Here we are with friends outside a BHP AGM in London

Who we are: London Mining Network (LMN) is an alliance of human rights, development, environmental and solidarity groups.

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What we do: We work with communities harmed or threatened with harm by companies listed on the London Stock Exchange or with other London connections

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Here are just a few of the companies in focus:

Just Transition

What do you understand by the phrase “just transition”?

Working in groups or pairs come up with a definition of “just transition” in no more than three sentences.

Mapping transition minerals

A few questions to consider whilst doing the activity:

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What do you notice?

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What minerals are transition minerals?

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Where are many of them found?

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What companies are involved?

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What surprises or shocks you?

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What successes are there?

What title would you give this map activity?

“Our products are essential to almost every aspect of modern life and are critical to a successful transition to a low-carbon economy. From the platinum group metals needed for catalytic converters and fuel cells, to the copper needed for intelligent buildings and renewable energy, the low-carbon economy is relying upon responsible miners to take action.” AngloAmerican

“We support the development of green technology and renewable energy sources by supplying copper, cobalt and nickel for use in engines and batteries which will power the electric vehicle revolution.” Glencore

“A low carbon energy shift will be very much dependent on a robust, sustainable, and efficient mining and metals industry. Climate-Smart Mining supports the sustainable extraction and processing of minerals and metals to secure supply for clean energy technologies.” World Bank

“The mining and metals industry has a vital role in enabling a swift transition to a low-carbon economy.” ICMM

Transitions from Above

The term ‘just transition’ is associated with a series of proposals developed by trade unions and environmental NGOs. These proposals have centered on ‘green jobs’ for workers in the fossil fuel sector and related industries to ensure that their labour rights and conditions are not sacrificed. However, communities on the frontlines of extractivism—indigenous peoples, peasant movements and their allies—are raising important questions about what this means.

• Who will guide the transition?

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• Who will have access to renewable energy?

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• How much energy is really necessary?

• Who stands to benefit from a transition led by major fossil fuel and mining companies?

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• Will the transition perpetuate structural racism and gendered oppression?

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• Is a just transition compatible with capitalism and an economic model predicated on infinite growth?

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• Will it account for the ecological and colonial debt between the Global North and South?

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• Will renewable megaprojects displace communities and damage ecosystems?

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What minerals will the transition away from fossil fuels require and in what quantities?

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What questions does this raise?

Let’s have a look at some data

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(Source Dr Simon Marchaux – Geological Survey of Finland - https://accidentalgods.life/transforming-industry-to-create-a-genuine-green-revolution/?s=03 )

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Electric Vehicles in 2019 – 7.2 EVs in use

Global fleet is 1.416 billion vehicles

0.5% are EV and 99.49% are still using fossil fuels

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Global Energy system in 2018

84.7% fossil fuels

10.1% nuclear

4.05% renewables

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In order to meet global energy requirements an annual capacity of 37,670 TWh needs to be added to the grid.

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This will require 221 594 new power plants.

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Currently there are between 30,000 and 62,500 in the world

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https://blog.resourcewatch.org/2019/11/13/this-map-shows-29000-of-the-worlds-power-plants/

Minerals required – an example(source – Geological Survey of Finland)

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Lithium – For a proposed scenario of 1.39 billion EV’s 282.6 million tonnes of lithium ion batteries would be needed.

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They would have to be replaced every 8-10 years

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Cobalt and Nickel are also needed.

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It is possible that the world does not have the reserves to meet this demand

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Wind and solar power: Mineral extraction

Wind power: Energy production

London-listed mining companies in the DRC:

• Glencore: world-leading producer (46,300 tonnes) with two copper-cobalt mines in the DRC. Also operates one nickel-cobalt operation in Australia and a refinery in Norway which produces cobalt cathodes
• Power Metal Resources: 70% shareholding in Kisinka copper-cobalt project in DRC. Subsidiaries include Cobalt Blue Holdings with four 100% owned cobalt assets in Cameroon
• Red Rock Resources: 50.1% joint venture with three copper-cobalt licenses in Katanga, DRC

More London-listed cobalt mining companies:

• Arc Minerals (formerly Ortac): registered in British Virgin Islands with subsidiaries controlling several licenses in Kalaba copper-cobalt project in Zambia
• Horizonte Minerals: 2 fully-owned nickel-cobalt deposits in Brazil (Glencore 6.1% share)
• Regency Mines: owns 41% nickel-cobalt license in Papua New Guinea

Transition mineral case study: Cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

• Congo is the epicentre of the world’s deadliest conflict since 1945, involving at least seven African countries and 5.4 million deaths
• Underground tunnels caved at Glencore’s Kamoto mine in 2019, leading to 43 deaths
• At least 35,000 children as young as six are working in artisanal mines.
• Industrial pollution of rivers, air and soils contributes to chronic illnesses for communities surrounding mining operations
• Home demolitions, evictions and displacement are commonplace, as well as targeted violence against activists and land defenders
• Glencore’s subsidiaries have employed numerous private security companies, including one managed by former apartheid South African soldiers from units that committed serious rights violations in Namibia and Angola
• The British army provides training to battalions from Malawi and Zambia before their deployment to UN peacekeeping operations (MONUSCO) in the DRC. MONUSCO is mandated to: establish trading centres for coltan and gold; train significant numbers of “mining police’;” and “extend state authority into mining sites” despite repeated incidents of army units exploiting the minerals themselves
• Glencore paid £75 million to billionaire Dan Gertler, accused of bribing senior officials in Gécamines to secure mining agreements reported to have cost the DRC more than $1.3 billion (almost twice the combined health and education budgets)

Transition mineral case study: Cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)

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London-listed mining companies in the Chile:

• BHP (1,689,000 tonnes): majority-owner largest copper mine in world, Escondida in Chile, with further mines in Chile, Peru and Australia
• Glencore (1,371,000 tonnes): 2 mines in Chile, 2 in Peru and 1 in Zambia; 4 refinery and smelting operations in Australia and Canada (which includes tellurium), and smelters in Chile and the Philippines
• Antofagasta (770,000 tonnes): 4 mines
• Anglo American (638,000 tonnes): 3 mines and 1 smelter in Chile, and developing large deposit in Peru

More London-listed copper mining companies:

• First Quantum Minerals (702,000 tonnes): 2 mines in Zambia and mines in Australia, Finland, Mauritania, Panama, Spain and Turkey; smelters in Australia, Turkey and Zambia; hydrometallurgical plant in Spain
• Rio Tinto (577,000 tonnes): mines in Mongolia, Australia, 2 in the US and 30% share in Escondida; 1 smelter and 3 power plants in the US.

Transition mineral case study: Copper in Chile

https://vimeo.com/545053940?embedded=true&source=vimeo_logo&owner=7008866

Videos from Ximena Gallardo from Pollan Environmental Group of El Mélon (1.16)

Victoria Uranga, member several Chilean territorial organisations (3.44)

Teresa Poblete, No + Anglo intercommunal movement (1.58) https://vimeo.com/545045132

Transition mineral case study: Copper in Chile

https://londonminingnetwork.org/project/rio-tinto-community-demands-serbia-2021/

Video 3 ecocide Jadar (7.55)

Video 6 full story (14.32)

Transition mineral case study: Lithium in Serbia

In 2019, batteries made up an estimated 65% of the global end-use for lithium. Interest in lithium’s potential has led to it being marketed as ‘white gold’, with the EU adding lithium to its list of critical minerals.

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The lithium triangle on the borders of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile holds the majority of reserves. There have been rising community conflicts, primarily over water usage, but also about livelihoods, culture and the right to consent.

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Companies are also being encouraged to open lithium mines in Europe, including Portugal and Cornwall (UK). One example is the proposed lithium mine and factory in Jadar in Serbia, led by Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto.

London-listed mining companies:

• Rio Tinto (3,171,000 tonnes): significant stakes in 5 bauxite mines in Guinea, Brazil and Australia; 14 smelters across Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Iceland and Oman; 4 refineries; 7 hydropower plants; and 2 port and rail facilities
• South 32 (982,000 tonnes/5,050,000 tonnes): bauxite mines in Australia and Brazil; 2 smelters in South Africa and 1 in Mozambique
• En+ Group holds 57% stake in Rusal which operates 7 bauxite mines (Russia, Guyana, Jamaica, 3 in Guinea), 10 refineries (Russia, Guinea, Australia, Italy, Ireland, Jamaica, Ukraine), and 8 smelters (Sweden, Nigeria, 6 in Russia)

Just Transition

What does it mean to the communities we work with?

The Mexican Network of People Affected by Mining

“How can one speak of a transition, when what is sought is an accelerated increase in mining extraction, to increase profits for the companies that generate dispossession and other impacts on Indigenous peoples and communities?

It is the same capitalist model, which now wants to be painted green.”

Nonhle Mbuthuma - Amadiba Crisis Committee

Just transition for me means that we are going to see a change, which is something that we have cried for for many years. Just transition in energy is really needed, but we see that the government is pushing more for fossil fuels. Now, if the government can commit to a just transition it means that it will try to mitigate the effects of climate change, as we are practicing right now in my community where we are using renewable energy like solar. We are not being supported by the government.

In terms of agriculture, we do permanent agriculture not monoculture where people use pesticides. Ours is environmentally-friendly. This is what we want to see the government spreading to other communities, not just in Xolobeni.

Also, living close to the coast we utilise our ocean. But the way we do that preserves it at the same time. We do not use big boats and use a traditional way of fishing. But the government promote fossil fuels as they want to explore gas and oil in our ocean which is going to be very bad for global warming and our livelihoods.

Communities have survived for centuries by practising agriculture and using the traditional ways. If the government does not change it will be difficult for the people to change on the ground. Let’s do development which is sustainable because at this stage our government say that the mining industry is the only development that can create jobs. This is not true. Agriculture is the most important industry to the world because everybody needs food and yes, it can create jobs at the same time. But it is a slower industry, it doesn’t work like the mining industry which is fast. That’s why we ask our government to choose sustainable development as we are doing right now, like ecotourism alternatives, that can mitigate and resist climate change.

We hope that the government is not going to impose things that are bad for our climate. In order to live long, all of us we need to take care of nature in order for nature to take care of us.

Declaration on Mining & Energy Transition - COP26

Our transition to renewable energy sources must be just and equitable and accompanied by a simultaneous transformation away from irresponsible mining by:

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• Centering the human rights of Indigenous, frontline communities, and workers at mining, recycling, reclamation, manufacturing and renewable energy projects, by prioritizing the right to Free, Prior and Informed Consent, including the right to withhold consent

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• Prioritizing low-impact circular economy solutions that reduce the overall demand for primary metals such as reuse, reduction, recycling; design for disassembly while ensuring health and safety protections for workers and communities.

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• Ensuring responsible minerals sourcing at existing mining operations through legally binding regulations to protect human rights, the environment and sacred sites at the state and international level; demanding mandatory human rights due diligence and adherence to all legal requirements; and stringent international environmental and human rights standards with independent verification of compliance

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• Implementing transformative, rather than merely technological, solutions that shift away from disposable consumption and private transportation to more equitable access to services and low-carbon public transit.

Declaration on Mining & Energy Transition - COP26

“We call on climate negotiators to make a binding commitment to source transition minerals responsibly.

We call on businesses, financial institutions, investors and governments to ensure a clean, just and equitable energy transition by implementing these measures and urge clean energy advocates and climate justice allies to echo these demands in climate change platforms.

A truly clean, just and equitable energy economy will require not just a transition to cleaner sources of energy, but transformation on an individual and collective level. We urge you to join us and ensure that the move to clean energy doesn’t recreate the same systems it aims to destroy and helps to build climate change solutions that put communities, workers and the environment first. “

Signed by more than 160 organisations

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What can we learn from The Red Deal?

The Green New Deal (US) has the potential to connect every social justice struggle — free housing, free health care, free education, green jobs — to climate change. Likewise, the Red Deal places anti-capitalism and decolonization as central to each social justice struggle, as well as climate change. The necessity of such a program is grounded in both the history and future of this land, and it entails the radical transformation of all social relations between humans and the Earth.

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Teqh6xLcXds

https://www.resilience.org/stories/2021-04-27/the-red-deal-indigenous-action-to-save-our-earth/

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