Mining Policy Research Articles

Sustainable development and environmental challenges in Cameroon’s mining sector: A review

Cameroon has a strong geological potential for a number of mineral resources that, if well managed, could support economic growth. The country contains potentially large deposits of iron ore, gold, bauxite, diamond, limestone, nickel, and gemstones, and indices of other numerous minerals and precious metals. Despite its geological wealth, mining has never played a major role in Cameroon’s economic development. A study on the state of sustainable development and environmental challenges in the Cameroon mining sector permits the identification of key points for improvement in order to position the country towards achieving a sustainable mining industry in the future. This paper reviews the mining potential, stakeholder participation, legislation, and mining policy in Cameroon mining industry. The methodology involves a single case study focused on the review of sustainable development in the Cameroon mining industry up to date. It includes scientific studies, and reports of ministries and support organizations, national laws, and regulations related to the area of study. Also the corporate sustainability reports of mining companies and mining stakeholders are analyzed. This research work covers the latest developments in terms of the institutional and regulatory frameworks for mining and the environment in the country, history of mining in Cameroon, and evolution and issues of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) system in the mining sector until 2016. The work concludes with an identification of the current challenges of implementing sustainable development in mining as well as future directions that research works on this area should take.

Nexus between Artisanal Gold Mining and Community Livelihood in Nandi and West Pokot Mining Regions, Kenya

Many studies on Artisanal Gold Mining (ASM) have estimated that it employs an estimated 13 Million people worldwide, with another 80 to 100 million people directly or indirectly benefiting. With the increasing rate of ASM operations in Nandi and West Pokot Counties, the extent to which AGM affects livelihood of people and the community and contributes to livelihood enhancement is not well-indicated in empirical literature. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the connection between ASM and community livelihood in Nandi and West Pokot Mining Regions, Kenya. The study employed a descriptive research design. Simple random sampling was used to select the respondents for interview. Primary data was obtained by using questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussions guide. Findings from the study indicated that majority (67%) of the respondents in West Pokot participated in artisanal gold mining activity all year round. Majority of the respondents in West Pokot County participated in mining activity on a full time basis while majority in Nandi County participate on a part time basis. Results further showed that 62 % of respondents in Nandi County were earning KShs. 4,001 and above from mining activities. Significant effect (p<0.05) of mining activities on incomes was recorded within the two Counties. Furthermore, significant relationship (p<0.05) between artisanal gold mining and socio economic activities within the mining communities was recorded. Therefore, it is recommended that stakeholders should recast mineral policy to ensure concurrent environmental sustainability and socioeconomic development.Keywords: Artisanal Gold Mining, Livelihood, Community

Materias primas críticas y complejidad económica en América Latina

Existen minerales dinamizadores de crecimiento económico, fundamentales para el desarrollo de tecnologías sostenibles. Estas materias primas críticas (MPC) son determinadas por modelos creados para economías complejas. El objetivo de este artículo es examinar las políticas minerales de materias primas críticas en las principales economías de América Latina, y el papel de sus respectivos sistemas nacionales de innovación (SNI), en búsqueda de mayor complejidad económica, mediante un método de evaluación comparativo aplicado a la política mineral de las principales naciones de esta zona —Brasil, México, Argentina, Colombia y Chile—. Descubrimos que debido a la simplicidad de estas economías y de políticas minerales que desestiman sus respectivos sistemas nacionales de innovación, se compromete el aumento de la complejidad económica de los Estados en cuestión, la cual se caracteriza por la precaria adición de valor mediante la interacción de conocimiento y capacidades en relación con sus recursos minerales e industria.

Toward a global coal mining moratorium? A comparative analysis of coal mining policies in the USA, China, India and Australia

To stop global warming at well below 2° C, the bulk of the world’s fossil fuel reserves will have to be left in the ground. Coal is the fossil fuel with the greatest proportion that cannot be used, and various advocacy groups are campaigning for a ban on the opening of new coal mines. Recently, both China and the USA implemented temporary moratoria on the approval of new coal mining leases. This article examines whether these coal mining bans reflect the emergence of a global norm to keep coal under the ground. To that end, we review recent coal mining policies in the four largest coal producers and explain them comparatively with a framework based on interests, ideas and institutions. We find that the norm of keeping coal in the ground remains essentially contested. Even in those countries that have introduced some form of a coal mining moratorium, the ban can easily be, or has already been, reversed. To the extent that the norm of keeping coal in the ground has momentum, it is primarily due to non-climate reasons: the Chinese moratorium was mostly an instance of industrial policy (aiming to protect Chinese coal companies and their workers from the overcapacity and low prices that are hitting the industry), while the USA’s lease restrictions were mainly motivated by concerns over fiscal justice. We do not find evidence of norm internalisation, which means that the emerging norm fails to gain much traction amid relevant national actors and other (large) coal producing states. If proponents of a moratorium succeed in framing the issue in non-climate terms, they should have a greater chance of building domestic political coalitions in favour of the norm.

Moving beyond the individual: addressing the social determinants of risk taking in mining communities

ABSTRACTIncreases in risk-taking behaviour, including alcohol, drugs and violence, are often associated with the cyclical nature of the mining sector in Australia. To date, such behaviour has been portrayed by mining companies and governments as an individual problem; little attention has been paid to the social contexts of such behaviour. This research uses a case study approach to explore the social determinants of risk taking in three mining communities in the Bowen Basin, Queensland, Australia. Interviews with a cross-section of health and social service providers highlight a number of social determinants underpinning risk taking and reveal a complex interplay of structural risk factors including shift work, income inequality and workplace culture. If we are serious about tackling risk taking in mining communities, governments, policy makers and mining companies need to recognise the influence of contextual factors, and shift attention to the physical, social and economic environments that impact on health outcomes.

International Trade Law and Domestic Policy in Indonesia as Developing Countries a lesson learn from Indonesian Mining Policy

The establishment of the World Trade Organization in 1994 has accelerated the growth of international trade activities, which is worth up to US$1 trillion per year according to the WTO Annual Report 2014. Indonesia, as one of the developing countries, also considers international trade as their important pillar to support economic growth. However, the challenge is to balance national interest and Indonesian commitment to international trade law under the WTO framework into Indonesian legal policy. This challenge was shown in the newest Indonesian Mining Policy in 2009, which obligated every mining company to strive added value for their mineral ore. Consequently, mining industries in Indonesia will no longer be able to export their mineral ore. From the Indonesian Government's perspective, the objective of this policy is to maximise added value from mining industries which might be considered by other states as a restriction type of export policies.

Improvement of economic and information mechanisms of social-economic development of mountain territories

The object of research is the socio-economic development of the mountain territories of the Carpathian region (Ukraine). One of the most problematic places is the existing mechanisms of state management to address the problems of mountain territories. Limited resources, insufficient information need to strengthen the attention of local executive bodies and local self-government, as well as further improve existing instruments of state regulation. The following research methods are used: analysis, extrapolation, SWOT analysis and systemic generalization. In the course of the study, an analysis of the socio-economic development of mountain territories was made. This helped determine the priority industry, namely tourist and recreational. A model of a tourist-recreational cluster is proposed. This will allow creating conditions for effective activity and cooperation of all business entities. In particular, it will contribute to the development and implementation of measures to stabilize and improve the demographic situation in mountain territories, and to reduce the scale of emigration of local residents. Effective mechanisms for the development of the mountain territories of the Carpathian region, namely, a mechanism for monitoring and forecasting factors, mechanisms for implementing state mining policy, mechanisms for influencing the effective use of available resources are determined. This will ensure the harmonization of the interests of all economic entities and will contribute to the growth of the economic potential of the mountain territories of Ukraine. The economic and information mechanisms of state management of the socio-economic development of mountain territories are improved, in which, in addition to the steps for each of these mechanisms, specific actions are indicated. That is, their orientation, security, as well as the final goal and conditions of implementation are given. Thanks to the proposed economic and information mechanisms, the peculiarities of the Carpathian region will be taken into account. Mechanisms contribute to the development of sectoral clustering, the introduction of innovative technologies, taking into account environmental security, the development of the region's infrastructure, increasing employment, social protection of the population and the popularization of the Carpathian region, both inside and outside Ukraine. The essence of the relationship between these mechanisms lies in the fact that the state should regulate those spheres and processes to which the market affects insufficiently or little effectively. This will guarantee the effective development of mountain territories.

The Intricacy of Policy Analysis: A Book Review

Much has been written about mining projects and the contestation of these project development in the literature. The different perspectives that are employed to analyze this issue to some extent are enriching the academic debates but at the same time also increases the difficulty of understanding the problem. As a result, navigating the overall academic discussion in the subject matter is not an easy task. Instead of outlining the overall landscape of mining contestation in the literature, choosing a particular approach and being consistent with this choice is a strategic decision that may result in a high-quality academic work. Following this recipe, Ardianto chose the constructivist approach by employing Laclau and Mouffe’s discourse analysis to understand the mining project contestation in Rembang, Central Java, Indonesia. This paper aims to review a book by Ardianto, entitled "Mitos Tambang untuk Kesejahteraan: Pertarungan Wacana Kesejahteraan dalam Kebijakan Pertambangan" (The Myth of Mining for Welfare: The Welfare Discourses Struggle in Mining Policy).

Brown coal and nuclear energy deployment: Effects on fuel-mix, carbon targets, and external costs in the Czech Republic up to 2050

In response to massive destruction of the landscape and significant air pollution due to brown coal mining and usage, in 1991 the Czech Government set territorial limits for brown coal mining in the North Bohemia coal basin (the ‘Territorial Environmental Limits’). In 2015, however, this 24-year-old prohibition was lifted at one of two open pit mines under the ban and, as a consequence, some of its reserves of brown coal may be mined in future. We use the regional technology-rich energy system optimization model, TIMES, to analyse the impacts of maintaining the ban versus three options for less environmentally stringent mining policies – the policy adopted in 2015 and two additional policy propositions which would further lift the ban at the second open pit mine, which have not been rejected by the Czech government. We evaluate the effects of these four policy options on the Czech energy system, the costs of generating energy, air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, and related external environmental and health costs up to 2050. We find that none of the three new policy variants jeopardizes achievement of the 2030 carbon reduction targets. However, the 2050 80% carbon reduction target may not be achievable in any case – the projected reductions range between 66 and 71%, and only maintaining the 1991 ban could reduce this gap, whereas the two policies under discussion would mean that reaching this target would be even more challenging. The newly adopted 2015 policy will lead to at least 709 PJ more brown coal use and up to 85 Mt more greenhouse gases emissions by 2050. The additional supply of brown coal made available by lifting the limits will exceed domestic demand. Brown coal that will be burnt in domestic power plants will lead to additional external costs due to adverse impacts on the environment and human health of up to €306 million.

Policy elements for twenty-first century African mining

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to interpret current global events to extrapolate the issues of twenty-first century for consideration by African mining policy and decision-makers.Design/methodology/approachThe high-level mining issues are identified to assess what lies ahead for the twenty-first century. Some of these require innovation, called beacons for twenty-first-century mining in this paper, so that decision-makers can consider policy instruments and management strategies to craft a more desirable future for governments and companies, without affecting other stakeholders negatively.FindingsIt is proposed that African mining should consider three cross-cutting elements as subsets for the existing policy themes and management decisions, namely, broad benefit, mine sustainability and business improvement. Digital technologies have the potential to significantly support the three elements for fast-tracking Africa’s sustainable economic development.Research limitations/implicationsAlthough the findings can be applied to most of the developing world, the focus of this paper is on the African mining industry.Practical implicationsPractical considerations for policymakers in Africa.Originality/valueThis paper includes novel/original policy considerations that have the potential to become cross-cutting elements for the existing policy themes of the Africa Mining Vision.

Mining nationalization and privatization in Peru and in Chile

The nationalization process of mining companies was a global issue from the beginning of the twentieth century. It first occurred in Europe for diverse reasons and at the end of the 1940s, it reached developing countries. The cause for nationalization in the latter was dominated by the search to recover a national patrimony and to regain sovereignty in countries where mining weighed too much economically compared to other activities. Transnational corporations generated so much of exports, taxes, and GDP in these countries that governments had very little room for devising national policies. The future of countries was decided in the secret of foreign board rooms of these companies, without consultation to national governments. Nationalization was also driven by the belief that by managing mining resources, the countries would accelerate economic development. Peru and Chile, indisputable leaders in mine production, experienced nationalization at the end of the 1960s and beginning of the 1970s, but the outcome was very different in each country. This paper explores the successes and failures of mining nationalization in Peru and Chile, and how the outcomes influenced mining policy during the following decades.

Kebijakan Pertambangan: Regulasi untuk Siapa?

The purpose of this papers is to analysis role of state in the mining policy in Indonesia. Tulisan ini menganalisis peran negara dalam kebijakan pertambangan di Indonesia. Liberalisation in mining will debilitate state ideals. This country has clearly set in the Constitution (Undang-Undang Dasar 1945) Article 33 point 3 that the earth,water,and natural resources are controlled by the state and should be utilized as much as possible for the welfare of the people. Today, mining regulation indicates have ignored the mandate of the constitution. Then, actually a mining policy created for whom? This case should use state centered perspective, how is the role of government, regulation, and what is the feasible methods to answer the basic assumption that mining resources should be utilized as much as for welfare of people. The reality alsoanalyze by political economic perspective.

Aspek Yuridis Terhadap Pelaksanaan Pertambangan Rakyat Berdasarkan UU No 4 Tahun 2009

Mining activities in Indonesia obviously have to open a network for remote areas and development activities in accordance with its designation, which leads to the development of new growth centers in some areas. This will encourage and provide benefits in the construction of basic infrastructure for the region, increase revenues, and employment. The business activities of mineral and coal are expected to drive the development of economic empowerment, especially in eastern Indonesia. Development of mineral and coal mining sector should be based on good mining practices and correct by observing the basic elements in accordance with the principles of sustainable development, of the various aspects of life of human beings and other living things in an ecosystem. Artisanal mining management policy carried out by the local government should bersendikan the constitutional mandate that is expected to be as big as possible for improving standards of living for the welfare as well as the objectives of the state. Artisanal mining policy carried out by the local government is not only focused on improving the local economy, but must have meaning and value proportional balance between the growth rate of public welfare with environmental sustainability of the ecosystem. With regard to the mining policy, local government and the parliament as an element of the regional administration has a strategic position and authority in the application of the policy is to create an atmosphere of constructive working relationship in accordance with the mandate of the laws and regulations. The existence of Parliament has a very important position in directing and controlling the various aspects of government policy to play an active role through the functions. Involvement of the oversight function of Parliament against all attitudes / acts carried out by the local government, is an instrument for measuring the basic validity and justification for these policies. With this research is expected to provide an integral understanding of scientific concepts about the functional relationship between the Parliament and Local Government through the oversight function of Parliament in the implementation of mining policy carried out by the people of Local Government. Under the oversight function, the role of Parliament can perform certain actions to steer towards things that should be done as well as control over the circumstances undue occur in any government policy. The method used in this study is a normative method which is based on materials of law and accompanied by field studies as supporting material to the object being studied and analyzed in this study.

Addressing “Wicked Problems” through Governance for Sustainable Development—A Comparative Analysis of National Mineral Policy Approaches in the European Union

The achievement of sustainable development (SD) in the supply of minerals poses significant challenges for governments and public administrations on all levels, because ensuring a sustainable supply constitutes a “wicked” problem that has no clear set of alternative solutions due to its social, institutional and scientific complexities. This paper explores how this problem is addressed through “governance for SD” principles (horizontal policy integration and participation; long-term vision/short-term action; and reflexivity and learning) in the design and delivery of national mineral policy strategies (NMS) in five EU Member States (Austria, Finland, Greece, Portugal and Sweden). Following a grounded theory approach on data collected through document analysis and complementary qualitative interviews, the author identified several analytical categories for the selected governance for SD’ principles. Although no “one-size-fits-all” recipe for best practice on governance for SD exists in the five NMS, Finland, Portugal and Sweden meet high standards: These NMS display practical examples of governance for SD integration and, thus, lay the foundations for achieving policy outcomes in the sectoral policy strategies of the mineral supply.

Mineral development for growth: the case for a new mineral policy framework for Pakistan

PurposeThe fundamental purpose of this research is to compare Pakistan’s mineral policy instrument with that of leading developing minerals-based economies and to highlight the gaps. Mineral resources development can act as an engine for country growth and have the potential to transform economies and societies. The extent to which such transformation takes place varies depending upon the method of their use.Design/methodology/approachThis paper conducts a gap analysis between Pakistan and leading developing minerals-based economies to identify key policy gaps. Two basic principles were kept in mind with the choice of countries: first, only developing countries were considered and, second, at least two countries had to be Islamic. Eight developing countries Chile, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, India, South Africa, Kazakhstan and Turkey were selected.FindingsThe most important finding of the exercise is that Pakistan’s mineral sector is lacking an enabling institutional, fiscal and regulatory framework for the optimal development of its mineral resources.Practical implicationPakistan’s mineral resources have the potential to expand its economy and benefit its citizens. For this to happen, Pakistan must first establish what beneficiation is realistically expected from its mineral resources and, second, formulate a mineral policy based on leading practices to attract mining investment and aim for a sector contribution to gross domestic product of 5 per cent.Originality/valueThis paper presents original work on how Pakistan should formulate its mineral policy to extract maximum benefit from its mineral resources.

Artisanal gold mining: both a woman’s and a man’s world. A Uganda case study

ABSTRACTThis article is based on ActionAid research exploring the livelihoods of women artisanal miners in the Kampala Camp in Kiltumbi Sub County, Mubende District in Uganda. It shows the different ways in which mining shapes women's lives and gender relations. The article focuses on women's strategies in response to their situation. ActionAid has supported and empowered women and men in their efforts through providing information, creating spaces for women to learn about mine policy and law, safety equipment and gear, and to network with their contemporaries in Tanzania.

Mining-induced displacement and resettlement in China: A study covering 27 villages in 6 provinces

Underground mining in China has incited severe land subsidence causing the forced eviction of millions of farmers. Here we report on one of the earliest Chinese studies on Mining-Induced Displacement and Resettlement (MIDR), based on a farm household survey (n = 230) and semi-structured interviews (n = 29) in Shaanxi, Shanxi, Shandong, Jiangsu, Chongqing and Hunan. It was found that displaced farmers were overall insufficiently compensated for mining-induced damage. Respondents expressed concerns over higher living costs in the relocation villages, and were ill-informed about resettlement schemes. We also found widespread conflict between farmers, mining companies and local government, this being the case in over two-thirds of the surveyed villages. Through additional institutional analysis it is ascertained that existing policies and laws predominantly focus on surface rather than underground mining. Compensation is rarely provided unless damage to land and housing has grown to unmanageable proportions. In result, displacement and resettlement is generally chosen as a sole, yet, final solution. The study includes cases on coal, lead, zinc and manganese. Based on the analysis, we call for a revision of mining policies and the establishment of state-supported compensation schemes in order to minimize conflict and farmers’ socio-economic vulnerability.

A bumpy road: Maximising the value of a resource corridor

Resource corridors are not new concepts. Corridors such as the Maputo Development Corridor, the Walvis Bay Development Corridor and TRIDOM have been active in different regions in Africa. The potential for shared infrastructure to support sustainable development has been widely discussed and debated by spatial and development partners. These initiatives present a vehicle to transform and ensure equitable distribution of benefits from sector specific operations. This is evident in the recent resurgence of interest in resource corridors, as highlighted by their position in numerous development and regional strategies. Those featuring resource corridors include the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD), the mining policy framework developed for the United Nations by the Inter-Governmental forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development and more recently the Africa Mining Vision 2050, developed for the African Union by UNECA. Corridors are also on the agendas of regional entities, such as the African Development Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the East African and Southern African Development Communities.

Assessment of the Challenges in Policy Implementation in the Small Scale Gold Mining Sector in Ghana – A Case Study

In recent times, stakeholders in the mining sector have expressed concerns about the environmental degradation and the social impacts of uncontrolled Small Scale Mining (SSM) activities in Ghana despite the existence of legislative instruments that define the procedures required for the acquisition of licences and operations of SSM activities in the country. This paper assesses the challenges in policy implementation in the small scale gold mining sector of Ghana by reviewing policies on regularisation and environmental management. It further identifies challenges faced by small scale mining operators in adhering to laid down policies for the smooth operation of the sector and furthermore assesses the views of some principal stakeholders on the benefits and challenges of small scale mining using the Dunkwa mining district as a test case. The methods employed include: field visits to some small scale mining sites within the Dunkwa mining district; interviews and questionnaire administration; and statistical and content analysis of data. The study reveals the following factors, among others, to have contributed largely to the difficulty in regularisation, environmental and social challenges that have plagued the SSM sector: low level of education of majority of miners; bureaucracies and centralisation of licence acquisition processes; lack of sources of finance for SSM projects; lack of geological information on mineable areas; and lack of adequate knowledge of the laws and regulations on mining and environment. In addressing the challenges the following recommendations are made: decentralisation of the regularisation processes to simplify licence acquisition; adequate geological investigations should be undertaken on SSM blocked-out areas to reduce the try and error mining approach adopted by miners; and continuous education and training of miners on good mining and environmental practices. Keywords: Small Scale Mining, Mineral Policies, Environmental Impact, Regularisation, Challenges

An overview of the management policy for marine sand mining in Israeli Mediterranean shallow waters

In Israel, the ever-increasing interest in mining and dumping of marine sand in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean (up to depth of 30 m) on the one hand, and the growing concern for the marine environment on the other, have led to the formulation of various policy tools intended for the rational management of this resource. However, the comprehensiveness and sustainability of this policy, and its adherence to international obligations and customs, remains unclear.This paper provides a structured overview of the management policy governing the extraction and dumping of marine sand in the Israeli Mediterranean shallow waters, and the way environmental values are being taken into account in the regulatory process. It then examines the way in which two main international policies—UNCLOS (not yet ratified by Israel) and the protocol on ICZM (ratified by Israel), which provide principles and standards for the management of environmental risks associated with marine mining activities in the Mediterranean Sea—are transposed into local legal procedures and regulatory requirements.The study reveals that the Israeli marine sand regulatory framework embraced most of the environmental principles and guidelines laid down in the main international conventions. However, several essential issues still need to be addressed. At present, the use of marine sand is usually managed with one key activity in mind, without an all-encompassing policy and monitoring program. As a result, the impact of cumulative effect of extracting and dumping activities (the “big picture”) is overlooked. The study recommends to formulate a sound policy that can be adjusted for social/economic developments as they occur, and can facilitate the response to a wide range of future scenarios while adhering to a sustainability agenda. This policy should be based on up-to-date and standardized data gathered through a national monitoring program and stored in an accessible database. The analysis method and results can form a basis for discussion with other experts working in the field, and may be useful for future management decisions and for other coastal regions in the world.