use decision. Notably, studies on the indirect effects of the food security implications of the nexus between ASGM and agriculture abounds but limited attention has been given to the direct effect of using farmlands for ASGM on household food security. Using a primary cross-sectional data on 400 cocoa farmers in the Amansie West District of Ghana and an endogenous switching regression model, this study analyzes the impact of using cocoa farmlands for ASGM on household-specific food security indicators. The study finds that farmers who use their farmlands for ASGM; 1) increase their household food insecurity, 2) increase their household dietary diversity, but in the short-run due to income effect, 3) increase their inability to use effective coping mechanisms to fight household food insecurity. Policy efforts geared toward the use of farmlands for ASGM to address food insecurity among smallholder farmers in mineral-rich countries in sub-Saharan Africa should focus on: 1) reducing liquidity constraints of smallholder cocoa farmers, 2) promoting stakeholder-driven productivity enhancing interventions, and 3) creating attractive policy environments for the youth to enter into farming.

The existing financial sources for artisanal and small-scale mining in mineral-rich countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review

The existing financial sources for artisanal and small-scale mining in mineral-rich countries in Sub-Saharan Africa: a review

One step forward, two steps back? Shifting accumulation strategies in the lithium production network in Chile

The global race for critical minerals for the energy transition is triggering manifold discourses and initiatives in resource-rich countries regarding how to take advantage of the moment. From conventional accumulation strategies based on the capture of resource rents to more ambitious strategies seeking to move forward in the value chain, resource peripheries are in a decisive conjuncture. While the literature discussing the development and embeddedness of battery production networks in mineral-rich countries is a solid starting point, this article seeks to examine how the contingent position of mineral-rich states in the production network is the outcome of internal and external struggles that define its accumulation strategy. For such purpose, this contribution examines the making and unmaking of accumulation strategies based on lithium extraction in Chile, the country with the world´s largest reserves. The results show that a pendular movement between the strategy of exporting lithium brine at a large scale to appropriate resource rents and the development of value-added products in the country has undermined the development of the lithium value chain in Chile. Conclusions indicate that it is crucial to define a transversal and sustainable strategy that allows the country to take advantage of the energy transition.

The ‘new geopolitics’ of mineral supply chains: A window of opportunity for African countries

ABSTRACT Following the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the focus of many industrialised states has shifted regarding where they secure raw materials; a revised geopolitical perspective has impelled states to reduce strong dependencies on certain countries. For the European Union, its proposed Critical Raw Materials Act could have a crucial impact on the economic relationship of EU countries with China, currently the most important source of processed minerals to the EU, causing them to set ambitious diversification targets. How will this rise of a ‘new geopolitics’ of mineral supply chains shape the relationship between the EU and other trading partners, such as mineral-rich countries on the African continent? And how might African economies work to maximise their own benefit from this refocus? The article explores current geopolitical dynamics as they relate to the restructuring of supply chains, as well as opportunities for African economies.

Environmental Governance in Gold Mining: The Role of Traditional Institutions in Asutifi North District of Ghana

Mining projects in mineral-rich countries have been justified as contributing to economic growth and social well-being. There are environmental, economic, and social problems resulting from mining; therefore, the need for society to pool institutions to form environmental governance systems to manage these effects. It is within these institutions that power is prescribed, legitimated, and controlled. This study examines the roles of traditional authorities in environmental governance in mining in the Asutifi North District of Ghana. A qualitative case study design combining purposive and convenience sampling was used to select 52 respondents from traditional, state, and business institutions and 29 household respondents. The traditional institutions mostly played the role of development agents in their communities. Even though they have not been entirely successful in substituting for the state, they have complemented the state structures by holding the societies together despite daunting economic, political, and environmental challenges they faced.

Potential Use of Microbially Induced Calcite Precipitation for the Biocementation of Mine Tailings

Mining activities offer clear economic benefits for mineral-rich countries. However, mining operations can produce several environmental impacts. Many of these are associated with generating and managing mining waste known as tailings, which are typically stored in surface facilities. Windblown dust emissions from tailing deposits can cause severe damage to local ecosystems and adverse health effects for the surrounding population. Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) can be used for the superficial biocementation of tailings, thereby preventing such emissions. This research studied the capacity of MICP for the biocementation of tailings. The effect of applying different doses of biocementation reagents and two different methods for their application were evaluated. Results show that a relevant increase in surface strength can be achieved, especially if reagents are mechanically mixed with the tailings to induce a more homogeneous distribution of precipitates. Micrographical and mineralogical analysis by SEM, FTIR and XRD analysis showed the precipitation of calcium in the form of anorthite, calcite or vaterite. Overall results indicate that calcite precipitation can be induced in tailing by microorganisms with urease activity, providing a potential technique for the biocementation of this material.

Artisanal and small-scale mining in Tanzania and health implications: A policy perspective

The mineral sector, especially its small-scale subsector, has become significant in the emerging economies of the Global South. Tanzania is the focus of this policy exposition paper because, aside from Ghana and South Africa, Tanzania is ranked 4th in Africa in terms of its mineral deposits and small-scale mining activities. The focus is also on artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) because ASM operations have significantly increased in recent times across this mineral-rich country of East Africa. This is done against a negative backdrop-labelling of ASM as unsustainable, environmentally unfriendly, inefficient, and illegal. Tanzania has made some progress to respond to some of the challenges in the mining sector to improve the micro and macroeconomics of the country. Some areas remain challenging including the lack of proper environmental health education for the ASM miners; the lack of clear national-level policies to guide health-related matters in the ASM subsector, and the small capital investment of the ASM subsector to support healthy mining practices. The details related to the persistence of these challenges are not well known, particularly those that pertain to policymaking. This article attempts to evaluate the policy environment of the ASM subsector in Tanzania and propose appropriate actions for the future of mineral resource policymaking in Tanzania.

The State of Critical and Strategic Metals Recovery and the Role of Nuclear Techniques in the Separation Technologies Development: Review

The extraction of useful minerals or geological materials from the Earth’s crust, most typically from various sources, is crucial to a country’s development and progress. Mineral-rich countries use these resources to transform their economies and propel them toward long-term prosperity. There is an urgent need for the world to increase mineral exploration efforts, improve the recycling of important metal-containing resources, and extract them using upgraded hydrometallurgical procedures with high recovery efficiency. This review paper highlights the importance of strategic and critical metals in the economy and the role of nuclear techniques in the analysis, process optimization, and remediation of metals using solvent extraction, adsorption, and chromatographic resins. Radiotracer analysis, X-Ray Fluorescence spectrometry (XRF), Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) are appropriate for improving laboratory-based hydrometallurgical processes, with future technical and economic benefits. The development and installation of novel instruments to provide the real-time control of mining and mineral processing plants for improved control have the potential to aid in the recovery of a broad range of metals.

Critical and energy transition minerals in Argentina: mineral potential and challenges for strengthening public institutions

Abstract The energy transition will be mineral-intensive and the global demand for critical and energy transition minerals (ETMs) is expected to substantially rise. That will generate development opportunities and risks of intensified adverse socio-environmental impacts in mineral-rich countries like Argentina. In this article, we provide a review of Argentina's mineral potential for critical and ETMs and explore pathways for the country to strengthen its governance. Our results indicate that copper and lithium are the minerals with the largest potential in the short term. For other ETMs, such as nickel or cobalt, potential exists but it remains underexplored. We argue that although responsible sourcing initiatives and rising environmental, social and governance standards have an important role to play, the great challenge ahead for the country lies in strengthening its public institutions for sustainability as these constitute a cornerstone for responsible mining practices. This includes strengthening of environmental institutions and water governance, new models of public participation and decision-making and policies for the development of local suppliers in key areas such as water governance. Addressing such challenges should be grounded on a vision of mining as a platform for broad-based development under co-operation with other sectors and the domestic science, technology and innovation system.

GOLD MINERAL EXPORTS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH NEXUS IN TANZANIA

Mineral exports have varied impact on economic growth among different mineral-rich countries. Some countries with abundant mineral resources have more sluggish economy than that without such resources. This study examined gold mineral exports and economic growth nexus by using time series data extracted from World Bank and Bank of Tanzania for the duration of 22 years from 1999 to 2020. The preliminary checks for unit root test show that economic growth and foreign direct investment are stationary at first difference while gold mineral export is stationary at level and first difference. Using autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and error correction model (ECM) estimation technique, the results show that in short run, gold mineral exports have negative insignificant impact on economic growth while economic growth has negative significant effect on gold mineral exports. The results imply that as economic growth improves, the need for domestic uses of gold in jewelry and financial investment increases, hence decreasing gold export magnitude. However, it should be investigated whether such inverse relationship between economic growth and gold exports is caused by an increasing gold smuggling or not.

The Effect of Corporate Income Tax on FDI Inflow in the Mining Sector in Tanzania

Purpose: Tanzania is one of the mineral-rich countries giving corporate income tax (CIT) concessions to encourage foreign direct investment (FDI). Tanzania's mining industry remains enticing to investors, owing to its expanding diversity. This paper assesses the impact of corporate income tax in the mining sector for the period of 1990 – 2020. The paper also sought to analyse the impact of other determinants of FDI namely, Political stability, Human capital and infrastructure on FDI inflow in the mining sector.
 Methodology: The study utilized secondary annual time series data collected from the World Bank (WB), Bank of Tanzania (BOT), and Foundation for Studies and Research on International Development (FERDI). The Autoregressive Distribution of Lags (Ardl) estimating approach was used to analyse the short-run and long-run relationship between FDI and corporate income tax as well as the aforementioned variables.
 Findings: A negative relationship between corporate income Tax and FDI inflow in the mining sector was confirmed. Thus, portraying both short-run and long-run effects of corporate income tax on FDI inflow in the mining sector.
 Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: To encourage and increase FDI inflow in the mining sector, the government of Tanzania requires concerted efforts with relevant authorities that will ensure a fair moderation of corporate income Tax which will in turn increase tax compliance. The concerted efforts carter for factors linked with FDI inflow such as corporate income tax, political stability, human capital quality, and infrastructure. These factors align concurrently with the eclectic paradigm which is the anchoring theory of the study.
 

Oil, export diversification and economic growth in Sudan: evidence from a VAR model

There is an extensive literature demonstrating a positive link between export diversification and economic growth. In parallel, the resource curse thesis posits export concentration as an important mechanism curtailing growth in mineral-rich countries. Our analysis contributes to this literature by empirically investigating the interaction between oil dependence captured by the share of oil rents in GDP and export diversification and economic growth for Sudan. We do this with the help of a VAR model using annual data between 1960 and 2018. In comparison to earlier studies, our dataset covers also Sudan’s post-oil boom period, which coincided with a substantial drop in oil dependence after the 2011 secession of South Sudan. We find that oil rents appear to have a statistically significant and negative effect on export diversification, although contemporaneously rather than in the long-term. However, we find no evidence of a statistically significant impact of either oil dependence or export diversification on economic growth, as suggested by the resource curse hypothesis.

Magnetization roasting of waste iron ore beneficiation plant tailings using sawdust biomass; A novel approach to produce metallurgical grade pellets

Minerals recovery and recycling of valuables from industrial waste using biomass (renewable energy resource) is the need of the hour for mineral-rich countries worldwide. Moreover, growing steel demand and fossil fuel consumption led civilization to ponder the alternative raw materials and energy sources apart from conventional coal/coke as an appropriate reductant for the iron and steelmaking process. Therefore, the generated waste iron ore beneficiation plant tailings (IOBPT) containing 56.96% Fe(T), 4.07% Al2O3, 7.23% SiO2 and 4.38% of LOI (contributed mainly from clay and goethite) can be considered a potential secondary mineral resource consumed in the downstream iron making processes. In the current investigation, a novel approach of magnetization roasting of the IOBPT using sawdust biomass (SDB) (generated from the sawmill) as a carbonaceous solid reductant is used to recover the pellet grade magnetite concentrate. On the other hand, the IOBPT was directly subjected to a wet high-intensity magnetic separator (WHIMS) to compare the generated pellet grade concentrate in both methods. In this regard, the quality of the concentrate and indurated pellets obtained from both processes was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), wet chemical analysis, and X-ray microtomography (X-ray microCT), respectively. Altogether, the innovative way of utilizing SDB as a suitable reductant in magnetization roasting at 950 °C to produce metallurgical grade pellets (CCS:258 kg/pellet, Porosity:25.68%, RI:0.71%/min at Rt = 60, RDI-2:RDI]-2.8 = 2.61%, FSI:19.05%) indicates towards a fossil fuel-free industrialization.

Linguistic and Discursive Features of Mining News Discourse in the Philippines

The Philippines is one of the mineral-rich countries in the world with an estimated US$840 billion worth of untapped mineral wealth, catapulting the mining industry as a significant economic player providing substantial contribution to the national revenue and generating employment opportunities for the Filipino people. However, the detrimental impact of mining to the country has also been heavily criticized as it causes massive potential destruction to environment and wildlife ecology such as acid mine drainage and contaminant leaching, soil erosion, and tailing impoundments among others. These conflicting interests are reflected in the mining discourses stoked or dimmed by media, which influence the readers’ construal of meanings in the mining texts, social actors’ roles in the mining industry, and the urderlying contexts of the mining reality. Drawing on critical discourse analysis, this study described the linguistic and discursive features of Philippine mining discourse in media texts. The study used 224 news articles published by three online portals within five years. Local news reports and peripheral discourses obtained through interviews with local “symbolic elites” in the identified mining communities and other archival documents supplemented the news texts. The UAM Corpus Tool, a software for linguistic tagging, complemented the manual analysis in identifying the social actor theme. Findings revealed that government actions, economic phenomenon, and political actors are the most prevalent themes in the mining news reports. Moreover, results showed that local news tends to focus more on the mining’s environmental impact, whereas the national news tends to put more premium on the mining’s economic impact. This means that the media allotted a much lesser spatio-temporal space for the environment and Indigenous Peoples’ cause. The findings further invalidate the assumptions that mining discourse is primarily concerned with environmental related issues. Keywords sociolinguistics; discourse studies; critical discourse analysis; discourse themes; Philippine mining discourse