EnglishIndependent policy institute Chatham House has released a report on Conflict and Co-existence in the Extractive Industries.
The report highlights the series of disputes in recent years over mining contracts in resource-rich countries. These disputes call attention to the fragile and complex relationship between companies and their host governments that characterises the extractives sector, ending in unsettled investors and global markets.
Consequently, it is often subject to intense global scrutiny, whether over revenue transparency or its environmental legacy. Its impact on the national economy or local communities also remains an area of contested rights, responsibilities and benefits.
At a time when the operational and political context for mineral investments is shifting across the world, questions are being raised about the long term future of the extractives sector, especially in developing countries.
The Chatham House report aims to provide an overview of key findings including:
- The number of disputes on the rise
- The contract between government and extractive companies is inherently vulnerable
- Extractives industries are in a period of flux.
As well as a number of recommendations:
- Improving the terms of engagement
- Raising standards of governance
- Planning together and defusing tensions.
The report is available here: