Newsletter: May 2025

Folks,

I spent the month of May trying to disprove Sir Ranulph Fiennes about his assessment of committees. A tall order, since those words come from the world’s greatest living explorer. As an aside, you can watch my interview with him for the BecomingX Foundation, which I am privileged to Chair.

I am more convinced than ever that only by working together can we make progress. No greater proof of that than the extraordinary work carried out by the Stakeholder and Industry Advisory Groups for the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative (CMSI) over two days in Barcelona last month. We’re on track to release the updated Standard and Assurance documents for a second Public Consultation later this year, preceded by confirmation of the multi-stakeholder governance arrangements. Look out on ICMM’s Socials for these announcements.

When historical divisions have run deep, building bridges becomes even more important. It was thus a genuine honour to be invited as the first private sector speaker in over 2 decades to open the World Bank Land Conference in Washington DC. You can watch the session in full here and read my speech on the ICMM website, but my 3 simple take-aways to convey ICMM members’ commitments were:

• Just because we can, doesn’t mean we should – responsible mining requires restraint.
• Not everything of value has a price – land holds deep cultural and social meaning.
• Land thrives when people thrive – community well-being drives responsible mining decisions.

And sometimes, bringing people together means disagreeing constructively. I hope I was able to do so on the Business Daily show on BBC Sounds, where I debated a fellow panellist on whether it was fair to characterise all foreign companies in Africa as being exploitative. With ICMM members having over the last decade returned 36 cents of every dollar of profit to national economies through tax and royalties, it is clear that responsible mining unlocks shared prosperity.

Until next time. Please do keep your messages and ideas coming in – I sincerely appreciate all the feedback we get.

Warmly,
Ro

Features

New ICMM handbook to support resilient futures after mine closure

Mine closures can leave communities economically and socially vulnerable. ICMM’s new handbook seeks to change that – offering practical tools to support long-term socio-economic resilience in mining regions.

Launched this month, the Handbook on Multistakeholder Approaches to Socio-Economic Transitions in Mining promotes a shift from company-led closure to partnership-based planning. It equips mining companies and stakeholders with:

• Nine collaborative approaches tailored to diverse mining contexts

• Eleven tools for socio-economic planning, resilience and sustainable land use

• Real-world case studies showcasing successful community-led transitions

Designed for flexibility, the Handbook supports early, inclusive action to turn mine closure into a platform for regeneration – not decline. Explore the freely available Handbook and tools on the ICMM website.

Land, jobs and the energy transition: A call for responsible mining

Land is more than a backdrop for mining – it’s the foundation for jobs, energy, and long-term prosperity. As demand for energy transition minerals accelerates, sound land governance is critical to ensuring that mining investments are both sustainable and socially responsible.

At the World Bank Land Conference 2025 in Washington DC, ICMM’s Ro Dhawan delivered a landmark keynote – the first from the private sector in over 20 years. His message was clear: land is the foundation of both minerals and livelihoods, and mining must treat it with great care.

The session closed with a panel discussion on how governments, companies, landholders and civil society can work together to secure land rights, build trust, and unlock shared economic opportunity. You can watch the session in full here and read Ro’s plenary remark on the ICMM website.

ICMM in the News

The case for responsible mining and increased circularity

The increasing demand for critical minerals necessitates a concerted effort to scale recycling, writes Bryony Clear Hill for edie, a sustainability-focused media website. But recycled materials will never meet 100% of the demand, so a renewed focus on more responsible primary production is also needed. Read the article in full here.

Critical minerals: What does the future hold?

Cobalt, lithium and copper are essential to the green transition – powering EVs and wind turbines. But rising demand brings geopolitical, ethical and environmental challenges. In the latest episode of Business Daily on the BBC World Service, Sam Fenwick hosts a panel of experts – including ICMM’s Ro Dhawan – to explore what’s next for critical mineral mining. Listen now on BBC Sounds.

Connect With Us

CCSI/Steptoe Extractives Industry Seminar Series
Virtual • 23 June 2025

ICMM’s Ro Dhawan, will speak on a panel about navigating complex governance environments in mineral-rich regions. More information can be found here.

Payne Institute’s Inaugural London Critical Minerals Symposium
London, UK • 24 June 2025

Ro will join a panel discussion on identifying opportunities and mitigating challenges around critical mineral development in the Global South. More information can be found here.

2025 Day of Industry (Hosted by the Federation of German Industries)
Berlin, Germany • 24 June 2025

Ro will speak on a panel exploring the need for international cooperation to secure critical mineral supply chains. More information can be found here.

London Indaba
London, UK • 25 June 2025

Ro will deliver a keynote on the opportunities and challenges facing responsible mining in Africa. More information can be found here.

G7 Webinar on Circular Economy and Critical Materials
Virtual • 25 June 2025

Ro will participate in a panel on advancing circular economy practices and improving resource efficiency in the critical minerals sector. More information can be found here.

Reuters Global Energy Transition Conference
New York City, USA • 25 June 2025

Ro will join a fireside chat and audience Q&A session at Reuters’ flagship energy transition event. More information can be found here.