Search

Begin New Search Topic Mining

11. Wild Growth: An Assessment of Erdenes Mongol

Author:
Andrew Bauer and Dorjdari Namkhaijantsan
Publication Date:
06-2019
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:
Erdenes Mongol is Mongolia's most influential state-owned mining enterprise. It was established in 2006 to represent the government of Mongolia's interests in strategic mines, manage mineral licenses and promote the mining sector. In recent years Erdenes Mongol has evolved into a complex conglomerate with interests in many sectors, including unconventional oil and gas, roads, hospitality, power generation, steel, and asset management. The company's expansion represents an implicit government choice to invest in specific sectors rather than others, such as education, healthcare or renewable energy. Erdenes Mongol does not publish financial information on most of its subsidiaries and joint ventures. However, many are unprofitable. Those that are profitable, such as the Tavan Tolgoi coal project, have yet to pay any dividends to the state treasury. The Government of Mongolia may wish to consider several reforms, such as: (1) Enacting a new state-owned enterprise or Erdenes Mongol-specific law; (2) Clarifying the company's financial and governance relationship with subsidiaries; (3) Performing project-by-project market assessments in order to determine which assets to purchase and sell; (4) Developing clear criteria and an open process for appointment and dismissal of board members and managers; and, (5) Requiring greater public disclosures and audits, especially of subsidiaries and joint ventures.
Topic:
Natural Resources, Business, Mining, and Trade
Political Geography:
Mongolia and Asia

12. Beyond Revenues: Measuring and Valuing Environmental and Social Impacts in Extractive Sector Governance

Author:
Nicola Woodroffe and Tim Grice
Publication Date:
09-2019
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:
Oil, gas and mining projects can generate substantial revenues for host countries. At the same time, extractive activities generate a range of other positive and negative economic, environmental, social, political, institutional and cultural impacts. Host countries must weigh the economic benefits of extractive projects against their environmental and social impacts. However, environmental and social impacts are often assessed in separate processes and by separate institutions from those assessing financial revenues and the modeling, measuring and reporting of these impacts is rarely integrated with financial impacts.
Topic:
Environment, Oil, Natural Resources, Governance, Gas, and Mining
Political Geography:
Global Focus

13. Unpacking Decentralization: Improving How States and Regions in Myanmar Issue Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Permits

Author:
Sebastian Sahla and Hosana Chay
Publication Date:
10-2019
Content Type:
Special Report
Institution:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:
Recent reforms in Myanmar’s mining sector have given greater powers to states and regions. Following regulatory changes in 2018, the responsibility for issuing permits for artisanal and small-scale mines has shifted from the capital Nay Pyi Taw to state- and region-level boards. Decentralization could be an opportunity to improve governance of Myanmar’s mining sector. Most artisanal and small-scale miners currently operate without permits. By reducing the physical distance that they need to travel to get a permit, decentralization could make it easier to operate legally. Legal title could strengthen livelihoods while helping the government to monitor mining activities. Decentralization in mining is also part of a broader shift to empower subnational stakeholders. It is an important element of Myanmar’s political transition and attempts to end decades of civil conflict. However, there are major challenges around how the government is implementing decentralization. States and regions have new responsibilities but not necessarily the experience and skills to fulfil them effectively. As a result, decentralization could drive mismanagement and corruption, exacerbate environmental and social impacts, and generate conflicts with large-scale mining. The authors of this report find that at present the potential benefits of decentralization could go unrealized.
Topic:
Natural Resources, Mining, and Decentralization
Political Geography:
Southeast Asia and Myanmar

14. Mongolia's Missing Oil, Gas and Mining Contracts

Author:
Robert Pitman
Publication Date:
02-2019
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:
Many of the most important contracts for publicly owned oil, gas and minerals in Mongolia remain secret, despite government promises to make contracts public. A review of publicly available contracts in Mongolia suggests that contracts are unlikely to contain the kinds of information about a project that are commercially sensitive. Likewise, evidence suggests that there is no reason to think that confidentiality clauses prevent disclosure of contracts. Contracting regimes in Mongolia are complex and therefore in many instances, it will be necessary to publish several contracts and associated documents for each project. There are five steps that the government can take to make contracts public: 1) explain the contracting landscape, 2) define the scope of disclosure, 3) establish a contract disclosure rule, 4) make contracts accessible, and 5) support contract use.
Topic:
Civil Society, Government, Oil, Gas, Journalism, Tax Systems, Mining, Private Sector, and Contracts
Political Geography:
Mongolia and Asia

15. The Case for Publishing Indonesian Mining Agreements

Author:
Robert Pitman and Rani Febrianti
Publication Date:
09-2019
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:
The disclosure of contracts and licenses in the extractive industries is a rapidly growing global norm. There are now over 44 countries that have disclosed at least some extractive industry contracts or licenses, and the new EITI Standard makes it a requirement for all implementing countries to publish contracts and licenses that are granted, entered into or amended after 1 January 2021. This reflects a growing recognition among governments, the private sector and civil society organizations that disclosure of these documents helps to improve governance of natural resources and contributes to a more stable investment climate. In Indonesia, long-standing advocacy by civil society has resulted in notable advances. In 2011, a decision by the Central Information Commission declared that mining contracts are open documents and a 2016 decision by the Supreme Court declared that IUP licenses are also open documents. Together with a new EITI requirement for the publication of contracts and licenses, these decisions provide the groundwork for the government of Indonesia to develop disclosure practices that will position the country at the forefront of a global trend. This brief explains why Indonesia should proactively publish these important documents, gives an overview of the documents that it should make public, and suggests a path for making publication a reality.
Topic:
Treaties and Agreements, Mining, and Transparency
Political Geography:
Indonesia and Southeast Asia

16. Considerations for Taxing Myanmar’s Large-scale Mining Companies

Author:
David Manley, Sebastian Sahla, Ko Ko Lwin, and Khin Saw Htay
Publication Date:
09-2019
Content Type:
Policy Brief
Institution:
Natural Resource Governance Institute
Abstract:
Despite geological potential, Myanmar's mining sector has attracted few large-scale companies to date and the sector generates little government revenue. The authors of this briefing present the challenges the Myanmar government has faced in designing an effective mining tax regime. They suggest three ways in which the government could attract greater investment and allow the people of Myanmar to maximize benefits from the potentially significant mineral wealth of their country. The briefing is informed by the Natural Resource Governance Institute’s engagement with Myanmar’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC), helping the ministry implement strategic reforms.
Topic:
Natural Resources, Tax Systems, Mining, Private Sector, and Revenue Management
Political Geography:
Southeast Asia and Myanmar

17. Mining Policy and Socio-Cultural and Sustainable Integration of the Resettled in Cateme-Mozambique: 2009-2017

Author:
Cremildo de Abreu Coutinho
Publication Date:
12-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
Brazilian Journal of African Studies
Institution:
Brazilian Journal of African Studies
Abstract:
The government of Mozambique has been developing various actions aimed at poverty reduction and the consequent shift towards development. One of the actions taken has been the permission of foreign investment in the country, which, in turn, contributes to gathering foreign currencies which, if used correctly, can contribute to the increase of development. It is in this context that, in 2007, the government signed a contract with Vale Moçambique to start the extraction of coal in the coal basin of Moatize district. Due to the fact that the object in question is located underground in several villages in the aforementioned district, it was essential to move the population from its usual place of residence and consequent resettlement in other locations, including the village of Cateme. However, during and after the resettlement process, there have been several conflicts between the affected population and the mining company Vale Moçambique, in which there is a resistance to leave the places where they previously lived, the reluctance to receive houses built by the company Vale Moçambique, by the potential resettled people, and later the occurrence of demonstrations that culminated in the blockade by the resettled population of access routes frequently used by the company. These issues gravitate to the following starting question: What are the reasons behind the resettlement conflicts in Cateme?
Topic:
Development, Poverty, Resettlement, and Mining
Political Geography:
Africa and Mozambique

18. Eyes on U: Opportunities, Challenges, and Limits of Remote Sensing for Monitoring Uranium Mining and Milling

Author:
Grace Liu, Joseph Rodgers, Scott Milne, Margaret Rowland, Ben McIntosh, Mackenzie Best, Octave Lepinard, and Melissa Hanham
Publication Date:
01-2019
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
Abstract:
The mining and milling of uranium does not generally receive the attention that the subject deserves. Yet this overlooked aspect of the nuclear fuel cycle can offer analysts important clues about a country’s fissile-material production. This, in turn, helps inform highly sensitive inquiries, such as estimates of arsenal size and potential for growth. Geospatial technology is uniquely helpful as a discovery and verification tool. The production of fissile material is often a closely held state secret; even for states that report production levels to the International Atomic Energy Agency, these numbers can be difficult to verify. Remote-sensing technology, such as satellite imagery paired with change-detection algorithms, can help pierce the veil of state secrecy and overcome physical barriers to inform analysts about this vital first step in the nuclear fuel cycle. Occasional Paper #44—the final installment in a four-part series that uses open-source remote-sensing data to identify and monitor uranium mining and milling activities—examines these new tools and technologies in detail to demonstrate how analysts use them to detect, estimate, or verify uranium production. It explores different remote-sensing techniques and their various advantages, including traditional optical imagery, multispectral and hyperspectral images, and thermal and near-infrared images. It also discusses machine-learning algorithms as another tool for analysts examining large quantities of geospatial information in a relatively short amount of time. Though these technologies hold great promise for WMD analysts, there are limitations to their use. CNS Occasional Paper #44 discusses these current and future limits, and concludes by calling for increased collaboration between the commercial satellite industry and analytical organizations and verification regimes alike, as a way f
Topic:
Natural Resources, Mining, Minerals, Uranium, and Milling
Political Geography:
Global Focus

19. Brown Coal Mining in the Czech Republic – Lessons on the Coal Phase-out

Author:
Lukas Lehotsky and Mikulas Cernik
Publication Date:
01-2019
Content Type:
Journal Article
Journal:
International Issues: Slovak Foreign Policy Affairs
Institution:
Slovak Foreign Policy Association
Abstract:
The article offers an overview of coal production policies in the Czech Republic – the third-largest coal consumer in the EU and a post-communist country struggling to take decisions over the future of the coal phase-out. It developed its phase- out policy in the early 1990s to address the destruction of the local environment. However, since then no steps have been taken in relation to phase-out. Instead, coal production stakeholders have attempted to maintain the coal lock-in and to reverse phase-out. The article begins by discussing the factors that have led to the ambiguity. It then places the discussion over the future of phase-out within the wider context of a just transition, and offers insights into the Czech case which may prove useful to other countries considering transitioning away from coal.
Topic:
Energy Policy, Natural Resources, Mining, Renewable Energy, and Coal
Political Geography:
Europe and Czech Republic

20. Implementing the Ahafo Benefit Agreements: Seeking Meaningful Community Participation at Newmont’s Ahafo Gold Mine in Ghana

Author:
Benjamin Boakye, Maggie Cascadden, Jordon Kuschminder, Eric Werker, and Sam Szoke-Burke
Publication Date:
07-2018
Content Type:
Working Paper
Institution:
Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment
Abstract:
In 2008, ten communities in the Brong Ahafo region of Ghana entered into agreements with Newmont Ghana to govern company-community relations, ensure local job creation, and share the benefits of the company’s mining operations. Ten years later, this report, co-authored by Canadian International Resources and Development Institute (CIRDI), African Center for Energy Policy (ACEP), CCSI, and ISP, looks at the communities’ experience of those agreements and suggests how the agreements might be improved. Though the agreements were celebrated for their attempts to include all stakeholders in decision-making, challenges remain around representation, consultation, and participation. New entities established to facilitate multi-stakeholder decision-making have led to the replication of existing power imbalances. And despite many improvements, the agreements have not fully stabilized company-community relations; tensions and grievances remain concerning employment, compensation, and resettlement, among other issues. The report makes research-informed recommendations for the communities, Newmont Ghana, and other stakeholders in the lead-up to the renegotiation of the agreements. While the negotiation of benefit agreements (sometimes called “Community Development Agreements”) have been the subject of wide-ranging research, academic literature on agreement implementation is still relatively sparse, and tends to focus on cases in Australia and Canada, with little information available from cases in low- or middle-income countries. This report therefore seeks to contribute to filling this gap, alongside other studies mentioned in the report.
Topic:
Energy Policy, Mining, Community, and Job Creation
Political Geography:
Africa, Canada, Australia, and Ghana