Summary report, 3–5 November 2025

Demand for critical minerals is soaring. In its Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 report, the International Energy Agency finds that lithium demand alone rose by nearly 30% in 2024, driven by the rise in battery production associated with renewable energy technologies and the use of electric vehicles. Nickel, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths are also sought-after as components of high-strength alloys and, individually, for their applications such as: in stainless steel in the case of nickel; in paint for cobalt; in pencils for graphite; and in magnets and luminescent materials for rare earths.

Many developing countries stand to benefit from their deposits of critical minerals, but whether this promise can be realized depends on many factors, including the ability to balance supply and demand globally by protecting against shocks, moderating price volatility, and avoiding bottlenecks. Even where countries prosper from mining, the benefits may not be equally shared across the whole supply chain. Artisanal and small-scale miners (ASM), women, Indigenous Peoples, and other groups may experience disproportionately negative impacts from mining operations, while not necessarily reaping any advantage or benefiting from related opportunities.

Accordingly, discussions at the 21st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) focused on adding value throughout the mining value chain. Convened under the theme “Value Beyond Extraction: Rethinking Mining for a Resilient Future,” the meeting brought together more than 400 registered participants. Participants debated ways to retain value from mining-related activities in their countries. They described, for example, measures such as requirements for local content in value chains and procuring services from women-led or small and medium enterprises. They also considered how steps toward formalizing the ASM sector can truly benefit people and avoid negative impacts on the most vulnerable workers.

Plenary sessions discussed: the role of government in mineral exploration; mining-related sustainability standards; policy case studies of value addition; rehabilitation of abandoned mine lands; environmental policies for mineral value chains beyond mining; strengthening water governance through collaborative approaches; inclusive strategies that support women workers and entrepreneurs in mining-related activities; national strategies for managing critical minerals; and regional perspectives.

Participants asserted that efforts to maximize revenue through taxes, royalties and other policy innovations should result in mutual benefits for countries, companies, investors, and communities. Ghana’s Minerals Commission noted that mining companies operating in Ghana are required to reserve certain job categories for local recruits, and these categories have been added to as in-country expertise has increased. Companies provided examples of how this can work; for example, an international company with mining operations in Brazil described how offering an internship programme to locally recruited staff has promoted long-term relationships and professional advancement opportunities to people in that region.

Participants highlighted opportunities for collaboration across supply chains through cross-border agreements, access to processing facilities, and other types of cooperation. In view of geopolitical rivalries and concerns about high supply chain concentration among a few top producing countries, they proposed strengthening cooperation, standards, and innovation. Canada, as the holder of the 2025 G7 Presidency, stressed that “the global spotlight is currently on the minerals sector.” Daniel Hill, Natural Resources Canada, drew attention to the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, adopted in June 2025, which is designed around three pillars: building standards-based markets; mobilizing capital and strategic partnerships; and promoting innovation.

African countries welcomed the strengthening of regional cooperation under the Green Minerals Strategy, adopted by the African Union in February 2025, which encourages countries engaged in extraction to access refining facilities in neighboring countries. As a speaker from Morocco noted, such cooperation dates back more than 100 years and holds promise for the creation of “a uniquely African value chain” in mining.

During the three-day AGM, which took place from 3-5 November in Geneva, Switzerland, 12 plenary sessions convened; meanwhile, several side sessions were held in parallel, focusing on implementation models and tools — including strategies for traceability and circularity, mine closure planning, and legal tools for gender equality in critical mineral governance, among other topics. The Global Coalition for Action on Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining was launched during the meeting.

The 21st AGM of the IGF met in Geneva, Switzerland, from 3-5 November 2025.

A Brief History of the IGF

The IGF serves as a global platform for dialogue among its member governments, as well as other stakeholders including mining companies, industry associations, civil society, and non-governmental and international organizations. The origins of the IGF can be traced to the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), which took place in Johannesburg, South Africa, and encouraged governments, civil society, and the private sector to enter into voluntary partnerships focused on sustainable development objectives. The WSSD’s Johannesburg Plan of Implementation specifically called for efforts to address the environmental, economic, health, and social impacts, and benefits, of mining minerals and metals, throughout their life cycle. It also highlighted the importance of workers’ health and safety, and the role of transparency and accountability for sustainable mining.

Following the WSSD, the governments of Canada and South Africa were instrumental in establishing the IGF. In February 2005, they announced the IGF as a voluntary initiative for national governments interested in promoting good governance in the management of mineral resources. The IGF currently has 85 members.

The IGF’s work is largely framed by its flagship policy guidance and assessment tool, the Mining Policy Framework (MPF), which was initially ratified in 2010 by IGF members and was updated and ratified again in 2023. The MPF identifies best practices through six pillars of mining policy and law: the legal and policy environment; financial benefit optimization; socio-economic benefit optimization; environmental management; mine closure and post-mining transitions; and ASM.

In 2012, the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20) convened to assess global sustainable development policy. Its outcome document, The Future We Want, further boosted the IGF’s work. Besides calling on the international community to negotiate a set of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Rio+20 outcome urged governments and businesses to promote accountability and transparency in the mining sector, as well as improve existing mechanisms to prevent illicit financial flows from mining activities.

In October 2015, the IGF Secretariat moved from its home at the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development to the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in Ottawa, Canada.

The IGF AGM first convened in 2005 at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, with the UN Conference on Trade and Development (now known as UN Trade and Development or UNCTAD) acting as host. AGMs have been hosted by UNCTAD at the Palais ever since.

AGMs provide a forum for members to engage with industry, civil society, and one another, and exchange best practices, knowledge, and ideas. Previous AGMs have discussed topics relevant to the MPF, including: fiscal and legislative frameworks for investment in the mining sector; revenue sharing; community engagement and benefits; the role of women in mining; and post-mining transitions, including mine closure and the rehabilitation of mine sites. AGMs also present draft guidance on various aspects of sustainable mining before public release of the guidance.

Since the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, the AGMs have addressed the mining sector’s contributions to achieving sustainable development; for example, the 2017 AGM produced the IGF Guidance for Governments on Managing ASM. Subsequent AGMs have highlighted the role of environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs), community engagement, and companies’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changes in the environment.

AGMs convened virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 and continued to discuss critical issues for the mining sector, including critical minerals, ESIAs, and implementation of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management, which was published in August 2020.

In 2022, the 18th AGM discussed: government readiness to handle the rising demand for critical minerals and the resulting transitions; how to change resource taxation to best suit and take advantage of that demand; how legacy mines and waste might be re-mined for critical minerals; and how to ensure local communities fully benefit from the rush to supply minerals for the energy transition.

In 2023, the 19th AGM focused on how to maximize the potential benefits from the burgeoning demand for energy transition minerals (ETMs), while ensuring a just transition. Additionally, the AGM discussed: how to bridge the ETM supply gap; the role of ASM in the energy transition; how to ensure host communities fully benefit from mining projects; reform of tax and benefit sharing regimes; and how best to ensure a fair, equitable, and inclusive energy transition.

In 2024, the 20th AGM addressed many issues relating to the global demand for accelerating the production of critical minerals, including: the possible role of circularity in bridging the supply gap; incentivizing local value addition; respecting human rights in mining; and navigating the bewildering collection of global mining standards.

Report of the Meeting

Opening

On Monday, 3 November, Isabelle Ramdoo, Director, IGF Secretariat, welcomed participants to the 21st AGM of the IGF, noting the global relevance of policy conversations and drawing attention to the AGM’s theme of “Value Beyond Extraction: Rethinking Mining for a Resilient Future.” Observing that in the new global order, minerals have now become strategic assets, she invited participants to reflect on the economic, social, and environmental dimensions of “value.”

Pedro Manuel Moreno, Deputy Secretary-General, UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), called for building a stable and resilient global supply system. He drew attention to UNCTAD initiatives and its recently adopted Geneva Consensus for a Just and Sustainable Economic Order.

Mohato Moima, Lesotho, and Chair, IGF Executive Committee, called for mining to be seen as a catalyst for long-term prosperity and urged building resilience across the supply chain. He noted the importance of restoring and protecting natural assets for future generations.

Broadening Horizons: Diversification as a Driver of Value

Veronica Bolton Smith, Founder and CEO, Critical Minerals Africa Group, moderated the session on Monday morning.

Jean-Marie Kanda Ntumba, Senior Advisor to the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), highlighted the DRC’s policy instruments and initiatives for ensuring his country benefits from its cobalt, manganese, and nickel reserves. He drew attention to the DRC’s establishment of the Congolese Battery Council, which manages the battery manufacturing value chain and seeks to attract investors. He noted the DRC’s hosting of the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Battery Research, supported by the African Union, and revision of the DRC’s mining code to require mining companies to share 0.3% of their turnover with local communities. He cautioned that full implementation of the mining code “is only possible if we have peace and security” and that win-win partnerships will be essential.

Cecilia Nicolini, Member, MERCOSUR Parliament (Parlasur), emphasized the value of regional cooperation, for example, through: creating common industrial policies; adopting environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards; and pooling investment into infrastructure, logistics, and knowledge sharing.

Luz María de la Mora, Director, International Trade and Commodities Division, UNCTAD, explained how developing countries face higher tariffs and non-tariff barriers when exporting value-added products. She called for greater fairness in international trade, also noting the value of services and technology transfer in diversification efforts.

Kanda Ntumba stressed the need for stronger governance and policies, greater transparency, more equitable benefit sharing and opportunities for local communities, and incorporating peace and security.

Nicolini described the mining sector as being “at the core” of the global energy transition and digitalization, and highlighted the importance of sustainability concerns, biodiversity conservation, social justice, and long-term resilience, as opposed to focusing on economic value alone. To encourage responsible investments, she called for the development of indices that measure sustainability, transparency, and equitable technology transfer, and welcomed new financial mechanisms, such as debt-for-nature swaps.

De la Mora reminded delegates that critical minerals can create new opportunities for resource-rich developing countries to benefit from the dual transition to clean energy and digitalization to create value towards human wellbeing, social cohesion, institutional quality, and environmental sustainability in line with the SDGs and beyond mere profits and fiscal revenues.

Mineral Exploration: What Is the Role of Government?

In introducing this session on Monday morning, moderator Tatiana Aguilar, World Economic Forum (WEF), drew parallels between the work of mineral explorers, and the cartographers of ancient times who produced maps depicting dragons at the frontiers of their known world. She underscored the importance of collaboration and the critical role of governments in putting enabling conditions in place to manage uncertainty and risk.

Grégoire Bellois, IGF Secretariat, underscored that without exploration there are no discoveries, and without discoveries there can be no mines. He drew attention to the IGF’s MPF, stressing the importance of geological explorations as cornerstones of the mining industry, rather than side topics. He called for sharing best practices, regional collaboration, and long-term value creation.

Jeff Killeen, Director, Policy and Programmes, Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC), described the role of small exploration companies, known as “juniors,” in identifying mineral deposits and potential future mines, noting that only one in 10,000 mineral exploration projects becomes a mine. Comparing countries’ expenditures on exploration, he pointed to Canada as the number one location for mineral explorations worldwide, due to its large size and transparent regulatory regime. He stated that fiscal incentives can drive exploration.

Saliou Samb, Director of Geology, Ministry of Mines and Geology, Senegal, highlighted that Senegal’s 2050 National Transformation Agenda includes programmes to increase transparency and democratization of the sector, for example, through establishing a one-window approach to register mining concessions, and strengthening the capacity of its NationaGeological Service to provide public geological data. He noted the importance of “geological diplomacy” in cross-border cooperation and welcomed the African Union’s creation of the African Minerals Development Centre, based in Guinea, to help countries share knowledge and data.

Philippe Cohen, Swiss Mining Investors Club, said accessibility of mineral resources, existence of road and rail infrastructure, and good company management are key factors for profitable exploration and extraction.

Killeen noted the value of tax credits for incentivizing mineral exploration and stressed the possibility for such credits to generate economic activity exceeding the forgone tax revenue. He suggested that public geoscience offers benefits not only to exploration companies, but also to First Nations and local municipalities to know what opportunities may be available if they provide companies with “the social license to operate.”

In a Q&A session, participants debated the importance and value of having access to and managing national geological maps and data, and the role and responsibility of companies to disclose exploration data. They emphasized the need for companies to respect national mining regulations and related provisions. In their responses, panelists reflected on: the importance for countries to develop digital geological cadasters; the role of geological data as a public good; options to balance country access to geological data with companies’ intellectual property rights to the data they generate; and opportunities to create public-private models to reduce the costs of effective data management. Panelists also underlined: the need for states to develop their own mining research programmes and seek cooperation with companies for financing; the importance of post-secondary geological education to train national mining professionals; the need to create enabling and predictable policy environments; and the future role of artificial intelligence (AI) in managing mining data.

Leveraging Mining Revenue in the Financing for Development Agenda

Thomas Lassourd, IGF Secretariat, introduced the session on Monday afternoon, drawing on the outcomes of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development held in July 2025 in Seville, Spain. He underscored how cuts to official development assistance budgets were resulting in greater emphasis on domestic resource mobilization and a focus on harnessing mining revenues through fiscal regimes.

Sam Koim, Commissioner General, Internal Revenue Commission, Papua New Guinea, explained his country’s decision to apply a capital gains tax as of 2026, noting the recent sale of two highly valued companies where no tax was collected at all.

Banta Mangassouba, Ministry of Finance, Senegal, described Senegal’s changes to its mining codes in 1988, 2003, and 2016. He noted a shift from very generous tax exemptions to attract investors towards a more inclusive distribution of mining incomes and royalties, an improved level of organization over time to avoid granting blanket tax exemptions, and providing investors with a clearer picture of the tax regime.

Kalale Mambwe, Tax Inspectors Without Borders, explained how this joint initiative of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) deploys tax inspectors with industry-specific experience to developing countries. She stressed the value of providing “real-time practical support,” not only training, to tax administrators, and the need for tax administrators to understand the entire mining value chain from exploration to the sale of minerals to determine the correct tax level. She noted that strengthening data sharing among tax inspectors, customs, and other relevant agencies helps identify discrepancies in reporting.

Carlos Augusto Ortega Galvis, National Mining Agency, Colombia, highlighted how the agency has changed its licensing practices to ensure that: the same rules and incentives apply to all; companies evaluate the mining potential of an area before receiving a license; and project closures are conducted appropriately.

Zenzi Awases, President, Association of Women in Mining in Africa (AWIMA), called for taking steps toward formalizing the ASM sector to avoid punitive measures against small-scale miners. She suggested that partnerships between small-scale miners and big companies can provide mutual benefits, pointing to Ghana’s experience, where large mining companies have sub-contracted small-scale miners in areas they could not mine economically themselves, while cushioning the impacts of taxation on small-scale miners.

Answering questions from the floor, Mambwe explained the rationale of the global minimum tax rate under the OECD’s proposed Global Anti-Base Erosion (GloBE) Model Rules, which would require multinational companies to pay 15% of their income wherever they are operating, removing incentives for profit shifting. Mambwe suggested the rules could act as a conversation-starter for governments to evaluate their tax incentives. Contributing to a dialogue about royalty rate development along the value chain, Lassourd referred to a new report by the IGF on Tax Considerations for Critical Minerals Value Addition. Koim flagged the difficulty of persuading policymakers to introduce new tax rates on the mining, oil, and gas sectors, given industry’s strong lobbying power and representation.

On the question of available mechanisms to bring illegal mining under tax regulation, Awases highlighted the importance of fully understanding the nature of so-called “illegal” mining activities. She called for social dialogue and participation to bring ASM actors, who are legitimate livelihood providers, into the formal mining community.

Ortega Galvis said mining companies have a responsibility to operate in a sustainable manner to protect our planet, particularly given the ongoing climate and biodiversity crises.

Diversifying Value in Small-scale and Non-metallic Mining

Louise Gallagher, University of Queensland, moderated the session on Monday afternoon. She underscored the massive global usage of non-metallic minerals, such as sand, silicates, gravel, stone, and gypsum. Noting the significant involvement of small-scale operators, she urged paying attention to related human rights and environmental risks.

Phuntsho Namgyal, Director, Department of Geology and Mines, Bhutan, presented his country’s vision of economic growth based on value addition in the extractives sector, highlighting the prospects for industrial development and youth employment based on clean energy. He explained the need to align this development with Bhutan’s constitutional requirements for human wellbeing, contained in its Gross National Happiness Index, and maintaining 60% forest coverage, also a constitutional requirement. He proposed that sand, as an essential commodity, should be nationalized to ensure appropriate accounting and price control.

Pascal Peduzzi, Director, Global Resource Information Database (GRID)-Geneva, UN Environment Programme (UNEP), explained the critical importance of sand, which is used in construction and a wide range of manufacturing, and the need for the proper management of sand mining in marine, riverine, and inland environments. He said the current scale of extraction at 50 billion tons of sand a year amounts to 18kg a day per person globally. He highlighted alternatives and circular solutions for value addition, including options for waste reduction, recycling, waste retrieval, and the use of tailings.

Jean-Luc Mathey, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), drew attention to the Cobalt for Development initiative, which aims to improve the conditions of artisanal miners and their communities in the DRC, where most of the world’s cobalt reserves are located. He expanded on the importance of small-scale mining, noting two million lives directly or indirectly depend on the sector. He called for improving market transparency and strengthening local processing. Mathey also underscored the importance of traceability and the use of cobalt beyond batteries, such as in defense and aerospace applications.

Eduard Cornew, Co-Founder and President, Mwamba Mining, described the company’s community-mined, mercury-free, gold operations in Tanzania, stating it provides a more viable livelihood than agriculture. He underlined the importance of partnering with local communities, noting they are “a strength rather than a risk factor.” He discussed: mechanization of the mine site; the introduction of local land rights; the identification of ASM needs; and gold market requirements. He also noted: initial capital investments; the need for clear regulations; building trust; reinvesting in the community, such as through training programmes; and bringing these elements together to unlock a virtuous cycle of value development.

The ensuing Q&A session highlighted the role of ASM actors in mineral exploration and the specific legal framework that applies to ASM operations in the DRC as an example, as well as the practical advantages and disadvantages of mining companies being legally required to partner with local actors in a developing country context. Delegates also explored the application of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index and its relation to mining, with Namgyal clarifying that cultural aspects are taken into consideration and thus mining would not be permitted in sacred or spiritually important sites. In addition, delegates discussed avenues to enforce mining codes, noting laws only function when compliance can be enforced and when the tools for punishing non-compliance are in place.

Sustainability Standards and Producing Countries: From Impact to Agency

On Tuesday morning, moderator Grégoire Bellois, IGF Secretariat, opened the session, noting the Group of Seven’s (G7) recent release of a roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals, which promotes commitments to sustainable and interoperable standards in mining. He stressed that producing countries must be included in these efforts.

Djaheezah Subratty, UNEP, presented the forthcoming UNEP-IGF report, Stocktake of Sustainability Standards and Initiatives for Minerals and Metals. Noting the array of different standards, she recommended public policy and voluntary standards should “meet each other midway” and work towards common goals.

Inga Petersen, Executive Director, Global Battery Alliance, introduced the work of the Alliance and its plan to benchmark batteries to harmonized metrics for sustainability so products can be comparable, adding that, for producing countries, sustainability can be a competitive advantage.

Norman Mukwakwami, Trafigura, noted challenges including the proliferation, rather than consolidation, of standards applicable to mining, and how unique standards for specific products or processes can make it difficult to conduct risk mitigation across the wider industry.

Scarlet Garcia Caro, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Dominican Republic, highlighted the Dominican Republic’s portal where information on mining contracts and income can be consulted, making public scrutiny possible.

Rachel Zhou, Founder, Reach Advisory International, discussed ESG practices by Chinese companies working overseas. She noted that Chinese companies are gradually aligning with international practice, and that publicly-listed companies face disclosure obligations. She noted gaps in practice regarding the environmental management of water, soil, and tailings, and in social issues such as engagement with Indigenous Peoples, responses to displacement, and the application of the principle of free, prior and informed consent (FPIC). She reflected that, while ESG standards are transferring due diligence obligations to Chinese suppliers, many due diligence processes led by Chinese institutions are not recognized by international institutions.

In discussion among the panelists, Garcia Caro expanded on the Dominican Republic’s use of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) Performance Standard 5 on Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement in interactions with local communities. She underscored the importance of justice and transparency throughout the process and called for standards to be tailored to local realities.

Mukwakwami reflected on the phenomenon of “derived demand” — the demand for a good or service that results from the demand for a different, or related, good or service — as putting the onus on the end-user, and called for more intentional conversations about development priorities in sustainability standards. Petersen noted standards-based markets are being advocated for and promoted, opening an opportunity to ensure developing countries’ concerns are reflected.

In the subsequent Q&A session, Subratty warned against developing a new standard for every emerging challenge in the mining sector. She highlighted the need for harmonization of the large number of standards and certification frameworks, and the need for mutual recognition among the proponents of different standards. She also called for increasing third party assessments and improving existing mechanisms to better respond to current needs. With respect to IFC Performance Standard 5 on Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement, Garcia Caro underscored the importance of having a clear methodology to ensure fair and equal compensation for beneficiaries. Zhou advocated for closer alignment of international standards with the host country regulations to create positive incentives for sustainable markets and policies. Urging members to seize opportunities in moments of crisis, Petersen called for increased cooperation with companies that are championing sustainability standards.

From Extraction to Economic Transformation: Value Addition Policy Case Studies

In this Tuesday morning session, moderator Rachid Amui, UNCTAD, described value addition policies pertaining to mineral extraction, noted UNCTAD’s work on the topic, and invited panelists to share lessons learned in their countries.

Abdulrahman Al-Belushi, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia, illustrated his country’s long-term vision for economic diversification and industrial resilience. He discussed using resources to enhance the quality of life of all citizens and his country’s diversification away from oil and gas to other extractive industries, as well as to tourism and sporting events. He described: phosphate, aluminum, and zinc value chains; the importance of midstream and downstream provisions; bringing different actors together to strengthen diversification, such as teaming up with neighboring countries on the geological mapping of the Arabian Peninsula; and creating logistical corridors between producing and consuming countries.

Ahmed Bouzid, Ministry for Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Morocco, presented his country’s transformation towards downstream value addition and local processing. He noted key enabling factors, namely: a stable investment environment; extensive infrastructure networks and logistical connections to global markets; competitive tax schemes; long-term national strategies; strong national champion companies; investments in knowledge, science, skills, research, and development; and South-South cooperation.

Osvaldo Urzúa, Director, ENAMI Chile, reflected on the process of achieving value addition and designing a supportive policy framework in Chile. He discussed: taking an integrated approach to mining value chains and to other industries linked with the mining sector; recognizing the complexity of the supply sector and different categories of suppliers with respective roles and policies; and understanding the critical enablers of the transformation, such as geological potential, community relations, managing environmental footprints, and international alliances and geopolitical conditions.

Amui then invited speakers to share challenges and trade-offs in implementing policy frameworks for value addition, especially regarding social and environmental considerations.

Urzúa noted the challenge of undertaking long-term strategies in changing political and economic cycles, and emphasized the need to build capacity.

Britta Sadoun, AMG Critical Minerals, described her company’s establishment of processing facilities in Brazil, noting its work has been enabled by the availability of low-carbon, low-cost energy, a clear and predictable permitting regime, and strong local partnerships that support the recruitment of local workers.

In the Q&A session, participants asked about African countries’ experiences of partnering with other countries in the region, arrangements for capacity building, and how to ensure foreign investors create long-term local jobs. Bouzid stated that regulation must meet social needs and anticipated that African countries can produce “a uniquely African value chain” as countries have cooperated on extraction and processing for over a century. Al-Belushi outlined Saudi Arabia’s incentives for foreign investors, which include gradual reductions in mining royalties if extracted material is processed or sold within the country, competitive loans provided by the Saudi Investment Fund, and investment in new technologies. Panelists urged governments to invest in their own cartographic work, support dialogues among all actors, and create a common vision with investment partners.

Abandoned Mine Lands: Addressing Challenges Through Opportunities

Moderator Rob Stevens, IGF Secretariat, introduced this Tuesday afternoon session, noting the various environmental, social, economic, and sustainable development opportunities deriving from abandoned and closed mines, such as for tourism, creating natural biodiversity areas, and building infrastructure.

Peter Whitbread-Abrutat, Future Terrains International, discussed the expectations and realities of mine closures, drawing on the Eden Project in Cornwall, UK, a botanical garden and tourist attraction built inside a former china clay pit. He noted the Eden Project has generated over GBP 2 billion for the regional economy since opening in 2001, based on original construction costs of around GBP 141 million. He provided a plethora of examples from his book “102 Things to do with a Hole in the Ground” of how closed mines have been regenerated. Whitbread-Abrutat underscored the different gradients of “good practice,” noting that being legally compliant is the bare minimum, while foundational, good, and leading practices are more desirable. He identified one-size-fits-all and limited tick-box thinking as common restrictions and stressed how mine closure planning should be a multistakeholder and multi-disciplinary process that takes place before the mine closes. He called for: creativity; empowering local communities; rephrasing the narrative, for example, by referring to “transition” instead of “closure”; and working towards a positive legacy.

Joseph Ng’ang’a Kuria, Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, Kenya, presented Kenya’s work of transforming former ASM sites into reforestation hubs, as part of its policy target to plant 15 billion trees by 2032. Noting such sites are often ideal for reforestation, he outlined steps for site rehabilitation, namely: site assessment; land restoration; selection and planting of indigenous tree species; training former miners and other local residents in tree planting and care; and monitoring and maintenance through using technology, such as drones. He noted challenges may include soil toxicity, land tenure issues, and funding gaps. He proposed that solutions could include phytoremediation of sites, for example, through planting of salt-tolerant casuarina in abandoned salt mines and using vermiculite from abandoned mines as hydroponic media. He highlighted the introduction of the Jazamiti app, which helps Kenyans select and plant species suited to their ecological zones.

Estelle Levin-Nally, Founder and CEO, Levin Sources, called for increased attention to the circularity approach in re-mining to minimize and prevent waste, maximize the resource’s economic value, and regenerate nature. She noted several benefits of re-mining tailings, including: minimizing the environmental and health risks to local communities from the presence of highly polluting tailings; avoiding the risk of future tailings disasters; exploring opportunities for decarbonization; capturing the economic value of viable mineral resources; and making nature-positive corporate claims. Finally, she called for governments to help make re-mining possible through: increased commitments to circularity; running national strategic assessments of tailings and stack heaps; maximizing the economic potential of stranded assets; and exploring cooperation to unlock different opportunities.

In the ensuing Q&A session, discussion centered around: using funds deposited by miners to rehabilitate a Kenyan mining site; incentives for immediate re-processing of tailings depending on the local context, commercial viability, community interest, and regulatory schemes; and highlighting the significant revenues accrued from innovative mine site rehabilitation, such as in the case of the Eden Project.

Ensuring Value Addition Really Adds Value: Environmental Policies for Mineral Value Chains Beyond Mining

Djaheezah Subratty, UNEP, moderated the session on Tuesday afternoon, noting that balance is desirable between environmental protection and economic development in mineral value chains, and policies can ensure that value addition doesn’t come at the cost of the environment.

Alan González, WEF, presented on moving towards nature-positive mining. In describing their activities, he noted the WEF brings together leaders that do not usually sit at the same table. He expanded on: enabling the energy and digital transition; decarbonizing the industry; improving socio-environmental performance; accelerating innovation and technology; and navigating geopolitics and supply chain uncertainty. He described the clear economic case for action on nature, noting the mining and metals sector plays a crucial role in the transition towards a nature-positive, net-zero, and equitable future. He suggested priority actions, such as transforming operations across the mine life cycle, improving water stewardship, and expanding circularity. González called for insights to move toward action, and for aligning productivity with purpose, noting collaboration as key.

Perrine Fournier, Fern, presented a recent study, Driving Change, Not Deforestation: How Europe could mitigate the negative impacts of its transport transition, which assesses the mining requirements and related deforestation impacts stemming from the EU’s 2050 e-mobility goal. Among the key findings, she highlighted three areas of leverage for reducing the deforestation impact of the electric transport sector, namely: focusing on circularity measures to mitigate the need to mine for new minerals; giving preference to battery technologies with lower deforestation footprints, such as sodium-ion batteries, which are also more affordable; and prioritizing responsible sourcing technologies and strengthening regulatory frameworks, such as creating no-go zones in forest areas to prohibit mining.

Karolina Ardesjö Lundén, Head, Swedish Environmental Protection Agency, presented the national environmental permitting system, noting Sweden has one of the largest mining sectors in Europe with significant production of iron ore, zinc, and lead. Initially referring to one of the oldest environmental regulations, she highlighted current key elements including the precautionary and polluter pays principles, use of best available techniques, and the functioning of Land and Environmental Courts to process matters pertaining to environmental law.

During the panel conversation, González described the WEF’s role in advancing environmental stewardship by connecting businesses with key stakeholders in government, policy, academia, and other sectors, and reconciling different perspectives. In discussing country level engagement, Fournier pointed to the EU Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) Action Plan as a strategy to combat illegal logging, noting it brings all stakeholders together. She commended Ghana as the first African country to receive a FLEGT license and called for such schemes to be replicated for other commodities and for other markets, such as China. Ardesjö Lundén drew attention to national consultation rules, noting that listening to the outcomes of consultations resulted in permits being issued more smoothly.

During the Q&A session, participants underscored: the role of governments in formulating regulations; the need for companies to have financial security to deal with any potential accidents; operators in Sweden having the obligation to produce reports every year after a mining operation closes, with supervising authorities intervening when necessary; the interpretation of land use maps; and opportunities for bringing business sector voices to the upcoming UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) meeting and reflecting their input in pertinent recommendations on mining.

On stakeholder consultations, panelists emphasized the importance of: investing sufficient time with local communities; respecting the FPIC principle; ensuring communities’ access to information; involving local stakeholders from the early stages; and being willing to make compromises to achieve common objectives. Among the key takeaways, panelists noted: the need for “translation” between government and non-government, business and non-business, and technical and non-technical actors; the importance of trust building; learning from other industries to increase the pace of sustainability action; and the need to protect and adapt existing institutions for improved performance.

Strengthening Water Governance: Innovative, Collaborative and Principled Approaches

On Wednesday morning, moderator Carlos Alberto Ortega Trujillo, IGF Secretariat, introduced the session with an invitation to an on-the-spot online survey pertaining to the importance of collaboration in water governance, achieving net-positive impacts particularly in water bodies, and setting effective regulatory frameworks.

Dennis van Peppen, Director, Commission on Environmental Assessment, the Netherlands, explained the advantages of Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) over stand-alone Environmental Impact Assessments or ESIAs. She said that SEAs, by taking a broader landscape view, can curb the selection of unsuitable sites, while IWRM ensures fair water allocation. He advocated for collaborative governance, whereby information from assessments and plans are used as a basis for dialogue among stakeholders in government, civil society, and local communities. He advised keeping plans “simple, problem-focused and politically aware,” building coalitions that focus on priorities, and merging SEA with spatial planning.

Fernando Alarcón, CEO, AFS Engineering & Consulting, Peru, recommended establishing multistakeholder partnerships. He shared experiences, including a project at the Newmont Yanacocha mine in Peru, which had brought potable water to local communities through private sector investment and budgetary allocations from taxes paid by the mining company. He said such partnerships improve water governance, provide community oversight of projects, enable integrated management of basins, and generate spaces for intercultural dialogue.

Noting Sweden’s role as the main supplier of iron ore and base metals in the EU, Anna Apler, Geological Survey of Sweden, shared the example of aligning the key EU regulatory instruments of the Critical Raw Materials Act and the Water Framework Directive with the natural occurrence of uranium. She explained how uranium in the Swedish bedrock is released through erosion, potentially leading to elevated toxicity levels of soils and water, creating operational difficulties for mining companies and even risking mine shutdowns. To enable both “production and protection,” she called for science, knowledge, and dialogue to inform policy, greater regulatory flexibility, and assessment of trade-offs, as one-size-fits-all solutions rarely work in the mining context. 

Van Peppen called for collaborative governance and securing a seat at the table for industry to enable continuous dialogue among governments, civil society, and industry actors, including river basin organizations. He advised regularly updating SEAs and environmental and social management plans to reflect developments in technology and spatial planning.

On managing competing use, Alarcón underscored the need to identify all water users and the river basin characteristics, such as rainfall, to develop strategies and find a balance between regulatory compliance and operational viability.

During the Q&A session, panelists responded to a flurry of questions. On laws and regulations, they noted: the importance of enforcement capacity; the value of working with river basin authorities; and the need for coordination among different inspection bodies, and with the army in unsafe or violent areas. To enable participatory monitoring of water resources, Alarcón emphasized building trust and promoting communication with local communities, given that, for many, water is sacred and linked to core beliefs. He described experiences of how local communities carry out independent monitoring in parallel with mining companies to discuss any discrepancies. Participants also commented on: the geological impacts of mining on water quality; mitigation measures, penalties, and compensation for pollution; measures for dealing with water scarcity, for example, through collection and storage during the rainy season; and social and political conditions that may determine choices in water allocation strategies. Alarcón noted that the Peruvian Constitution prioritizes human consumption, followed by usage for agriculture, animal husbandry, and mining, and that each country deals with water allocation differently.

Value for All: Inclusive Strategies Across Mineral Value Chains

Tracey Cooper, facilitator and advisor on socio-economic development in the mining sector, moderated this session on Wednesday morning.

Judith Fessehaie, International Trade Centre, emphasized that women can and should have a role in the economic transformation of the mining industry as countries move away from the export of raw commodities to develop value-added, “knowledge-intensive” exports. She highlighted the business case for empowering women entrepreneurs, noting they create jobs and have a higher tendency to give back to the community. She called for ensuring women are not left behind as digital technologies and strategies for a “green transformation” are adopted.

Mariangela Linoci, UNCTAD, drew attention to gender segmentation in the mining industry, noting women workers are concentrated in low-skilled, low-quality jobs and are under-represented in managerial, technical, and professional roles. She observed that most language about gender in legal and institutional frameworks relates to the protection of women, for example, during pregnancy, and called for non-discriminatory clauses regarding hiring practices and working conditions. She recommended creating gender focal points in mining institutions, embedding social concerns in trade agreements, and leveraging technological advancements to create opportunities for women.

Sonnia Sarango, Founder, Soy Emprendedora Initiative, Ecuador, presented numerous initiatives supported by mining companies to build women’s business capacity. She drew attention to women-led enterprises in the food and beverage, artisanal products, catering, and event management sectors. She welcomed capacity-building opportunities for women in business, marketing and sales, and administration, and in activities that align directly with the SDGs in areas such as environmental management, farming, and reforestation. She cautioned communities against relying 100% on mining company support and encouraged forward planning to prepare for the eventual closure of mining operations.

On improving the situation of workers in ASM, Linoci noted common barriers faced by women workers as the sector becomes formalized; for example, they may lack identification documents, and fees to join cooperatives may be unaffordable. She also noted other gender-specific vulnerabilities, such as gender-based violence, challenges in maternal health and childcare, and difficulties in accessing appropriate personal protective equipment. She called for improving legal frameworks, making more data available on women’s participation in ASM, and promoting opportunities for women workers beyond extractive roles.

Victoria Awuni, Minerals Commission, Ghana, explained that local content requirements are an intervention to promote value retention and are not intended to discourage foreign investment. She explained that all non-technical roles in mining operations, including legal, financial, and administrative roles, are reserved for Ghanaians, based on Ghana’s Mining List, which includes 51 such job categories; furthermore, mine manager and general manager roles must be taken up by Ghanaians within five years of a mine’s operation. These measures, she noted, have contributed USD 2.6 billion to the domestic economy, resulting in significant benefits for women and local communities. As an example of mining companies supporting improved digital connectivity and infrastructure in under-served rural areas, she highlighted the construction of information and communication technology “laboratories” that provide skills training for community youth.

Fessehaie underscored that the corporate sector should build knowledge about women in business. She drew attention to the recently developed International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard, IWA 34:2021, which establishes a set of common definitions related to women’s entrepreneurship, such as those for women-owned and women-led businesses. She also highlighted the 2017 Buenos Aires Declaration on Trade and Women’s Economic Empowerment, which aims to increase the participation of women in trade and remove barriers they face when entering the global marketplace.

During the Q&A session, delegates discussed: removing bottlenecks to enter international trade, specifically for the gemstone sector in Nigeria, with recognition that the International Trade Centre is working with customs to remove barriers and reduce costs; local laws in Senegal that account for the empowerment of women; promoting sustainable projects with value addition in activities that go beyond extraction; improving access to land and capital, particularly for women’s groups; and furthering the collection of data and metrics.

Critical Minerals: National Strategies in a Global Rush

Hisham Akhonbay, Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, Saudi Arabia, moderated the session on Wednesday afternoon.

Joyce Raboca, International Energy Agency, presented findings from its Global Critical Minerals Outlook 2025 report. She cited high supply chain concentration, with growth in refined supply being driven almost entirely by the world’s top producers, noting China is the leading refiner for 18 of the 20 minerals analyzed in the report. She observed that, nevertheless, there are opportunities for global collaboration across supply chains.

Galina Bitsadze, National Agency of Mineral Resources, Georgia, provided an overview of the country’s mining sector. She noted Georgia does not yet have a Critical Minerals Strategy but recognizes the importance of having one. She explained that existing Soviet-era geological data and reports provide a valuable starting point, but require verification and modernization. She said Georgia plans to conduct a sector development study with support from the Asian Development Bank.

Anne-Karla M. Navarro, Mines and Geosciences Bureau, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines, drew attention to the forthcoming publication of the Philippines Critical Minerals Strategy. She highlighted the Philippines’ rich mineral resources, with around one-third of its total land area identified as having high mineral potential. She said the strategy will strengthen national stewardship of natural resources, increase government support for mineral exploration, streamline permitting processes, and enhance transparency of mineral sales.

Laura Blizzard, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), UK, said the UK’s existing Critical Minerals Strategy is in the process of being revised. She highlighted FCDO support for international collaboration through its Climate Compatible Growth Programme and the International Growth Centre, as well as partnerships between the British Geological Survey and developing countries, which will make resource data available via an open-source platform.

Aside from having national strategies for critical minerals in place, moderator Akhonbay stressed the need to develop enablers for countries to implement those strategies.

Among the motivations behind the development a national strategy in the Philippines, Navarro underscored: securing national economic interests; enabling the transition to clean energy; enhancing midstream and downstream processing and manufacturing; creating a predictable policy environment; improving data management; and ensuring science and evidence-based decisions-making.

Bitsadze explained that Georgia is focusing on minerals of economic potential and industrial value to promote value chains that benefit the country.

Blizzard underlined the role of partnerships, noting the importance of matching ambitions between partners, and developing relevant types of collaboration.

In a Q&A session explaining the criteria for criticality, panelists emphasized the need to define national priorities, which can vary between countries, and what objectives each national strategy seeks to achieve. In the case of the Philippines, Navarro noted, as key parameters, the potential of the minerals sector to contribute to economic development, supplier risks and substitutability, and global demand. Bitsadze underlined the importance of data when prioritizing nationally critical minerals. In terms of non-negotiable priorities for developing such strategies, panelists listed the potential for value addition, national interest and priorities, and developing midstream economies and recycling.

During the Q&A session, participants discussed: criteria used in the national context when labeling minerals as “critical” or “strategic,” depending on whether a country is a producer or a consumer; accounting for energy requirements, such as for AI and data center demands; and the importance of engaging all relevant ministries and stakeholders for mutual benefits.

Forward Looking Regional Perspectives

Nathalie Bernasconi-Osterwalder, Vice-President, Global Strategies and Managing Director, Europe, IISD, moderated the final plenary on Wednesday afternoon, commenting that “value” had been discussed from all angles over the past three days, and that panelists would share regional and global perspectives.

Daniel Hill, Natural Resources Canada, provided a G7 perspective given Canada as the holder of the 2025 G7 Presidency. He drew attention to the G7 Critical Minerals Action Plan, which is designed around three pillars: building standards-based markets; mobilizing capital and strategic partnerships; and promoting innovation. Hill noted the G7 countries are working on a roadmap to promote standards-based markets for critical minerals, in collaboration with a multitude of stakeholders. He further explained that the G7 had earmarked CAD 10 million to support developing countries in benefiting from the global energy and digital transition, with funds directed to the IGF, and will support an academic Minerals Skills Network training scheme.

Marit Kitaw, UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), offered a G20 perspective, describing priorities for the African continent and how African countries can position themselves collectively in a changing landscape. She anticipated the G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa on 22-23 November 2025 under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, Sustainability” would highlight threads common to the continent, with critical minerals being a major topic. She drew attention to Africa’s Green Minerals Strategy, adopted by the African Union in February 2025, which promotes sustainable mining, building resilient supply chains, supporting the green economy, and ensuring Africa’s mineral wealth leads to broad-based socio-economic development. Kitaw noted the Green Minerals Strategy has the 2009 Africa Mining Vision for “transparent, equitable and optimal exploitation of mineral resources to underpin broad-based sustainable growth and socioeconomic development” at its core. She observed that: the continent’s bargaining power is anchored in equity and justice; Africa is ready to engage on its own terms and build “from the inside”; alliances are key to shifting the needle on green energy investments; and partnerships are essential to deliver value.

Rodrigo Urquiza, Conference of Mining Ministries of the Americas, Chile, noted a change of approach from competition to cooperation within the industry over the past 25 years, with companies and governments now working together towards the common goal of net zero. Using Latin America as an example, he reflected on regional approaches in reshaping the bargaining power of countries in the global mineral supply chains. He mentioned the example of Chile and Argentina, which have a bilateral mining treaty in place for the extraction of minerals in their shared border regions. He praised the IGF for providing a unique space for mining and non-mining actors to come together and enable interactions to help the sector deliver responsible minerals to the global market.

In remarks from the floor, Guinea noted the three recurring concepts — cooperation, sustainable development, and the need for good policies — and asked whether a common model for development policies on critical minerals could be formulated and potentially applicable to different countries. Kitaw drew attention to the African Mineral Development Center’s Country Mining Vision Guidebook and the ECA’s African Minerals Governance Framework as useful tools.

Referring to opportunities for regional positioning, Timor-Leste invited panelists’ views on the potential for it to increase its mining sector cooperation with ASEAN members. Kitaw drew attention to the ASEAN Minerals Development Vision as a strategic plan that was adopted to promote sustainable minerals investment in the region. Urquiza stressed that each country has its own problems and that collaborating on mining had, for Chile, been a tool for cooperation with neighboring states, leading to joint efforts even amongst competitors.

Closing

Reaffirming the AGM’s common vision for sustainable development in the mining sector, Clovis Freire, UNCTAD, highlighted the main takeaways from the meeting, including: economic diversification as a necessity to prevent exposure of countries to volatility and exclusion; reinvesting mining revenues in people and the planet; exploring the untapped potential of non-metallic minerals to enable inclusive growth; and the importance of wise resource management and transparency. He referred to several important recent milestones, including: the Geneva Consensus, adopted in October 2025, which provides a stronger mandate for UNCTAD in the mining sector; the newly established UN Task Force on Critical Energy Transition Minerals; and the upcoming 16th session of the Multi-year Expert Meeting on Commodities and Development, taking place in Geneva from 9-10 December 2025.

Isabelle Ramdoo, Director, IGF Secretariat, expressed appreciation for how the AGM has grown each year and thanked everyone for their contributions. The meeting ended at 5.45 pm.