Stronger regulations needed to curb environmental, social impacts of mining

Extractive resource governance experts are urging the adoption and enforcement of stronger legislation and best practices to address environmental and social risks associated with mining transition minerals as the country prepares for the onset of commercial lithium mining.

The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), referencing the UN Environment Programme, highlighted the double-edged nature of energy transition minerals. While these resources are crucial for advancing clean energy and development, their growing demand could result in exploitation, human rights abuses and severe environmental degradation.

“The urgency and scale of demand for these minerals risk exacerbating exploitation, human rights violations and environmental destruction,” the NRGI stated, stressing the need for robust regulatory frameworks to mitigate such challenges.

Economic Analyst David Sefa Adjei at NRGI, for instance, noted that about 40 percent of critical minerals are in countries that exhibit weak or failing governance and may not ensure that mining does no harm and instead delivers benefits to their populations.

“More than half of the potential reserves for transition minerals are also located on lands where indigenous or peasant groups hold recognised or claimed rights,” he added.

However, he expressed concern that their extraction can lead to ravaging landscapes, deforestation, water pollution, and dewatering.

“It takes two million litres of water to extract a single tonne of lithium. But some 50 percent of global copper and lithium production are concentrated in areas with water scarcity,” he revealed.

About Ghana, he said data from the Forestry Commission shows that 38 forest reserves in Ghana no longer exist, while also acknowledging the increasing destruction of water bodies as a result of the galamsey menace.

The Economic Analyst at NRGI was speaking on transition minerals in relation to Ghana’s environmental legislation at a meeting in Accra, and revealed that “60 percent of water-bodies are polluted in the Central Region, primarily due to illegal mining activities” – citing other global examples like the Chile water crisis.

Furthermore, he asserted that significant greenhouse gas emissions arise from energy-intensive mining and processing activities, leading to numerous environmental impacts including biodiversity loss.

He warned that other worrying developments could also occur, including child labour and negative effects on indigenous people’s rights.

Given these concerns, particularly as a new government gears up to take over the country’s administration, he advocated effective and binding mechanisms that hold the mining industry, governments and legislators accountable for their impact on communities and the environment.

“The perspectives of resource-rich countries, local communities, and mine workers must be incorporated into government policies and corporate regulations and practices along the entire mineral supply chain,” he said.

With parliament yet to ratify the country’s maiden lithium agreement, he urged collaboration between stakeholders – which he said is key to overcoming challenges enumerated and creating value throughout the entire mineral value chain.

The engagement on transition minerals and the state of Ghana’s legislation on the environment was organised by the NRGI.

The event brought together state actors including those responsible for implementing laws and policies in the mining sector and the environment, civil society, media and other key stakeholders.

The dialogue sought to provide an overview of the country’s laws and regulations on mining and the environment in light of transition minerals, while highlighting gaps in existing legislation and providing recommendations to address them.

Director-Mining Department, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Ing. Michael Sandow Ali also engaged stakeholders at the event on the EPA’s role in tackling environmental and social concerns arising from extractive sector operations.

He acknowledged that mining critical minerals will present challenges related to environmental sustainability, social responsibility and economic development.

Meanwhile, he noted that the EPA has adopted numerous strategies to address these potential occurrences: including increasing the Agency’s scope and presence across the country, boosting staff strength and utilising satellite imagery and drone monitoring.

Additionally, he mentioned increased collaboration with relevant stakeholders, creation of a Client Services Unit and a renewed focus on the Akoben Programme (Environmental Performance Rating & Public Disclosure).

“The Mining Department’s activities are cross-cutting in nature and cover a wide range of issues and mineral resources, including critical minerals. The Department also collaborates with multiple stakeholders as well as its own departments, regional and area offices. We are constantly seeking innovative ways of delivering on our core mandate,” he stated.

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