It is the latest country to join the Minerals Security Partnership. This week, Rome took part in a ministerial meeting to discuss priorities, challenges, and opportunities in responsible mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals
Ethical mining. Italy has joined the Minerals Security Partnership, an initiative launched in June by the Biden administration to promote responsible mining, processing, and recycling of critical minerals.
- Jose Fernandez, US Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and Environment, made the announcement speaking at the Investing in African Mining Indaba conference in Cape Town, South Africa.
- In less than a year, the Minerals Security Partnership has examined 200 projects and chosen 12 to work on, Mr Fernandez said.
- In the current international situation, the Biden administration launched the Minerals Security Partnership to strengthen partnerships between allies and like-minded partners along the sector’s supply chains as a reaction to the weaponization of interdependencies by Russia and China.
ESG and community involvement. Italy joined the meeting on February 7 in Cape Town. According to the US State Department, it produced a commitment to “achieve an equitable and just energy transition” and will consider high environmental, social, and governance standards.
- Also present at the meeting were Angola, Australia, Botswana, Canada, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the European Union, Finland, France, Germany, Japan, Norway, the Republic of Korea, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom, United States, and Zambia.
- The partnership intends to “demonstrate responsible stewardship of the natural environment; engage in consultative and participatory processes regarding land access and acquisition; engage in meaningful and ongoing consultation with communities; and ensure transparent and ethical business operations.”
