ASIA & PACIFIC

Users who wish to contribute documents to this page should email the material, preferably in MS Word, Adobe PDF or text formats, to minerals.forum@unctad.org.

UN ESCAP - United Nations Economic and Social Comission for Asia and the Pacific

• Oil Price Volatility: Learning from Asia-Pacific Country Experiencies. Socio-Economic Policy Brief. April 2007. Issues No 8. United Nations ESCAP. (PDF file)

• Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2007. Surging Ahead in Uncertain Times. Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific. UNited Nations. New York. (PDF file)

• Atlas of Mineral Resources of the ESCAP Region, a series which so far includes volumes on Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bhutan, Cambodia, Kyrgyzstan, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Nepal, Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, and Viet Nam. These documents are available for order through ESCAP.

• Review of Policies, Strategies and Activities in Sustainable Development of Land and Mineral Resources in Asia and the Pacific. (2000), Vol. 6, p. 586.

• Sustainable Development of Land and Mineral Resources in Asia and the Pacific: National Policy Initiative and Trends in Mining Taxation. (1999), Vol. 5, p. 289.

• Minerals and Metals Development and Trade for Sustainable Supply in Asia and the Pacific. (1999), Vol. 4, p. 345.

• Towards Sustainable Minerals Supply in the Asian and the Pacific Region: Review of Emerging Mineral Policies and Development Activities. (1997), Vol.3, p.294.

• Environmental Policies, Regulations and Management Practices in Mineral Resources Development in Asia and the Pacific. (1997), Vol. 2, p. 197.

• Mineral Discovery, Recycling, Waste Prevention and Confinement for Sustainable Development in Asia and the Pacific Region. (1995), Vol. 1, p. 179.

• Management of Commodity Resources in the Context of Sustainable Development: Social Impacts of Mining - Papers presented at the Asian/Pacific Workshop on Managing the Social Impacts of Mining, Bandung, Indonesia, 14-15 October 1996.

• Guidelines and Practices in Evaluation and Development of Industrial Minerals and Offshore Aggregates in Asia. (2001), Vol. 12, No. 2119. Non-sales.

• Integrated Assessment and Development of Mineral Resources in the Greater Mekong Subregion. (1999), Vol. 11, No. 2013. Non-sales.

• Oil and Natural Gas Resources and Potential in North-East Asia. (1999), Vol. 10, p. 159. Non-sales.
• more....
  

• Summary Report on an International Workshop on Environmental Regulation for Accident Prevention in Mining: Tailing and Chemicals Management - United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), October, 2000.
  

• Working time arrangements in the Australian mining industry: Trends and implications with particular reference to occupational safety and health - Karthryn Heiler, Richard Pickersgill and Chris Briggs, Sectoral Activities Programme Working Paper, International Labour Organisation (ILO) WP.162, Geneva, 2000.
  

GEMEED, the Expert Group on Minerals and Energy Exploration and Development, was formed in 1996 due to the importance of trade and cooperation in minerals and metals in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Region. It has the objectives of enhancing information exchange, promoting clean technologies to mitigate negative environmental and social effects, promoting market access, and building relationships.

A variety of reports and presentations made at GEMEED meetings and Environmental Cooperation Workshops (ECOW) workshops since 2001 are available on the site.

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

• Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy — Opportunties for Australia?. (2006) Commonwealth of Australia. Report to the Prime Minister by the Uranium Mining, Processing and Nuclear Energy Review Taskforce. (PDF file)

• Uranium: Global Market Developments and Prospects for Australian Exports. (2006) Mollard, W.S., Rumley, C., Penney, K. and Curtotti, R. ABARE Research Report 06.21 Prepared for the Australian Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources and the Australian Government Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Canberra, November. (PDF file)

Environment Australia

Representatives of the Australian minerals industry and Environment Australia (the environment arm of the Commonwealth Government), are working together to collect and present information on a variety of topics that illustrate and explain best practice environmental management in Australia's minerals industry. The information is published in a series of booklets as the:

• Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining Program (BPEM)

The BPEM booklets are valuable and practical reference materials used to encourage, assist and lead all sectors of the resources industry towards achieving sustainable development. To date 21 booklet titles have been published, each focusing on a key environmental issue in mining, describing best practice principles their application supported by case studies from operating Australian mines and references for further reading.

The booklets are freely available online from the Environment Australia website in HTML format, booklets produced before 1995 are available in Adobe PDF format. Titles include:

• Overview of Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining
• Onshore Minerals and Petroleum Exploration
• Environmental Auditing
• Managing Sulphidic Mine Wastes and Acid Drainage
• Noise, Vibration and Airblast Control
• Landform Design for Rehabilitation
• Cyanide Management
• Dust Control
• Water Management
• Environmental Risk Management
• Contaminated Sites
• Cleaner Production
• Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gas Reduction
• Mine Decommissioning
  

Older booklets:
• Hazardous Materials Management, Storage and Disposal
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Environmental Monitoring and Performance
• Environmental Management Systems
• Mine Planning for Environment Protection
• Planning a Workforce Environmental Awareness Training Program
• Rehabilitation and Revegetation
• Tailings Containment
• Community Consultation and Involvement
  

Nine of the booklets have been translated into Bahasa Indonesian and Spanish.

A Training Kit has been developed by Environment Australia in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP):

• Best Practice Environmental Management in Mining: Training Kit

Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE)

ABARE is a leading provider of public policy analysis and commodity forecasts for Australia's rural and resource industries. They conduct research, economic forecasting and analysis on economic issues affecting the global competitiveness of resource industries to enhance their productivity, value and success in international markets.

• Mineral Exploration in Australia: Trends, Economic Impacts and Policy Issues (Adobe PDF 480KB) - Hogan, L., Harman, J., Maritz, A., Thorpe, S., Simms, A., Berry, P. and Copeland, A. ABARE eReport 02.1, Canberra, December 2002.

• Mining Technology Services in Australia (Adobe PDF 584KB) - Tedesco, L., Copeland, A. and Hogan, L. ABARE Research Report 02.9, Canberra, June 2002.

• Mine Site Rehabilitation: An Economic Review of Current Policy Issues (Adobe PDF 164KB) - Allen, C., Maurer, A. and Fainstein, M. ABARE Report prepared for the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, Canberra, August 2001.

• Minerals and Energy: Major Development Projects (Adobe PDF 96KB) - Ian Haine and commodity analysts, Energy and Minerals Economics Branch, ABARE. Australian Commodities, Vol. 9, No. 2, June Quarter 2002.

AusIMM - The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy

The AusIMM has produced a number of codes of practice in relation to issues as varied as the calculation of mineral ore reserves and ethical conduct for professionals in the mineral industry:

• Geology and Exploration of New Zealand Mineral Deposits - Monograph 25 (2006) This book contains a comprehensive collection of 47 papers from 70 authors that review selected mineral deposit types or describe individual mineral deposits, plus an introduction that sets the exploration scene in New Zealand.
• The JORC Code (Joint Ore Reserves Committee) - Australasian Code for Reporting of Identified Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves.
• The VALMIN Code - Code and Guidelines for Technical Assessment and/or Valuation of Mineral and Petroleum Assets and Mineral and Petroleum Securities for Independent Expert Reports.
• AusIMM Code for Consultants
• AusIMM Code of Ethics

• Groundwork - A magazine produced and distributed free of charge several times a year by AMEEF. Available by subscription as a hard copy or via email in Adobe PDF format. The current and back issues are available on the AMEEF website.

MINA - Mindanao Association of Mineral Industries Inc.

MINA Inc is a non-government organization located in Mindanao, The Phillipines representing companies undertaking mineral exploration in the region.

• MINA News - October 2002 (Adobe PDF 159KB)

• Mindanao Economic Development: Opportunities for Growth: Mineral Exploration and Development: Building the 21st Century - Mindanao Association of Mineral Industries and the Mines & Geosciences Bureau DENR Region XI, September 2001.

Oxfam Community Aid Abroad (CAA)

CAA have an active mining campaign. A significant component of this program has been the establishment of an independent Mining Ombudsman to hear complaints by individuals and communities about negative impacts created by the activities of Australian mineral companies within developing countries of the Asia Pacific and Latin America regions.

• Mining Ombudsman Annual Report 2000-2001 - Jeff Atkinson, Annabel Brown, James Ensor, Mining Ombudsman, Oxfam Community Aid Abroad, June 2001.

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Australia

WWF Australia have a Resource Conservation Program with a specific focus on the mining industry. They conduct an annual assessment of the quality of mining company sustainability reporting, published as 'Ore or Overburden?'.

• Ore or Overburden? - 1st Annual Scorecard on Australian Mining Company Environmental Reports - 1999
• Ore or Overburden? II - 2nd Annual Scorecard on Australian Mining Company Environmental Reports - 2000

A complete hard copy version can be obtained from the WWF Sydney, Australia Office.

Mining Certification Evaluation Project (MPEC)

WWF, with a number of partner organisations from industry, government and civil society, is actively assessing whether independent certification for environmental and social performance can be developed for the mining industry. Further information on the Mining Certification Evaluation Project (MPEC) is available from the MRF Law and Policy section.

North Queensland Conservation Council (NQCC)

NQCC recently conducted an innovative partnership with BHP to assess the environmental performance of the BHP-Billington Cannington mine in Northern Queensland, Australia.

• Broadening Our Horizons: An appraisal by the
  North Queensland Conservation Council of the environmental performance of BHP Cannington - June 2000 (Adobe PDF 4.73Mb).

A presentation by David Haigh, President of the NQCC to a MMSD Australia workshop held in September 2001.

• Digging Deep: Sustainable Reality: The Bell is Tolling -
  David Haigh, Senior Lecturer, School of Law, James Cook University, Australia, September 2001

• Report on the Philippine National Conference on Mining (Adobe PDF 631KB) - Engr. Catalino Corpuz, Jr. Briefing Paper No. 10, Tebtebba Foundation, May 2002.
  The Briefing Paper focuses on the results, including the declaration
  and resolutions, of the Philippine National Conference on Mining held
  last May 6 - 8, 2002 in Baguio City, Philippines.

• The Significance of a National Conference on Mining (Adobe PDF 650KB) - Engr. Catalino Corpuz, Jr., Briefing Paper No. 9, Tebtebba Foundation, May 2002.
  The Briefing Paper analyzes and critiques mining initiatives, in the national as well as in the international arena and discusses an alternative mining policy that supports genuine national industrialization and genuine agrarian reform.

The following documents have been produced as part of the work of the Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) Australia regional group.

• MMSD Australia Draft Final Report - January 2002 (Adobe PDF 1,060KB)

Early drafts of research reports were presented at the Ameef/MMSD Australia regional group conference "Engaging Stakeholders – Improving Industry Performance" held in Brisbane, 17 and 18 September (Adobe PDF format):

• A Brief Review of MMSD Australia Research (Adobe PDF 231KB)
• Baseline Assessment Australia Final Report (Draft) (Adobe PDF 638KB)
• Managing the Impacts of the Australian Minerals Industry on Biodiversity (Adobe PDF 193KB)
• Managing Australian Mineral Wealth for Sustainable Economic Development: Depletion, Resource Curse and Greenhouse Effects (Adobe PDF 542KB)
• Industry Based Voluntary Initiatives: Draft Report - 31 August 2001 (Adobe PDF 595KB)
• Developing New Approaches for Stakeholder Engagement in the Minerals Sector (Adobe PDF 205KB)
  

Newsletters (Adobe PDF):

• MMSD Australia Update 1- April 2001
• MMSD Australia Update 2- May 2001
• MMSD Australia Update 3 - July 2001
• MMSD Australia Update 4 - November 2001

Australian Centre for Mining Environmental Research (ACMER)

• Newsletter 2002 (Adobe PDF 712KB)

• Indicators of Ecosystem Rehabilitation Success, Stage 2 - Verification of
  EFA Indicators - David Tongway and Norman Hindley in association with David Mulligan, Ben Seaborn and David Jasper, July 2003. The final report of a project, sponsored by 10 mining companies and three government departments, to verify that previously suggested indicators of ecosystem rehabilitation success, produced by the Ecosystem Function Analysis (EFA) monitoring procedure, properly represented soil properties measured by conventional field and laboratory procedures.

• Guide to the Application of the ANZECC/ARMCANZ Water Quality Guidelines in the Minerals Industry - Drs Graeme Batley, Simon Apte and Jennifer Stauber of CSIRO and Dr Chris Humphrey of the Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist, 2003. A handbook specifically written for the minerals industry that explains and provides case studies for the ANZECC/ARMCANZ Water Quality Guidelines released in 2000. Available in hard copy and CD-ROM from the Australian Centre for Mining Environment Research (ACMER).