Mining and sustainable development

Arabella ImhoffNautilus Institute RMIT

Australia

Mining and sustainable development

• Three aspects of mining and sustainable development– Economic– Environmental– Social

Capturing minerals wealth and opportunities

– Company business decisions• Financial bottom line vs. supporting community

development

– Government policy• Taxes and royalties• Regulatory conditions

Managing minerals wealth

• Investing in the future• Savings and investments • Support for economic diversification

• Equity in minerals wealth management• Distributions of minerals wealth at local level • Capacity building at local level

• Good governance• Transparency

– Reporting requirements– Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI)

Mining, biodiversity and critical natural capital

• Protection of critical natural capital– Government regulation • Land use planning• Improved understanding of biodiversity - research &

taxonomy

– Mining companies• Biodiversity policies and management planning

Waste management

• Tailings storage facilities– Complex structures– Continually constructed over lifetime of mine

• Tailings management– Regulatory requirements - ongoing planning,

management and reporting– Benchmarking and best practice– Continuity in management over lifetime of project

Mine closure

• Miner closure and rehabilitation– Physical and chemical stabilisation of mine site– Restoration of flora, fauna & biodiversity

• Mine closure planning– Undertaken from the start of mine’s life not the

end– Management of mine closure costs

Internal social issues

• Health and safety issues– Workplace accidents– Exposure to hazardous materials– Ambient factors

• International Labour Office– General conventions– Mining specific - 1995 Convention 176 on Safety

and Health in Mines– Mining specific ILO Codes of Practice

External social impacts

• Land use, resettlement and displacement– Loss of home, income, assets, land, social

networks, resources and cultural sites.• Management– Compensation important– But focus should be on rehabilitation

External social impacts

• Community development– Service provision by mining companies can create

dependency– Governments must take leadership role– Partnerships – supporting community

development & government capacity building

Small scale and artisanal mining

• Social impacts– Health and safety risks– Human and labour rights issues

• Management– Large scale mining companies

• Engagement with small scale miners • Training and technology transfer

– Governments• Incentives to encourage registering of small scale mining

operations