Development and Economy in Mongolia through a Human Rights Law Lens

This article studies the Mongolian economic and development policies implemented in recent years until March 2020, including its revenue matrix sustainability, from an international human rights law perspective. Policy and legal recommendations for discussion are also presented. Based on a United Nations mission the author conducted to Mongolia in 2019, this country study examines the macroeconomic policies, including debt issues, from a human rights perspective; the extent to which mineral rents are translated into inclusive and comprehensive social and environmental policies, focusing on the mining project Oyu Tolgoi; the impact of illicit financial flows on human rights; and the effects of lending for infrastructure and mining projects and other foreign direct investments. The study concludes that economic diversification and conducting effective gender-sensitive, participatory human rights and environmental impact assessments of economic reforms and mining and infrastructure projects are the main challenges Mongolia faces.

Serbia will help investors expedite mining projects

Headline SERBIA: Investors will get help with mining projects

The first troglobitic Pseudochthonius Balzan, 1892 (Pseudoscorpiones, Chthoniidae) from the karst area of Serra do Ramalho, Brazil: a threatened species

Pseudochthonius ramalhosp. nov. is described to Gruna do Vandercir cave, in the Serra do Ramalho karst area, southwestern Bahia, Brazil. This area has an extensive limestone outcrop, with several caves, and the occurrence of potential minerals that are financially attractive for mining projects. The new species shows troglomorphic characteristics such as the depigmentation of the carapace and absence or reduction of eyes. It is a rare troglobitic species, and following the criteria of IUCN, we categorized the species as Critically Endangered – CR, IUCN criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). According to Brazilian legislation, locations, where critically endangered species live, can be protected by law, and we consider this cave/region to be of maximal relevance for protection.

MCDM Applied to the Evaluation of Transitional and Post-Mining Conditions—An Innovative Perspective Developed through the EIT ReviRIS Project

In mine design and planning, the identification of an appropriate Post-Mining Land Use (PMLU) is necessary and crucial to achieve environmental quality, socio-economic renewal, and social acceptance of mining projects. In this context, Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods support decision-makers and stakeholders, identifying the relevant factors and criteria, so that, different available alternatives can be evaluated, compared, and contrasted with each other. With the vision to enable its wide application, 15 mine profiles are identified which, combined with selected MCDM methods and relevant factors, results in a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) framework for PMLU. In this preliminary framework, the MCDM methods selected are SIMUS, TOPSIS, and SMARTER. They serve different problems and, therefore, are used in different profiles: SIMUS is applied to complex profiles, TOPSIS to the lesser ones, and SMARTER is used due to its capacity of assigning weights to criteria based on Ranking Order Centroid calculations. This preliminary MCDA structure gives the possibility to include the complexity (technical and decisional) and a participatory process, for all stakeholders involved concerning PMLU.

Challenges in the Management of Mining Waste

The article aims to summarize the current challenges for tailing piles and ponds geological-mining projects focusing on the waste deposited in southwestern Poland.

Navigating Environmental Approval Pathways for Deep Seabed Mining Projects in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (the Area)

Deep-seabed mining (DSM) is a developing industry with high potential to help meet the metal demand for the transition to a renewable energy world. No DSM projects have yet received environmental approval, although several are in progress, following the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process that has been developed and widely applied for projects in national jurisdictions. Currently, the International Seabed Authority's (ISA) regulations, standards, and guidelines for mineral exploitation of seabed minerals in the Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (the Area) are in draft form. Proponents are guided in their ESIA studies by the ISA's Recommendations for the Guidance of Contractors for the Assessment of the Possible Environmental Impacts Arising From Exploration for Marine Minerals in the Area and are proceeding in expectation that the currently draft regulations will be finalized by the time an environmental impact statement can be submitted. This paper discusses the pathways leading to environmental assessment and approvals, comparing the processes in national jurisdictions with those for projects in the Area.

Development of an Algorithm for Carrying Out Geophysical and Geological Works Using Automated Systems and GIS Technologies

During the whole period of existing a modern geological industry, the issues of its computerization have been a priority, both in terms of providing employees of enterprises and organizations with computer equipment, and in terms of arranging information exchange and telecommunications between interacting information agents. It should be noted that there is a correlation between the increasing complexity of mining projects and the need to provide work with more and more developed software and hardware, information technologies, increasing complexity and growing number of software systems used to solve geological problems. The list of enterprises with positive experience in the development and operation of systems and complexes used in geology, geophysics and for subsurface use is also expanding very effectively. We propose the development of an algorithm for conducting geophysical and geological works using automated systems and GIS technologies, aimed at ensuring the rational development of the mineral resource potential of the region and ensuring the stage-by-stage nature of the geological exploration process. The testing was carried out using software product Diafond, which is available at the Russian Federal Geological Fund. This work was financially supported by the grant of the President of the Russian Federation No. MD- 2409.2020.5.

Identifying challenges facing reliable supply chains and ways to mitigate then for mining in the Baffin Bay region

There are substantial economic opportunities in extracting minerals in the Arctic region. However, it has proven difficult for operators to ensure reliable supply chains (SCs) north of the Arctic Circle. This paper uses a case study approach to illustrate the challenges of SCs reliability for mining projects in the northern Baffin Bay and on Greenland, discussing the technological and organisational developments that can mitigate them. A bow-tie approach shows the challenges faced by the industry and the effect of mitigating initiatives. We conclude that increased traffic will require technological, organisational and infrastructure developments to manage SC hazards and increase SC reliability. The available protective and preventive barriers have focused on avoiding periods where hazards could impact SC reliability. However, this strategy is unsustainable in the long term as a viable strategy for mining operations. It exposes the operations to Arctic hazards that are difficult to mitigate when time is limited. The consequence is that SCs often lack access to effective Arctic hazard barriers, ensuring increased SC reliability.