All Namibia News’ Post

Zambia tallies the costs of mining for electric batteries: The United States (US) leap-frogged competitors in the scramble for African minerals required to power the global energy transition when it signed an agreement with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2022 for the development of a regional value chain in the electric vehicle battery sector. The agreement challenged the dominance of China, South Africa, Hong Kong, Mauritius and India as the traditional consumers of Zambian copper, gold, lithium, cobalt and manganese exports. It targeted large volumes of critical transition metals that occur in the Katanga Copperbelt, a mineral-rich strip stretching from Lualaba province in the south-eastern DRC to the Luapula province in northern Zambia. According to the US state department, the agreement aimed to “facilitate the development of an integrated value chain for the production of electric vehicle batteries in the DRC and Zambia, ranging from raw material extraction, to processing, manufacturing and assembly”. TRANSITION MINERALS The growing demand for transition minerals in the region has inspired a surge in exploration for and mining of copper, cobalt and manganese in Zambia. However, most of the mining activities are unsustainable and inflict costs on local communities, while bringing them no tangible benefits, says Vusumuzi Sibanda, the executive director of Lusaka-based non-governmental organisation Panos Institute Southern Africa. “Despite the existence of various policies and regulations to ensure mining is done in a sustainable manner which takes issues of public safety, public health and environmental protection into account, there are many loopholes which allow the mining industry to abuse communities and degrade the environment,” he says. “There is widespread air pollution, water pollution and environmental degradation in all mining areas in Zambia. These activities impact the health and livelihoods of people in mining areas.” Although Zambia has legal and policy frameworks designed to safeguard land ownership rights and security of tenure, these policies are rendered ineffective by the Mines and Minerals Development Act, which enables mining to take precedence over all other land uses when minerals are discovered, Sibanda says. This provision renders local communities vulnerable to evictions and other forms of human rights abuses by mining licence holders. Sibanda says most of the human rights violations common in mining areas are linked to high poverty levels which force people to give up their land. It also leaves them with no choice except to take up hard labour mining jobs for very little or no pay. “High levels of poverty in the mineral-rich areas suggest that Zambians are not benefitting from the growth of the mining industry yet. “The law makes it mandatory for mining companies to provide compensation to people affected by…

As the Philippines works to ramp up mining to meet global demand for metals during the green energy transition, environmental groups in the country are demanding strict limits to protect nature and land. Mineral requirements for renewable energy technologies must be quadrupled by 2040 to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement. The World Bank estimates a 500% increase in the demand for transition minerals. That is encouraging mineral-rich countries like the Philippines, where mining is relatively undeveloped and accounts for only 1% of gross domestic product (GDP), to boost their production of so-called critical minerals. According to a study in 2023 by the Legal Rights and Natural Resources Centre (LRC), a local non-profit organisation that works for environmental rights, the global area covered by mines has doubled over the past three years, driven by demand for critical minerals. In the Philippines, the group says, that has exacerbated mining’s negative impacts on people and the environment such as depleting water supplies and forcing local residents to move elsewhere. https://lnkd.in/dFNdYzXf

A surge of mining in some African countries for materials used to make green energy technologies puts gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos at risk. More than a third of the great apes living in Africa are under threat from the booming demand for minerals that are critical to the creation of green energy technologies, such as electric vehicles. Africa is home to around one sixth of the world’s remaining forests, with the habitat found in countries such as Ghana, Gabon and Uganda. The continent also houses four great ape species: chimpanzees, bonobos and two species of gorilla. But many of these great apes live in regions eyed by mining firms as potential sites to extract commodities. For instance, more than 50 per cent of the world’s reserves of cobalt and manganese are found in Africa, and 22 per cent of its graphite. https://lnkd.in/dvNZ8mE7

[ CHIEFTAINESS SINAZONGWE CALLS FOR RESPONSIBLE MINING INVESTMENT ] ....As CEJ launches SAT sponsored project... Sinazongwe, Wednesday (November 20, 2024) Chieftainess Sinazongwe of Sinazongwe District in Southern Province has called for responsible mining investment in her coal mineral-rich chiefdom. She has since paid tribute to the Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) for sensitizing her and her subjects to human, environmental, and land rights. Chieftainess Sinazongwe was speaking in Sinazongwe District during the CEJ’s Multi-stakeholder Dialogue focused on advancing responsible business conduct in Zambia’s mining sector supported by Southern Africa Trust (SAT). The Traditional Leader noted that her people were affected by significant pollution and the infringement of their rights. She witnessed the dissatisfaction of her subjects with the payments they received, some getting K2000, and expressed her need to protect her community as a chief. Meanwhile, Centre for Environment Justice (CEJ) Executive Director Maggie Mwape highlighted the importance of mining to the nation, noting that many gadgets used today contain components derived from minerals. Ms. Mwape announced the launch of a new project titled “Advancing Responsible Mineral Extraction and Community Rights in Zambia.” She explained that the initiative responds to the urgent need for enhanced accountability and responsible business conduct in the mining sector.....https://lnkd.in/dSuvjjzn CEJ COMMUNICATIONS UNIT

📢The Government of Zimbabwe has launched the $23.7M planetGOLD Zimbabwe project to reduce mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM). Over the next five years, the project will improve health, formalize the sector, and strengthen responsible gold supply chains. Zimbabwe’s ASGM sector supports over 300,000 miners and contributes more than 40% of the country’s mineral exports. However, 96% of mine sites still rely on mercury—a toxic chemical that releases over 24 tonnes annually, endangering the environment and communities. With support from the Global Environment Facility, implemented by UN Environment Programme and executed by IMPACT in close coordination with the government, the project will: ✅ Support 7,500 miners in 11 districts ✅ Reduce mercury use by 4.85 tonnes ✅ Introduce mercury-free technologies ✅ Expand access to finance ✅ Promote formalization and responsible gold supply chains Zimbabwe joins 25 countries in the global planetGOLD programme, working to reduce mercury pollution and improve the lives of mining communities. Read more: https://bit.ly/3ZIwySS

Zambia and other African nations could reap almost USD 2 trillion from mining green economy minerals – triple what Africa could get from oil, coal and gas from now to 2050, the IMF estimates. Yet there’s a lesson for Africa, and not only for mining: add value. Turning raw minerals into an intermediate product for electric vehicles and renewable energy – most likely a battery pack – would plus-up the impact. “Developing local processing industries could significantly boost profits, increase tax revenues, create higher-skilled jobs, and enhance positive technological spillovers,” the IMF says. All good – and not easy. First, the treasure: Cobalt, mainly mined in Democratic Republic of Congo, often in perilous conditions for laborers, would generate 45 percent of the cumulative windfall, in 2023 dollars. Unearthed for decades (centuries, actually) in Zambia and DRC, copper would claim one-third of the total. Nickel and lithium round out the trove. In contrast, oil would generate about USD 500 billion in Africa from 2024 to 2050 – a quarter of the green haul. Just as crude oil needs a refinery to make gasoline/petrol, green-mineral spin-offs require metal refining and complex manufacturing. (Just ask Elon Musk.) Customers should be close by, meaning you must make renewable energy products or electric transport to justify keeping the minerals in Africa. Zambia and DRC have set up a “battery council” with visions of industrial parks, while the Zambian Electric Mobility Innovation Alliance is pursuing “the development, manufacturing and adoption” of electrics and installing charging stations. Afrieximbank and the UN Economic Commission for Africa met in Lusaka April 15 to review a study for a “Transboundary Battery and Electric Vehicle Industry Special Economic Zone” in Zambia and DRC. “Success in these smaller regional initiatives can pave the way for larger, more comprehensive hubs for regional mineral processing and manufacturing,” the IMF says in an analytical note, “Digging for Opportunity,” out this month. On the manufacturing front, cost and safety concerns of moving EV battery packs (each weighing at least 1,000 pounds or 453 kg) mean those factories are put near assembly plants. One country interested in helping Africa figure out this problem is Indonesia. A dozen years ago, nickel-producing Indonesia was where sub-Saharan Africa is on the continuum between extraction and processing – off the playing field. Now Southeast Asia’s biggest economy has moved far “downstream,” according to IMF staff calculations. Indonesia banned export of nickel ore in 2020 to spur local refining and wants to build 600,000 EVs by 2030. Africa needs to focus on environmental impacts to ensure sustainable “green” mining and unlock “green finance,” the IMF says. In short, it’s Africa’s moment to get moving. (Pic: Roam) #zambia #drc #kenya #electricvehicles #oilandgas #greenenergy #cobalt #copper #africatech #criticalminerals #lithium #nickel #africa #imf #mining

Since 2012, the Philippines has been ranked as the deadliest country in Asia for people protecting land and the environment, with mining linked to a third of all killings documented by Global Witness. By boosting mining for transition minerals in the country, the global shift to renewable energy is already harming the lives and natural environment that communities rely on, placing them in increasing danger. https://lnkd.in/eVzKbkxZ And coal is still booming

NIGERIA AND FRANCE SIGN MOU TO PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE MINING AND CRITICAL MINERALS DEVELOPMENT Nigeria and France have signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on the development of joint projects aimed at enhancing and diversifying the critical minerals value chain within Nigeria's solid minerals sector. The agreement, formalized during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to France, highlights both nations’ commitment to advancing clean energy technologies by securing and developing critical minerals like copper, lithium, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements. These minerals are essential to the global transition to sustainable energy systems. A key component of the MOU is the promotion of sustainable mining practices. Both countries pledged to implement initiatives that focus on reducing the environmental impacts of mining, such as mitigating carbon emissions and water consumption, and addressing climate change concerns. The MOU also envisions joint ventures in extractive industries and processing, co-financed by both public and private entities, aimed at securing a reliable supply of critical minerals while promoting decarbonization in energy value chains. The agreement also outlines the remediation of over 2,000 abandoned mining pits in Nigeria and the restoration of post-mining landscapes, a critical step in tackling the country's legacy of environmental degradation. Capacity building is another focal point of the agreement, with provisions for bilateral training programs, seminars, and exchanges aimed at improving expertise within the critical minerals sector. Dr. Dele Alake, Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development, emphasized that the MOU supports the Tinubu administration’s plan to transform Nigeria's solid minerals sector into a globally competitive industry, creating opportunities for French investors in Nigeria's growing mining sector. This strategic partnership not only strengthens Nigeria’s commitment to sustainable economic diversification but also enhances international cooperation on sustainable mining practices. #CriticalMinerals #SustainableMining #NigeriaFrancePartnership #CleanEnergyTransition #MiningReform

Pleased to be part of the article: Land Use Land Cover (LULC) Change Dynamics Associated with Mining Activities in Kitwe District and Adequacy of the Legal Framework on Mine Closure in Zambia. #landuselandcover #landcoverchange #africa #mining #remotesensing #sustainability #sustainabledevelopment

Continue Extracting and Shipping or LetThe Minerals Be Underground for Now?: The most uncomfortable conversation in Namibia is one considering the benefits of continuously mining and sending raw materials out to the world. Every year, I look at mining contributions in all aspects, employment, taxes, procurement and others and compare them to the quantity they ship out. I look at the transparency in reporting the lack of independent validation on the reported contribution, especially in local procurement. So then, I ponder what if we let the resources be in the ground until we develop the capacity to process them here and use them in our industrial agenda? In my observation, if one raises that question in Namibia, one will get blasted by woke politicians and economic analysts. Statements like “the mining sector is the biggest contributor to the Namibian economy and brings in foreign currency as it dominates export” are thrown around to ensure perpetuity in exploration and ship-out strategy. Thus, if one questions or suggests increased state shareholding in the mining sector, they will be blasted if they understand the risk involved and the capital outlay — Namibians are deemed not to understand anything and they should settle for whatever. Honest debates should be held to evaluate the benefits of extracting and shipping the country’s valuable minerals to supply global manufacturing powerhouses and buying back finished products. Can the country weigh the benefits in a rational mindset, so that we can perhaps slow down with mineral exploration perpetuated by the few who are benefiting and global multinational companies that seek raw materials? To the educated fellows, can you realistically measure the benefits that accrue to Namibia in exchange for its minerals? Certainly, many of the educated and economically woke will run to certain mineral employment statistics, which are below 120 000, while others will mention taxes, even though many mines don’t pay corporate taxes. If one calculates the number of minerals Namibia extracts and sends to the world, would one in their sober mind accept what the country gets from its resources? Would you encourage more exploration of more mineral resources or would you say enough is enough? We should sit down and weigh the monetary benefits of our mineral resources, as we are being paraded to extract more and export in exchange for employment and some taxes. Is that all for the third biggest uranium producer, one of the largest suppliers of diamonds, the biggest copper smelter and many more? Procurement numbers are paraded every year, amounting to billions, but can someone do due diligence on what is being procured by the mines in Namibia and how come it is not expanding the country’s industrialisation process? Many, including political leaders and various economic facilitators, are convinced that exploration, extracting…