2025 Agenda Sessions

Workshop 5 – Delivering effective net zero and just energy transition strategies

Do responsible mining standards really drive positive outcomes for mining in Africa?

There has been a significant growth in the adoption by mining companies of responsible mining standards, such as Copper Mark, IRMA and others. Demand from downstream end-users, is often a key factor driving uptake. However, do such standards provide genuine benefits to local communities and governments in producing countries? Or are the only real beneficiaries the downstream end-users who get to provide easy answers to questions about their responsible sourcing strategies?

Working Group Sessions

• The mining company perspective: Where does the pressure to adopt such standards come from, and what influence does that have on management decision-making? – What are the implications in terms of costs/disruption to the business? – What tangible benefits are seen from achieving certification?
• The community/civil society perspective: Do standards enhance or distract from companies’ engagement and work with local communities? – Does the interest of downstream end-users in mining standards create benefits that materialise at a community level?
• The government perspective: Is the imposition of external standards on miners by international buyers empowering or disempowering for national governments and regulators? – Are there opportunities to align the interests of producing countries with international markets through the use such standards?
• The Downstream perspective: How do downstream buyers, whether automotive or electronic, interplay with the vast array of standards and regulators, and how does Africa get the best from this relationship.

Mining and grid stability: What is the way forward?

• How do we close the infrastructure deficit for energy? 
• Are renewable microgrids the future for sustainable mining? 
• How much of a role does mining have to play in Africa’s energy transition?