SIRGE Coalition’s Post

Estimates are that more than 200,000 people in the DRC earn a living from informal cobalt mining. At the same time, manufacturers of products such as batteries and electric vehicles want to ensure that their supply chains are ethical. According to Wouter Jordaan, partner and principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting, social aspects such as human rights violations have come to the fore as serious risks to formal cobalt producers, as customers want better traceability and integrity in their supply chains. “Many companies are now applying or incorporating standards and guidelines such as the due diligence guidelines from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), to audit their supply chains,” says Jordaan. Jordaan highlights that the miners themselves still earn only a fraction of the income that is generated – which undermines the potential impact of mining on community livelihoods. The interplay between formal mining companies and the artisanal workers remains a complex and difficult issue, but it is becoming clear that engagement is the best way forward. As a basic foundation, for instance, mines are required to develop and apply a systematic Cahier de Charge – a plan for local social development – in consultation with local stakeholders. The communities that this plan affects often includes artisanal miners, who frequently work in deposits close to the mine itself. Operational decisions taken by the mines will invariably impact on these workers. To read the full article click on the link below or visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop-shop for on-the-ground information and business intelligence about Africa. WhyAfrica specialises in the sustainable utilisation and responsible extraction of Africa’s natural resources. WhyAfrica supports the empowerment of African communities, especially women and the youth, through development projects. Leon Louw SRK Consulting Sally Braham Megan van Wyngaardt Image credit: SRK Consulting #whyafrica #whyafricaroadtrips #africa #DRC #mining #cobalt #artisanalmining #exploration #supplychain #naturalresources #naturalresourcemanagement #environment #environmentalmanagement     https://lnkd.in/dcJxJXr6

In the past 24 hours, the rare earth minerals sector has been abuzz with groundbreaking discoveries and policy shifts that promise to reshape the global landscape and spark new opportunities for innovation and exploration. - Resolute Mining and Mali Settlement: Resolute Mining has made a second settlement payment of approximately US$50 million to the Government of Mali, part of a broader US$160 million settlement to resolve outstanding disputes, including taxes and customs levies. This follows the release of Resolute’s CEO and other executives who were detained by Malian authorities, and the company remains committed to its operations at the Syama Gold Mine. - Madagascar Lifts Suspension on Toliara Project: The Government of Madagascar has lifted the suspension on Energy Fuels’ Toliara critical minerals project, allowing the company to resume development activities, invest in community initiatives, and advance towards a financial investment decision expected in early 2026. The project involves the production of minerals like ilmenite, rutile, and zircon. - Norway's Deep-Sea Mining Plans: Norway is planning to open its Arctic seabed to mining for critical metals like copper, cobalt, and rare earths, despite environmental concerns and lack of comprehensive environmental data. The WWF is suing Norway over the potential impacts on fragile marine ecosystems, highlighting the need for more research and responsible development. - US Recycling Efforts for Critical Minerals: The US Department of Defense and Department of Energy are investing in recycling technologies to reduce the country's reliance on imported critical minerals. Funds have been awarded to companies like Nathan Trotter & Co. for tin recycling and 6K Additive for titanium alloy recycling, aiming to boost domestic production and reduce environmental impact. - Battery X Metals Option Agreement: Battery X Metals has amended an option agreement to acquire 100% of a gold-copper property, although this development is less directly related to rare earth minerals. The move indicates ongoing activity in the broader mining sector, particularly in gold and copper, which are often associated with rare earth element deposits. #RareEarthMinerals #CriticalMinerals #MiningIndustry #Sustainability #ResourceDevelopment #InnovationInMining #GlobalMining #MineralsExploration #EnvironmentalImpact #MineralsPolicy

🚨NEW INVESTIGATION🚨 As rich countries scramble for access to the critical minerals needed to reach net-zero, the lives and livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local communities are at risk. A major new investigation by Hanna Hindstrom documents how global demand for Critical Minerals is devastating Indigenous groups and ecosystems in the Philippines. The report reveals that: - In total, a fifth of the Philippines land mass is currently covered in mining tenements, with government ambition for the country to be a leading exporter of minerals, such as nickel, cobalt and copper;   - But this mining expansion threatens Indigenous Peoples, who have already experienced land grabs the size of a small country, equivalent to an astonishing one fifth of their delineated land; - A quarter of the land used for transition mineral mining clashes with key biodiversity and protected areas, whilst also putting some of the world’s most precious ecosystems at risk; - The analysis also reveals that mining is fuelling reprisals against land and environmental defenders; the Philippines military is the single biggest threat to Indigenous defenders, with the military behind most killings and detentions of mining activists. Commenting on the findings, Ana Celestial at Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment said:  “The Philippine government's relentless push for increased mining, disguised as a 'green' energy transition, is nothing less than a revival of colonial-era exploitation. This strategy facilitates massive land grabs and resource extraction, prioritising corporate profits over the rights and welfare of Indigenous communities and our rural poor. The military's oppressive role in silencing Indigenous and land defenders, in collusion with government agencies, has created an environment where land grabs by extractive industries are not merely tolerated but actively endorsed. “Our natural wealth must serve the people—not multinational corporations. It is time to dismantle the oppressive structures that prioritise profit over life and establish a mining policy rooted in justice, equity, and true environmental stewardship." This situation is not exclusive to the Philippines. The green-energy transition will maintain the old neo-colonial world order unless we need tackle critical mineral trade agreements head-on - pushing to ensure they include provisions for free, prior and informed consent from local communities on resource-rich land; for benefits to be shared and for the protection of defenders of the environment.

Estimates are that more than 200,000 people in the DRC earn a living from informal cobalt mining. At the same time, manufacturers of products such as batteries and electric vehicles want to ensure that their supply chains are ethical. According to Wouter Jordaan, partner and principal environmental scientist at SRK Consulting, social aspects such as human rights violations have come to the fore as serious risks to formal cobalt producers, as customers want better traceability and integrity in their supply chains. “Many companies are now applying or incorporating standards and guidelines such as the due diligence guidelines from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), to audit their supply chains,” says Jordaan. Jordaan highlights that the miners themselves still earn only a fraction of the income that is generated – which undermines the potential impact of mining on community livelihoods. The interplay between formal mining companies and the artisanal workers remains a complex and difficult issue, but it is becoming clear that engagement is the best way forward. As a basic foundation, for instance, mines are required to develop and apply a systematic Cahier de Charge – a plan for local social development – in consultation with local stakeholders. The communities that this plan affects often includes artisanal miners, who frequently work in deposits close to the mine itself. Operational decisions taken by the mines will invariably impact on these workers. To read the full article click on the link below or visit the WhyAfrica website, your one-stop-shop for on-the-ground information and business intelligence about Africa. WhyAfrica specialises in the sustainable utilisation and responsible extraction of Africa’s natural resources. WhyAfrica supports the empowerment of African communities, especially women and the youth, through development projects. Leon Louw SRK Consulting Sally Braham Megan van Wyngaardt Image credit: SRK Consulting #whyafrica #whyafricaroadtrips #africa #DRC #mining #cobalt #artisanalmining #exploration #supplychain #naturalresources #naturalresourcemanagement #environment #environmentalmanagement     https://lnkd.in/dz5z2Ndt

The Philippines is going all-in on transition minerals and endangering Indigenous lands A new report reveals the violent cost of the green transition The island of Mindanao in the Philippines is ringed by beaches and covered in volcanoes and gardens of exotic orchids. Mindanao has been home to the Indigenous Lumad peoples for centuries, but beginning in 2026, the island will become the site of the Philippines’ largest mining project. The Tampakan Copper-Gold Project has been in the works since large gold reserves were confirmed in the 1990s, and since its inception, there has been intense Indigenous resistance. Kat Dalon is one of those people working to stop the mine. Dalon has been fighting to stop the mine for most of her life. Today, she writes and organizes to stop the project. ”We will realize our right to practice self-determination,” she said. A new report from Global Witness, an international human rights advocacy group, says that increasing demand for transition minerals necessary for green energy are putting Indigenous peoples, like the Lumad, as well as critical biodiversity in the Philippines at risk. More than a quarter of lands in the Philippines identified for mineral mining overlap with biodiversity hotspots, while nearly half of all mining permits issued by the state “clash” with important ecological zones. Since 2010, Global Witness estimates that nearly 800 miles of critical forestlands have been lost to mining — an area around three times the size of New York City. Hannah Hindstrom, a senior investigator at Global Witness, says that a fifth of the land in the Philippines is already covered in mining leases. “It’s quite a shocking figure. It’s a heavily mineral-developed country,” she said. “The government has strongly signaled that it is open for business in the mining sector, and they are trying to position the country as a leading producer of transition minerals.” The Philippines is one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world and is the second-largest global producer of nickel. It’s estimated that only 5 percent of the nation’s $1 trillion worth of minerals has been explored. As the world moves from fossil fuels to green energy solutions, like electric vehicles, minerals including nickel, copper, gold, and silver are critical to building energy infrastructure, and the Philippines is positioning itself to be a major economic player in the global mining industry. It’s estimated that by 2040, the global need for renewable energy will increase sevenfold. https://lnkd.in/g5-FzQeT

Mindanao, home to the Indigenous Lumad Peoples for centuries, is set to host the Philippines' largest mining project in 2026, driven by the global demand for #TransitionMinerals needed for “green energy”. Despite Indigenous resistance, these projects threaten biodiversity and violate the Lumad's right to #FreePriorAndInformedConsent #FPIC, as outlined in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of #IndigenousPeoples. #UNDRIP #IndigenousLands #RightToSayNo https://lnkd.in/gupEeA8s

"Exploring the ever-evolving landscape of rare earth minerals, today's breakthrough developments promise to redefine global technological advancements and spark awe-inspiring possibilities for the future." - Energy Fuels Acquires Base Resources - Lynas Rare Earths Posts Significant Profit Decline - US Critical Materials Corp.'s High-Grade Rare Earth Deposit - EXIM Bank Supports American Rare Earths' Wyoming Project - Surge in Illegal Rare Earth Mining in Myanmar #RareEarthElements #MineralsMatter #TechInnovation #GlobalResources #SustainableFuture #MiningIndustry #TechAdvancements #ResourceDevelopment #EconomicImpact #ResponsibleMining

Sharing my latest story published on Dialogue Earth! I wrote about how the energy transition, specifically the expansion of mining activities, is affecting indigenous communities in the Philippines. https://lnkd.in/gAwDpXkT

54% of global 🌍 #criticalminerals #mining projects take place on Indigenous lands. Artisanal miners, who are often part of Indigenous nations, share land with many of these large projects. For large mining companies, this means: 🏹 legal frameworks are in play - UNDRIP / free, prior and informed consent 🏹 Indigenous nations owning or co-owning mines will be an increasing norm - what does this mean for mining co. business models? 🏹 Indigenous engagement is table stakes for conflict-free projects - acknowledging often sad history and building transparent dialogue that builds trust is part of this work 🏹 artisanal mining engagement and support is a core part of earning social license - as extensions of local peoples, building trust with #asm supports building trust with broader Indigenous peoples Artisanal mining formalization increases the dignity and productivity of work. Just like elsewhere, engagement with ASM on Indigenous lands that leads to solution design needs to start with local voices and reflect local realities. This means that history needs to be acknowledged and that solutions need to reflect specific local, cultural and legal realities. FPIC & broader himan rights adherence are of course a given, building trust that supports solutions for professionalization need deep transparent dialogue and finance solutions that consider Indigenous ownership. Now is the time. The Blended Capital Group and our partners are committed to reimagining outcomes in artisanal mining. The fit for #mininginvestment and #impactingestment is clear given improved outcomes on the dignity of work, on productivity and on land use / #biodiversity. Indigenous relationships are of course central in the huge number of places where mining happens on Indigenous lands. Reach out, let’s discuss. Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM) Levin Sources BanQu Inc. Napier Meridian Innovest Advisory Investing for Good CIC #esg #sdgs #humanrights #responsiblemining #netzero #cop16

OUT TODAY: New report by Global Witness and Kalikasan People’s Network for the Environment (Kalikasan PNE) exposes how the massive expansion of mining projects is threatening Indigenous communities and biodiversity hotspots all over the Philippines. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr is re-positioning the country as a leading exporter of #transitionminerals, following the lifting of a nine-year moratorium on open-pit #mining by his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippines is presently the world’s third largest producer of #nickel, and has major untapped reserves of nickel, #copper, chromite, silver and zinc, used in #renewableenergy technologies like wind turbines and solar panels. 🔍 Key findings: 🚨Over 25% of critical mineral zones overlap with recognised Indigenous territories. Since the 1990s, Indigenous communities have lost an area of land equivalent to the size of Timor-Leste. 🚨 A quarter of the land used for critical minerals mining in the Philippines also clashes with key biodiversity and protected #Ramsar sites. Nearly half of all individual permits clash to some extent with these important ecological zones. #Globalbiodiversityframework 🚨The military poses the single biggest threat to land and environmental defenders in the Philippines, many of whom are Indigenous. In 2023, the Philippine military was responsible for 15 of 17 defender killings, labelling many Indigenous leaders and activists as insurgents for opposing mining projects. 🚨 More than 211,000 hectares of #deforestation in regions designated for mining since 2010 – an area nearly three times the size of New York City. 🚨A growing number of activists are intimidated with #SLAPP suits for rebellion or terrorism charges for speaking out against resources projects like mining in the Philippines. Although the Philippines’ constitution guarantees the protection of #IndigenousPeoples’ rights to Free, Prior and Informed Consent (#FPIC), in practice they are not respected, and mining has led to major violations. In the Philippines, this is a matter of life or death. 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. The Philippines is therefore one of the world’s main examples of why we need to move beyond voluntary standards and self-regulation in mining and Responsible sourcing standards for electric vehicles, batteries, consumer tech industries etc. FPIC and consent of Indigenous Peoples on #biodiversity rich lands, must be non-negotiable, to ensure that authoritarian and strongman governments don’t decide what is strategic, mostly for the benefit of them and their cronies.