Task Group on "Responsible Mining"
Appointed on 8th May 2017 by the IAPG Secretary General
Framework
(by Nikolaos Arvaniditis)
Our modern society is totally dependent on non-energy minerals (NEM). They are essential for manufacturing and supply of renewable «green» energy. They also provide the materials to build homes, schools, hospitals and the infrastructure needed by sustainable communities. Despite the recent financial downturn across the globe, the demand for raw materials, such as NEM, will increase as attempts are made to boost economies and push the growth of manufactured goods. A continuous supply of minerals will, in other words, be necessary also in the future.
There is no doubt that mining can bring positive benefits to the host countries but these can come at a cost to the environment and local communities if the mines are not managed properly. The fundamental aim must be for the benefits of development to be distributed as widely as possible and for the negative impacts on people and environment to be minimized.
Mining-generated wealth has the potential to improve the economy, infrastructure and quality of life of the host country, region and community, and brings opportunities for economic growth and diversification. Mining generates revenue for governments through royalty and tax income. It also brings skilled employment, technology transfer and training for people, together with further jobs through the multiplier effect. Mining can bring substantial improvements in physical, social, legal and financial infrastructure.
If not properly managed, economic growth and development can come at a cost to the environment. While mining has historically affected its surrounding environment, advances in technology and changes in public attitude and management techniques mean that many negative impacts are now avoidable. Increasingly, mining companies are making efforts to reduce the remaining environmental impact of mining and to minimize the footprint of their activities throughout the mining cycle, including restoration of land and ecosystems after mining.
Goal
The goal of the Task Group is to draft a document on “Responsible Mining”, on values and concepts to be considered and their importance for future generations in the perspective of a sustainable development of our societies.
This document will give essential elements of reference to frame this important topic in an ethical perspective, in order to push different stakeholders to take into consideration (and possibly formally adopt) an orienting document which recalls them to the efficient and prudent exploitation and use of geo-resources, the respect of natural environment by minimizing the impacts of mining activities, the strong awareness of local populations and cultures, the adoption and application of high standards of quality and upgraded health and safety conditions in the working environment, the development of new innovative technologies and processes, and the implementation of eco-friendly and socio-friendly best practices.
Results
White Paper on Responsible Mining
Drafting Committee:
Nikolaos Arvanitidis, Jan Boon, Pekka Nurmi, Giuseppe Di Capua
With the contribution of:
Vitor Correia, Roberto Lencina, David Ovadia, Mark Rachovides, Ian Thomson
Approved by the IAPG Executive Council on 1 December 2017
Picture credit: https://twitter.com/aua_crm
Members
(read more below in the page)
Marita Ahumada
(Argentina)
Estelle Levin-Nally
(United Kingdom)
Vitor Correia
(Portugal)
Roberto Lencina
(Argentina)
Nikolaos Arvanitidis
(Sweden)
Giuseppe Di Capua
(Italy)
Members
Marita Ahumada (Argentina)
She is a geologist, who obtained her M.A. degree on “Geology and Environmental Management of Mineral Resources“ at UNIA (Spain). She also has postgraduate studies in Environmental Mining Geochemistry at Universidad de Concepción (Chile). She is a member of Sustainable Mining Development Academic Network and Director of the Women in Mining Counselling Committee in Argentina. She has worked as an independent consultant in a variety of areas of the mining industry for over twenty years, including exploration projects, environmental impact studies, social issues in the developing of mining projects, as well as in the mining education field at Maza University and INSUTEC (Mendoza). She recently joined the Argentina’s 2050 Mining Strategic Plan team. In addition, she has participated in a number of groups associated with the mining activity, such as Exploration Mining Companies Group of Argentina (GEMERA), Mining Chamber of San Juan, Mining Chamber of Mendoza (CaMEM).
Email: maritahumada (at) yahoo.com.ar
Estelle Levin-Nally (United Kingdom)
She is CEO of Levin Sources (https://www.levinsources.com/), which she founded as a catalyst to build sustainable, valuable and equitable minerals sectors. Estelle is an internationally recognised leader in the nexus of human rights, minerals and nature, advocating for and advancing sector commitments and activities that can realise more sustainable production systems for marginal producers in fragile environments, especially in the world of artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). She serves on diverse boards and committees that are advancing the sustainable production and consumption of minerals. Estelle was named #48 Top 100 Modern Slavery Influencers 2018; #15 Top 100 Conflict Minerals Influencers 2017.
Email: estelle.levin-nally (at) levinsources.com
Vitor Correia (Portugal)
He is Secretary-General of the International Raw Materials Observatory and Past-President of the European Federation of Geologists. He founded and managed several companies working in geosciences, and he has over 25 years of experience in strategic management, innovation and organizational effectiveness. He began his career as a mining geologist, and he worked in mineral exploration, geological engineering and environmental geology in Europe, Africa and South America. Vitor holds a BSc in Geology and an MBA, both from the University of Lisbon. He is registered. Vitor is the IAPG Delegate for the Relationships with European Organizations.
Email: vcorreia (at) intraw.eu
Roberto Lencina (Argentina)
He is senior-level Exploration Geologist with 25 years’ experience in Industry and 33 years in Academia. Outreach: Since 2013, he has worked as a 'mediator' and 'public relations expert' between mining companies and local communities in the context of 'social licensing' and 'environmental impact assessments. For 15 years, he has been on UNT outreach committees (e.g., producing radio programs to spread the responsible management of natural resources). Professional Service: on various boards and commissions, such as the Tucumán Council of Geologists. Education: he has worked to develop student learning opportunities outside of the classroom, such as coordinating professional internships for geologists and the exchange agreement between UNT-NAU. He has been involved in projects to design more effective university curricula and have advised dozens of student theses. He collaborated with local schools (e.g., science fairs at 'Escuela Provincia de Salta' and 'Escuela Amadeo Jacques de La Ramada'). He was Assistant Professor, Introduction to Geology, National University of Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina; Assistant Professor, Economic Valuation of Projects, National University of Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina. He runs as Director of the Academic Exchange Program with Northern Arizona University, US and National University of Tucuman. He is a member of the Foro International Environmental and Social Responsibility in Geosciences and Engineering Curricula. He is member of the Working Group for the Incorporation of Social Responsibility in the Professional Profile of Engineers and Geologists-Environmental and Social Responsibility Society of the Canadian Institute of Mining. He is a Facilitator in the process of construction of the Strategic Plan for Argentine Mining Development. He is Editor of the Inclusive Mining chapter for the IDB (Inter-American Development Bank) for the discussion of the National Mining Development Strategic Plan. He is a member of the Committee of Experts for the analysis and opinion of the Agua Rica-YMAD Integrated Project contract (where the UNT is a partner).
Email: robertolencina (at) yahoo.com.ar
Nikolaos Arvanitidis (Sweden)
He is an Economic Geologist with more than 40 years as Researcher at the Geological Institute of Stockholm University in Sweden, Project Manager on mineral exploration and development projects and Regional Division Director at the Institute of Geology and Mineral Exploration (IGME) in Greece, Senior Specialist at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK) and Head of Economic Geology Division at the Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU). He is Former Chair of the Mineral Resources Expert Group at EuroGeoSurveys (EGS) and Member of the European Technology Platform for Sustainable Mineral Resources (ETP SMR). Active member of the Raw Materials Supply Group, the Ad hoc Working Group on defining critical raw materials, the European Rare Earths Competency Network (ERECON) and the Strategic Implementation Plan (SIP) of the European Innovation Partnership on Raw Materials. He has been actively involved in more than 25 EU R&D and R&I minerals related projects, since 1984, as coordinator and participant, and currently in EURARE, ProSUM, X-Mine, FORAM, SCRREEN. He is Department Secretary at the Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation, Sweden and EU project coordinator at Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU).
Email: nikolaos.arvanitidis (at) gmail.com
Giuseppe Di Capua (Italy)
Geologist, technologist at the Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (Rome, Italy), his fields of experience cover engineering geology, geoethics, geoscience education and communication, philosophy of geosciences. He is Founding Member and Treasurer of the IAPG - International Association for Promoting Geoethics; Task Leader on ethical aspects in the European Horizon 2020 project ENVRI-Plus, and Team Leader of the Erasmus+ project GOAL – Geoethics Outcomes and Awareness Learning; Member of the International Advisory Board of the European projects INTERMIN - International Network of Raw Materials Training Centres and SMART EXPLORATION; Webmaster and Member of the Publications Committee of the IUGS - International Union of Geological Sciences; Member of the Executive Committee of the CIPSH - International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences; Convener in sessions on geoethics, author of articles in international journals and Editor of books on geoethics.
Email: giuseppe.dicapua (at) ingv.it
Past members
(read more below in the page)
Jan Boon
(Canada)
Pekka Nurmi
(Finland)
Past Members
Jan Boon (Canada)
He has a Ph.D. in geochemistry. He retired in 2007 after a career that included teaching physical chemistry and research on tropical soils, oil sands research, and leadership of the Alberta Geological Survey and the Geological Survey of Canada. Since then he obtained an M.A. degree in globalization and international development and a Ph.D. degree in sociology, with his studies focusing on social responsibility in mineral exploration and mining. Most of these studies were carried out in Latin America. He is a member of the Executive Committee of the Centre for Excellence in CSR (Canada), and has been a member of the CSR Committee and is a member of the International Affairs Committee of the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada. He currently is a member of the Environment and Social Responsibility Society of the Canadian Institute of Mining and of the Instituto de Ingenieros de Minas del Perú. Jan passed away on 22 July 2020.
Pekka Nurmi (Finland)
Professor Pekka A. Nurmi graduated and gained his Ph.D. at the University of Helsinki. He has a long career at the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), and is currently the Director of Science and Innovations, and the vice of the Director General. He has been actively involved in developing RDI programmes, research co-operation and projects in Finland and internationally, and in promoting Finland's mineral opportunities for the global mining industry. He has published some 90 papers mainly on economic geology. In 2010 he led the expert group preparing Finland's minerals strategy, and he is one of the developers of Finland's Green Mining concept. He is a high level group member of the European Technology Platform on Sustainable Mineral Resources. He a Steering Group member of the EIT RawMaterials Baltic Sea Co-location Centre. He has been awarded on research which led to the discovery of the Orivesi gold mine, and as an editor of the Finnish science book of the year. He is retired.