Responsible Gold ’s Post

There have been several reports of human and environmental tragedies related to illegal and unethical mining operations in recent weeks. These heartbreaking scenarios are unacceptable and, in most cases, preventable. Large-scale environmental degradation and the tragic loss of human life underscore the need for transparency and accountability in gold supply chains. Preventing these terrible outcomes was Qenta Inc.’s primary motivation in creating the Responsible Gold Standards. We created the Responsible Gold™ Standards to be the most comprehensive framework of #ESG controls in the #gold industry. Our suppliers' compliance with the Standards is verified through our QOS blockchain technology, which enables every kilobar of Responsible Gold™ to be tracked from the mine to the vault. Removing illegally mined gold from global supply chains is a multi-faceted problem, but there are two immediate steps that producers and consumers can take to disincentivize dangerous and illegal mining. Companies in the gold supply chain, including miners, refiners, manufacturers, and jewelers, should adopt the Responsible Gold™ Standards to safeguard their supply chains. Likewise, consumers should only purchase gold sourced from verifiable, fully traceable supply chains. Every company and consumer that insists on ethically and responsibly sourced gold reduces the potential market available to unethical miners and refiners. Each kilobar of Responsible Gold™ is fully traceable, giving business leaders and consumers the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are not indirectly funding conflicts, environmental disasters, bad actors, or organizations that harm people and communities. #gold #blockchain #fintech #esginvesting

What price is Ghana paying for being Africa's biggest gold producer? Some say that it is the environmental catastrophe rampaging through the river basins and forest cover of the country due to "galamsey", a shorthand for irresponsible, illegal, gold mining. Despite a long chain of security initiatives over the last three decades, complete with caterpillar bonfires and special forces raids, the problem seems to be getting out of hand. The country’s elites, roused by recent reports of dying rivers, want fresh action from the government. In this brief essay, I show that galamsey is a symptom of deeper governance challenges that must be tackled first if there is to be any change in the situation. One such challenge is what I have termed, "State Enchantment", a phenomenon whereby pure profiteering gigs are dressed up as high-sounding innovative policy breakthroughs, thereby deflecting scrutiny. Using fresh investigative evidence on two failed technology projects - a drone monitoring network and a novel chemical-free gold dore refining platform - we show that the governance root causes of galamsey prevent more holistic and effective solutions from emerging. Leaving in their trail bad debts for the state and a bad taste in the mouths of all involved, the phantom drones and shady centrifuges beg the question: what makes anyone think that galamsey can somehow be isolated and "fixed" notwithstanding the current governance milieu? Read the details here:

Bright Simons powerful, disturbing, clear. Two questions: is all supposedly illegal mining so destructive? Is there a model of formalization for entrepreneurial #ASMs - unfairly badged illegal by large scale mining - that rewards the true actors amongst the 45 million ASM miners and their 220 million dependents in 80+ countries. The Blended Capital Group’s mining lead, Rob Karpati, the TBCG team, Michael Marais Charlie Garner, Roger Surridge , and myself, along with dear allies and associates, such as ZEPHIRIN DIABRE, Estelle Levin-Nally CDir Dip IoD , and Neil Philcox, MRM, ICD.D, are hear to help with a model we are convinced will bring formalization, sustainability, and #ESG alignment to #ASM. Let’s have a conversation.

The House of Representatives suggests allocating 5% of overall revenue to host communities for solid minerals. The legislation concerning Solid Minerals marks a pivotal moment for our nation's mineral wealth and extensive mineral resources, which have largely remained untapped and overshadowed by our dependence on oil. The House of Representatives Committee on Solid Minerals is suggesting that 5 percent of the revenue from all mined minerals be allocated to host communities (hostcom) due to the informal nature of the sector. This proposal was announced by Rep. Jonathan Gbefwi (SDP, Nasarawa), Chairman of the House Committee on Solid Minerals, during a Public Policy Dialogue held in Abuja on Monday. The legislative piece titled "Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act (Amendment) Bill" is sponsored by Rep. Jonathan Gbefwi and Rep. Benjamin Kalu (APC, Abia). The Chairman highlighted that the passage of the bill would enable formal collaboration between the State and Federal governments to exploit the sector's benefits. He stated, "The primary bill repeals and reenacts the principal Nigeria Minerals and Mining Act 2007 by restructuring it based on priority areas. Security is a significant factor contributing to the stagnation of the Solid Minerals sector, addressing many challenges and issues prolonging the deadlock." He continued, "Establishing Mines Inspection and Environmental Agency will enhance oversight of mining activities, with offices in every State for reporting and oversight. One of the security lapses identified is the lack of coordination between federal and State governments." Furthermore, he emphasized, "The bill proposes the establishment of a Solid Minerals Development Company, with 75% ownership allocated to the private sector and 25% to the Nigerian federation, of which 25% will boost the public breakdown. The aim is to bridge the gap between federal and State governments, empowering the Mineral Resources and Environmental Management Committee (MIREMCO) for effective oversight." Moreover, he stressed the need for efficient policies to enforce environmental remediation funds to ensure proper site restoration after mining activities. Regarding the Public Policy Dialogue, he stated, "Stakeholders play a crucial role in ensuring the adaptability and implementation of the Bill." Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Kalu, highlighted the significance of the solid mineral sector for Nigeria's economic growth and sustainable development. He emphasized the need for private-sector-led initiatives to unlock the sector's potential. He cited examples like the Segilola Gold Project in Osun state, which is injecting millions into the economy and attracting investments, demonstrating the sector's capability to contribute to GDP growth and attract foreign exchange. However, he acknowledged challenges such as insecurity, inadequate infrastructure, and a shortage of skilled labor, which hinder the sector's progress.

Zambia tallies the costs of mining for electric batteries: The United States leap-frogged competitors in the scramble for African minerals required to power the global energy transition when it signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo in late 2022 for the development of a regional value chain in the electric vehicle battery sector. The MoU challenged the dominance of China, South Africa, Hong Kong, Mauritius and India as the traditional consumers of Zambian copper, gold, lithium, cobalt and manganese exports. It targeted large volumes of critical transition metals that occur in the Katanga Copperbelt, a mineral-rich strip stretching from Lualaba Province in the south-eastern DRC to the Luapula province in northern Zambia. According to the US state department, the MOU aimed to “facilitate the development of an integrated value chain for the production of electric vehicle batteries in the DRC and Zambia, ranging from raw material extraction, to processing, manufacturing and assembly”. Map of the Copperbelt region, courtesy USGS Open-File Report 2005-1294-E, Link Transition minerals The growing demand for transition minerals in the region has inspired a surge in exploration for and mining of copper, cobalt and manganese in Zambia. However, most of the mining activities are unsustainable and inflict costs on local communities while bringing them no tangible benefits, said Vusumuzi Sifile Sibanda, executive director of Lusaka-based NGO Panos Institute Southern Africa. “Despite the existence of various policies and regulations to ensure mining is done in a sustainable manner which takes issues of public safety, public health and environmental protection into account, there are many loopholes which allow the mining industry to abuse communities and degrade the environment,” he said. “There is widespread air pollution, water pollution and environmental degradation in all mining areas in Zambia. These activities impact on the health and livelihoods of people in mining areas.” Although Zambia has legal and policy frameworks designed to safeguard land ownership rights and security of tenure, these policies are rendered ineffective by the Mines and Minerals Development Act, which enables mining to take precedence over all other land uses when minerals are discovered, Sibanda said. This provision renders local communities vulnerable to evictions and other forms of human rights abuses by mining licence holders. Sibanda said most of the human rights violations common in mining areas are linked to high poverty levels which force people to give up their land. It also leaves them with no choice except to take up hard labour mining jobs for very little or no pay. “High levels of poverty in the mineral-rich areas suggest that Zambians are not benefiting from the growth of the mining industry yet. The law makes it mandatory for mining…

NEWS | The European Union's Critical Raw Minerals Act - Oppertunities for SA's Junior Miners Thank you to our friends at Mining Business Africa for sharing this insightful Op-Ed by our very own Methembeni Moyo and Trevana Moodley. The global race for critical minerals is on. Driven by recent shifts in geopolitical priorities between the “West” and the “East”, and the global inexorable march towards green industries and renewable energy, the demand for Southern Africa’s critical minerals has reached unprecedented heights. Read more to see how this could impact Junior Mining in SA! #JuniorMiningSouthAfrica #MiningLaw #CriticalRawMinerals #MiningLaw #AfricanLawFirm

According to Warren Beech, #mining and #environmental thought leader and CEO of law firm Beech Veltman Incorporated, collaboration is vital for Africa’s mining and natural #resources sector to succeed. Warren wrote another fantastic exclusive article for WhyAfrica’s special Mining Indaba issue that will be showcased at this year’s event. Below is a short excerpt from the piece. If you want to read the full article, please pick up a copy at Mining Indaba next week or if you prefer your content digitally, click here to download the magazine: https://lnkd.in/dNPgJRig. The magazine is also available for download on our website at www.whyafrica.co.za. Warren writes: “Key #trends from #2023 will also continue in #2024 including #environment, #governance and #social (#ESG) considerations, the effects of climate change, cyber-attacks and crime, illegal mining, graft, and corruption. “There are of course a number of positive trends, that will also continue in 2024 including the development of artificial intelligence (#AI), process #automation, and workplace productivity initiatives. “What has become even more clear in 2023, is that, for Africa’s mining and natural resources sector to succeed and to benefit from the opportunities that are being presented, #collaboration is vital. “Collaboration is required amongst all #stakeholders including between the mining companies and #government, mining companies and #communities, mining companies and employee representatives (trade unions), amongst mining companies themselves, and between African countries, and their counterparts, in the rest of the world. “A fundamental cornerstone of collaboration is #transparency, which, unfortunately, there is simply not enough of, at this stage. “Proper collaboration can result in local, regional and continent-wide benefits including in relation to #infrastructure (getting the #minerals to market), trade incentives, and enforcement of programmes to prevent illegal mining and transportation of illegally mined and beneficiated minerals.   “Recent examples of collaboration have not yet had a proper opportunity to demonstrate whether or not they will be successful, but they are notable. These include the collaboration between the #DRC and #Zambia to make batteries for electric vehicles. These countries have significant #copper, #cobalt, and #lithium reserves, that are key components for electric vehicle #batteries. “As a South African, I am obviously going to back South Africa as a mining jurisdiction to watch in 2024. Other countries that are clearly on the radar, because of their programmes aimed at making it easier to do business in their countries or because they have the opportunity to exploit their vast reserves for the benefit of their citizens, include Zambia, Namibia, Angola, DRC and Zimbabwe. The watchword for 2024 will be collaboration in pursuit of the genuine social licence to mine.”  Leon Louw

"Recovering gold dust is also an act of kindness towards nature." The Empangeni gold mine, located in the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, houses an ultra-deep table of gold ore. It commenced operations in 1986. Over 5,400 metric tons of rock are excavated from Mponeng each day. In 2023, the mine produced 7,449 kilograms of gold from ore totaling 884,000 tons. To recover 1 gram of gold, approximately 0.1185 tons (or 118.5 kilograms) of ore would be needed. Implementing systems to recover and collect gold particles that are lost in the form of dust during gold ornament production can indeed be seen as a way of showing mercy to nature. This approach aligns with principles of environmental sustainability and responsible resource management. By preventing the loss of valuable gold particles, not only is the economic efficiency of the mining operation improved, but there is also a reduction in the environmental impact associated with mining activities. Recovering these particles helps minimize resource wastage and reduces the need for additional extraction, ultimately contributing to the conservation of natural resources and the preservation of ecosystems.

$CEL - Challenger Gold is delighted to announce that the Hualilan Gold Project has reached a pivotal environmental achievement by obtaining a neutral carbon footprint certification. This significant step forward highlights the Company's dedication to sustainable practices and commitment to the well-being of the environment, particularly in Argentina. The Hualilan Gold Project's independent neutral carbon footprint certification follows a comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions inventory, adhering to the international 100% Carbon Neutral Program. This accomplishment reflects the Company’s proactive approach to environmental conservation and total alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). Hualilan is the first exploration project in Argentina to be independently certified as Carbon Neutral. Commenting on the results, CEL Chairman, Mr Sergio Rotondo, said“As an Argentinian and Chairman of Challenger Gold, I am immensely proud of our Hualilan Project's achievement in carbon neutrality. This is not just a milestone for our company but a significant step for the mining industry in Argentina with Hualilan to first exploration project to be certified carbon neutral in Argentina. Our commitment to Argentina and our local communities is unwavering, and we are dedicated to lead the way in sustainable mining practices. Our goal isto ensure that Hualilan is one of the lowest carbon footprint operations globally and, if possible, the first mine with a neutral carbon footprint during production. This is our pledge to our country and the environment." Read more: https://lnkd.in/g-rkW8ks #hualilangoldproject #Argentina #Equador #gold #copper #mining #goldmining Kris Knauer Sergio Rotondo Sonia Delgado

$CEL - Challenger Gold is delighted to announce that the Hualilan Gold Project has reached a pivotal environmental achievement by obtaining a neutral carbon footprint certification. This significant step forward highlights the Company's dedication to sustainable practices and commitment to the well-being of the environment, particularly in Argentina. The Hualilan Gold Project's independent neutral carbon footprint certification follows a comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions inventory, adhering to the international 100% Carbon Neutral Program. This accomplishment reflects the Company’s proactive approach to environmental conservation and total alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s). Hualilan is the first exploration project in Argentina to be independently certified as Carbon Neutral. Commenting on the results, CEL Chairman, Mr Sergio Rotondo, said“As an Argentinian and Chairman of Challenger Gold, I am immensely proud of our Hualilan Project's achievement in carbon neutrality. This is not just a milestone for our company but a significant step for the mining industry in Argentina with Hualilan to first exploration project to be certified carbon neutral in Argentina. Our commitment to Argentina and our local communities is unwavering, and we are dedicated to lead the way in sustainable mining practices. Our goal isto ensure that Hualilan is one of the lowest carbon footprint operations globally and, if possible, the first mine with a neutral carbon footprint during production. This is our pledge to our country and the environment." Read more: https://lnkd.in/gMc6D_GT #hualilangoldproject #Argentina #Equador #gold #copper #mining #goldmining Kris Knauer Sergio Rotondo Sonia Delgado