New research shows that out of 120 active mineral mine projects in Argentina and Chile, over 50 percent (61) are in conflict. In Chile, the majority of mineral mines are in conflict, with indigenous peoples in many cases, who are left to risk their wellbeing to protest against the lithium and copper mining in order to protect their lands and the environment.
The new research published today by the Institute of Development Studies highlights that this resistance against the environmental and social problems caused by mining activities comes at significant costs for the local communities. It argues that instead of leaving indigenous peoples and civil society groups to enter into conflict against the mining projects, governments need to establish formal governance processes, providing proactive long-term negotiations and democratic processes. Without it, it warns that the mineral mining at the scale required for the global energy transition won’t be achievable.
The demand for critical minerals such as lithium and copper, needed for electric vehicles and wind farms, is predicted to increase up to 500 percent in the next ten years as the global energy transition required to combat climate gathers pace. In Chile, the world’s leading provider of copper and second of lithium (after Australia), the research found that around US$12 billion of investments – 80 percent of total investments submitted to the Environmental Authority (SEA) – were contested by civil society between 1998 and 2022, with 1 in 5 (21%) currently held up in the justice system.
Globally, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), an estimated 54% of energy transition minerals are located on or near indigenous peoples’ land, underscoring the need for robust and early community engagement. Over 80% of lithium projects and more than half of nickel, copper and zinc projects are located in the territories of indigenous peoples.
Anabel Marin, Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies and author of the report, said:
“The entire governance frameworks of natural resources need to be re-designed, bringing a proactive and democratic approach to a vital economic area. By involving local people at an early stage and co-creating policies for mining projects, governments can avoid costly conflicts.
“This transformation in how the mining of minerals is managed is vital in order to move from fossil fuels to cleaner energy. Without it the energy transition will be unjust, environmentally unsustainable and unachievable.”
The research report makes clear that the scale of the challenge to resolve mining conflicts is vast but including citizens in co-producing the investment policies for critical minerals, instead of leaving them to act as a watchdog to prevent environmental and social harm, is the best chance there is for a just energy transition.
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