Rohitesh Dhawan, CEO, International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM)
How can the Brazilian mining industry add value?
The way to think about value added from mining is that the industry transforms natural capital into social and economic capital. When done well, it can even increase the stock of natural capital through activities like reforestation and conservation. The supply of some metals and minerals will need to increase up to 20 times in the next 30 years if we are to successfully decarbonize the global economy while enabling social and economic development.
Why is Brazil’s mining industry poised for growth?
Three major trends are occurring, and Brazil is generally favorably positioned on all three. The first is a shortage of critical and strategic minerals. If you take a group of commodities that includes nickel, graphite, manganese, and rare earths, Brazil holds about one-fifth of the global resource base of each of these but has less than 10% of the worldwide share of production and, in some cases, less than 1%.
The second is sustainable production. Brazil has several advantages here. 77% of Brazil’s energy is low carbon, and much of that supply is available to the industry.
The final trend is geopolitics and the desire from countries around the world to secure their supplies of critical minerals. Brazil is one of the few countries with good relations between the West and East, allowing it to work with many different countries.
Could you provide an update on the ICMM’s work in tailings management?
The tragedies at Mariana and Brumadinho catalyzed the industry to reset tailings dam management fundamentally. It led to the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). ICMM members committed that for tailings dams with the highest consequence classifications, extreme or very high, they would disclose their levels of conformance by August of 2023. All members have done that, including our members who operate in Brazil. For all other dams, they will do so by August 2025.
Patricia Procópio, President and Founding Member, Women in Mining, Brazil
What is the background of Women in Mining Brasil?
The WIM Brasil emerged back in 2019. Our principal objective revolves around broadening and strengthen women’s involvement in the mining sector. We must spotlight the need for greater gender equity and respect for women at all levels of an organization. While women currently participate, their roles have been predominantly confined to legal and communication sector, with limited representation in mining-related technical domains. It is vital that women are recognized as valuable references and sources of technical expertise and operational excellence. Our goal is to foster a more responsible and sustainable industry, and to achieve this we must actively promote a more inclusive and diverse work environment.
How do women contribute to the community?
Research has shown that women allocate over 50% of their income to the communities where they reside, whereas men typically allocate around 30%. This presents a significant issue of economic growth. To develop future talent, it is crucial to underscore the significance of STEM disciplines among women, making them aware of their potential contributions to the mining industry. A key aspect of our mission is to encourage women from diverse sectors to explore and join the mining field.
What do you foresee for women’s inclusion over the next few years?
The workforce of the future is essential, and we need to invest in women. While the mining industry is expanding, it has encountered reluctance among young people, primarily due to recent incidents and concerns about working in mining. However, our report indicates that women are already becoming increasingly involved and securing more leadership roles within the industry. Nonetheless, the high quitting rate among women underscores that there is still much work to be done. Women want to be part of the mining industry, but they often find the working environment unsupportive, which leads to women leaving the industry.