Mining seeks to polish its image
To counter rising criticism, the industry says it wants to adopt standards of good governance
The global mining industry talks about showing a greater commitment to respect for human rights and the environment, but stands accused of wanting to improve its reputation without seeking real progress.
The global mining industry talks about showing a greater commitment towards respect for human rights and the environment, but stands accused of wanting to improve its reputation without seeking real progress.
Wildcat miners, including children, risk their lives daily to unearth metals and minerals they sell to mining companies. In return, they get subsistence pay but not the working rights of legal and salaried employees.
“While industry initiatives on certain minerals and metals are helpful, companies are still responsible for undertaking comprehensive human rights due diligence across all minerals and metals in their supply chains,” said Eniko Horvath, senior researcher at the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre.
In June, dozens of illegal miners died when part of a copper mine collapsed in southeastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The mine was in the Kolwezi area operated by Kamoto Copper Company, a subsidiary of the Swiss company Glencore.
At the beginning of 2019, a dam collapse at a mine operated by Brazilian group Vale unleashed a tsunami of mud that killed more than 200 people and about 100 more went missing.
China, also the scene of fatal mining incidents, has also been in the spotlight for its dumping of toxic waste in Baotou, Inner Mongolia, as Beijing drives global production of rare earth elements used in technologies such as smartphones.
With rising criticism, the mining industry says it wants to adopt standards of good governance. The London Metal Exchange, global centre for trading in industrial metals, has adopted new ethical standards to ensure better traceability of raw materials, especially those most at risk such as cobalt used heavily in high-end technology.
“As metals play an important role in society with increased focus on ethical supply chains, the London Metal Exchange’s role and responsibility is vital,” said the exchange’s new and first female chair, Gay Huey Evans.
Earlier in September, the World Gold Council issued “Responsible Gold Mining Principles”, nonbinding guidance. The industry body calls on members to respect human rights of workers and communities affected by mining.
“We will work to ensure that fragile ecosystems, critical habitats and endangered species are protected from damage and we will plan for responsible mine closure,” says another directive.
A spokesperson for Barrick Gold, largest producer of the precious metal, said it meets or exceeds new World Gold Council guidance. Glencore has laid out a charter similar to the council’s. BMW and German chemical giant BASF and Samsung announced a joint project last week to ensure “responsible” DRC cobalt mining.
“It’s great to see these statements of purpose and expressions of a willingness to meet these standards, but they have to be matched with action,” said Amnesty International official Lucy Graham. “What we really want to see is laws that are going to legally require industry to mine minerals responsibly and transparently.”
But Jamie Kneen of MiningWatch Canada said he believes companies and industry bodies are simply providing “yet another effort at PR whitewash. The standards that they are incorporating are self-administered and audited by unaccountable third parties; and they are explicitly focused on providing confidence to investors and buyers with not even a mention of host or affected communities,” he said.
Kneen said there was a need for “enforceable legal and regulatory standards at all levels”.
To help companies face their responsibilities, the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre launched a dedicated website, the Transition Minerals Tracker, earlier in September.
“It seeks to improve the human rights practices of companies that produce the minerals vital to the renewable energy and electric vehicles sectors, by shedding light on the human rights risks in the geographies where they operate”, Horvath said.
THESE STATEMENTS OF PURPOSE AND EXPRESSIONS OF A WILLINGNESS TO MEET THESE STANDARDS ... HAVE TO BE MATCHED WITH ACTION