Governments must collaborate with mining

The mining industry has much that it can offer on the journey towards sustainable development in the mining and metals industry, and ICMM intends to play a key role in realizing this – but this cannot be achieved by industry alone. This was the key point that ICMM Secretary General Paul Mitchell made to an audience of mining ministers in Toronto, Canada early this month. He said “I believe we are now reaching the limits of what companies working alone can do to tackle the economic, social and environmental impacts of mining.

“For example, the companies can fund all the community projects they like. They can hire and train hundreds of local people. But these economic effects are usually dwarfed by the tax revenues raised from mines.”

In his speech at the World Mines Ministries Forum, Mitchell called for more collaboration between companies and other stakeholders - governments, communities, NGOs, and international agencies. “Such partnerships are needed if we are to truly realize the positive potential mining offers. This will of course require a greater willingness by all parties to engage substantively, thus necessitating commitment and openness that has not always characterized the sector to date.”

Mr Mitchell also argued for a more discriminating response towards the leading companies from some non-industry stakeholders. It is in their interests to be able distinguish between those companies with which it is worth collaborating, and those which have no deep interest in sustainable development and hence which should be avoided as partners. “Companies should not win recognition where it is not deserved. But if certain companies perform well, it is in everyone’s interests that this is acknowledged and is far preferable to NGOs issuing blanket condemnations against all firms, without distinguishing between the more and less responsible sorts, or worse still primarily target high profile companies because of their media appeal.

“With hard work, more sophisticated, collaborative approaches, and a little bit of luck the mining industry may be welcomed as an important partner in sustainable development, one that is seen by communities and governments as playing a vital role in social and economic development, and environmental protection.”