Summary
The Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) entered the second day of its AGM on Wednesday at UN Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Delegates continued their discussions of various challenges and solutions related to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) and large-scale mining (LSM). Participants discussed possibilities for collaboration between LSM and ASM, for example, through technology transfer, training, trust-building initiatives and working together with all stakeholders to develop a common vision for mining. They also discussed approaches to environmental impact assessment (EIA), mine closure and post-mining transitions, and noted the importance of planning ahead to ensure that the assets and infrastructure left with communities after mine closure will continue to benefit them.
Daniel Franks, UN Development Programme (UNDP), presented to delegates on the value of ‘development minerals,’ which include less-valued materials such as gypsum, sand and gravel, highlighting that their total value of production far exceeds that of precious metals and gemstones. He emphasized the potential of mining these minerals have in contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), by creating employment and bringing needed infrastructure to developing countries.
Participants discussed how to address the issue of illicit financial flows from gold mining, and heard case studies from Mali, Mauritania and Mongolia on governments’ responses to gold rush situations. They also heard about strategies for environmental management and EIA in mining areas in Ghana and Guyana.
At lunchtime, UN Environment launched a report, titled ‘Mine Tailings Storage: Safety is No Accident’, and the G7 CONNEX Support Unit presented on strengthening assistance for complex contract negotiations in the extractives sector.
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Session 7: LSM and ASM: Challenges and New Industry Approaches
(L-R) Greg Radford, Director, IGF Secretariat; Nick Cotts, Group Executive, Sustainability and External Relations, Newmont Mining; Estelle Levin-Nally, Director, Levin Sources; Glenn Gemerts, Policy Advisor, Ministry of Natural Resources, Suriname; and David Noko, Executive Vice President, Sustainable Development, AngloGold Ashanti
Nick Cotts, Group Executive, Sustainability and External Relations, Newmont Mining
David Noko, Executive Vice President, Sustainable Development, AngloGold Ashanti
Delegates taking photos of the panelists
Video team films proceedings throughout the day
Session 8: Development Minerals and SDGs
Raijeli Taga, Director, Mineral Resources Department, Fiji
Daniel Franks, Programme Manager and Chief Technical Advisor, African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP)-EU Development Minerals Programme, UNDP
(L-R) Greg Radford, Director, IGF Secretariat; Daniel Franks, UNDP; Ernest Gbwaboubou, Minister of Mines, Industry and Technological Development, Cameroon; Raijeli Taga, Director, Mineral Resources Department, Fiji; Jennifer Hinton, Director, Auranda Minerals and Adjunct Professor, Carleton University; Antonio Pedro, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA); Harivao Fenosoa Razanakolona Rajaonarisoa, Head of Department of Administration and Control of Operations, Interregional Directorate of the Ministry to the Presidency in charge of Mines and Petroleum, Madagascar; and Maximin Emagna, ACP Group of States
Session 9: Government, Community and Industry Engagement to Develop a Common Vision for Mining
(L-R) Greg Radford, Director, IGF Secretariat; Tom Butler, CEO, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM); Kojo Busia, African Minerals Development Centre; Moreblessings Chidaushe, Norwegian Church Aid, South Africa; Mutuso Dhliwayo, Executive Director of Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association; Gofaone Molefhe, Ministry of Mineral Resources, Green Technology and Energy Security, Botswana; and Malvern Mudiwa, Marange Development Trust
Tom Butler, CEO, ICMM
Kojo Busia, African Minerals Development Centre
Session 10: Mine Closure and Post-mining Transition
Lassana Guindo, National Mine Closure Commission, Mali
Roger Gunson, Mineral Resources Authority, Papua New Guinea
(L-R) Matthew Bliss, Deputy Director, IGF Secretariat; Roger Gunson, Mineral Resources Authority, Papua New Guinea; Hilary Morgan, Director of International Affairs and Trade Directorate of the Lands and Minerals Sector, Natural Resources Canada; Mark Freberg, Director, Permitting and Closure, Teck Resources; and Lassana Guindo, National Mine Closure Commission, Mali
Session 11: ASM Case Studies
(L-R) Alec Crawford, IGF Secretariat; Holger Grundel, Senior Manager, Levin Sources; Seydou Keita, Ministry of the Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development, Mali; Rokhaya Samba, Ministry of Industry and Mines, Senegal; and John Tychsen, Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS); and Ahmed Taleb Mohamed, Technical Advisor to the Minister of Mining, Mauritania
Rokhaya Samba, Director, Department of the Exploration and Promotion of Mining, Ministry of Industry and Mines, Senegal; and John Tychsen, Director, GEUS
Seydou Keita, Ministry of the Environment, Sanitation and Sustainable Development, Mali
Session 12: EIA for ASM–LSM
(L-R) Matthew Bliss, Deputy Director, IGF Secretariat; Rob Stevens, Director, Partnerships and Learning, Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI); Justine Shirley Seyire Dzadzra, Principal Programme Officer, Mining Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Ghana; Godfrey Scott, Senior Environmental Officer, Guyana Geology Mines Commission
Side Event: UN Environment Report Launch: Mine Tailings Storage: Safety Is No AccidentPresented by Kristina Thygesen, Programme Leader, Ocean Governance and Geological Resources, GRID-Arendal
Side Event: G7 CONNEX Support Unit: Assistance in Negotiating Investment Contracts in the Extractives.Presented by Juliane Weymann and Torge Hamkens, CONNEX advisors.
Around the Venue
