Page 10 - Energize June 2021

NEWS

BRINGING AFRICA’S VOICE TO EU RESPONSIBLE SOURCING PROCESS

s the European Union (EU) the main actors in these supply chains – and electrical and electronic equipment
works to ensure responsible and business, policy makers and civil society – to sectors – the RE-SOURCING project plans
Asustainable sourcing of minerals talk about sustainability. to deliver a range of benefits to the
for its low-carbon future, SRK Consulting “There is a depth of knowledge in respective stakeholders. For EU and global
is contributing its expertise to an EU- continents like Africa about responsible businesses, it will build their capacity to
funded stakeholder platform project on sourcing, and how these initiatives by the implement responsible business practices
the governance of raw material sourcing in EU can be guided and supported,” said Dr and compliance with current and future
the EU. Masuma Farooki, consulting director at regulations. This will be based on creating
The RE-SOURCING project – funded research group MineHutte (UK) and senior a lasting and stable sectoral framework for
by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 researcher for RE-SOURCING. “To ensure that competitive and future-oriented EU markets.
research and innovation programme – aims the policy and regulatory efforts by the EU The project will also improve the capacity
to build a global stakeholder platform for are well considered and achieve the intended of EU policymakers to design and implement
responsible sourcing. A vital aspect of results, the experience and expertise of local effective responsible sourcing policies, to
defining standards for the EU will be the organisations and professionals is essential.” stimulate wider compliance in the private
input of stakeholders in the regions from Dr Farooki said that SRK Consulting sector. For civil society, RE-SOURCING is
which the minerals are currently being is playing a vital role in the consortium integrating sustainable development and
sourced and most likely to be sourced in through its practical insights and voice of environmental concerns into the discourse
the future, according to SRK director and reasonability, with professionals in the of responsible sourcing, while helping create
principal consultant Andrew van Zyl. organisation highlighting the likely on-the- a level playing field in international political
“As a global network of scientists and ground effects of policy and regulatory forums and on the business agenda.
engineers that has a long history in the decisions.
mining sector, we have been requested to Defining “responsible”
identify and reach out to stakeholders in Responsible conduct Stakeholders at various levels and of
Africa and Asia,” said Van Zyl. “This is to Providing the context for RE-SOURCING various designations will contribute towards
facilitate their input to the RE-SOURCING is the European Green Deal, which plans defining the concept of responsible sourcing,
process, to help guide the EU’s efforts to to make Europe the world’s first climate- according to Bjanka Korb, senior engineer at
ensure that mineral supply chains do not neutral continent by 2050. The transition SRK Consulting.
cause negative environmental and social to this goal is expected to be based on “The project provides a role for Africa to
impacts where minerals are sourced.” environmentally friendly, socially equitable help pioneer – at the definition stage – what
He highlighted SRK Consulting’s and economically profitable sourcing in this process will mean for mining regions,”
extensive hands-on involvement in global mineral value chains. said Korb.
technical studies for the mining sector, Through developing visions and At the heart of implementing this
grounded in environmental, social and roadmaps for responsible sourcing – vision of responsible sourcing is the need
governance (ESG) good practice. focusing on the renewable energy, mobility, to consider the livelihoods of participants
“These ESG issues are critical to the
way that mines and mineral-related supply
chains operate, and the RE-SOURCING
project is an important step in developing
and aligning global policies with the
drive towards decarbonisation and a just
transition to renewable energy,” he said.
Reliance on mining
At the heart of the RE-SOURCING initiative
is the recognition that technologies being
developed for renewable energy, mobility
and electronics in the EU and elsewhere are
heavily reliant on a range of key minerals
– and hence on mining. Inputs in these
technologies utilise minerals including
quartz in photo-voltaic cells, copper in wind
turbines, gold in computer microchips,
lithium in batteries, and tantalum in
electronic devices.
With many of these commodities
already flagged as potential conflict
minerals, the project aims to bring together Andrew van Zyl and Bjanka Korb

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