Harnessing the bonanza: economic liberalization and capacity building in the mineral sector

Over the past decade many developing and transition economies have liberalized their investment regimes for mining and privatized formerly state-owned mineral assets. In response, these economies have witnessed increased foreign investment in exploration and development, growth in the number and diversity of mineral projects, and the opening up of new channels for harnessing increased economic and social benefits from development in the minerals sector. The restructuring of fiscal and regulatory regimes to encourage foreign investment, and the associated influx of mining capital, technology and skills, is transforming traditional relationships between mining firms, local communities and the government. This transformation necessitates a re-evaluation of the most effective policy approaches to capture increased economic and social benefits from mineral production. This article considers effective mechanisms for improving the capacity of developing and transition countries to maximize the economic and social benefits of mineral production. Common challenges associated with minerals economies are reviewed. Consideration is given to the opportunities for harnessing foreign direct investment and the possibilities for creating new partnerships between local communities, industry, government, and multilateral development agencies through social investment projects. The article concludes with a series of recommendations for the design and implementation of policy approaches towards harnessing mineral production for economic and social benefit following the liberalization of investment regimes for mining.     

Risks and opportunities for foreign investment in the mineral sectors of the Central Asian Republics: Kazakstan,Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan

With the dissolution of the former Soviet Union in 1991, the nations of Central Asia gained independence and began the transition to market driven economies. Both the political and economic transformations of the Central Asian Republics (CARs) (Kazakstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) have been difficult primarily because of a holdover of various centrally planned `command and control' approaches to national development. The extensive mapping and exploration of the CARs during the Soviet era (approximately 1921–1991) led to the discovery of several hundreds of mineral deposits that were subsequently evaluated, and it is this `pool' of known, but undeveloped, deposits which is of major interest to foreign and domestic companies. However, foreign investment in the mineral sectors of the CARs is at best quite modest and there are very few positive signs that foreign investment will increase dramatically in the near term. The major risks that the mining industry faces as it works in the CARs arise primarily from the fact that the nations are transitional economies which lack both a comprehensive legal framework and experience in dealing with foreign mining corporations and their practices. The major risks are political, economic, financial, infrastructure, contractual, environmental, social and cultural and workforce related. If all individual risk factors are weighted equally, the relative ranking of the countries (from least risk to most risk for mineral development) would be Kyrgyzstan, Kazakstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan respectively. However, such a classification scheme does not effectively weight the importance of mineral potential. If the risk criteria are weighted with respect to geologic potential, the ranking of the countries would be (from least risk to most risk) Kazakstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, respectively.     

Myanmar under reform: Emerging pressures on water,energy and food security

Myanmar's water‐related sectors are subject to intensive changes, as the country's abundant land and water resources provide substantial scope for development. Recent steps towards economic reform in Myanmar have led to a surge of foreign investment directed towards intensified natural resource extraction. Both the agricultural and the energy sector are increasingly affected by foreign investments that will impact the status of water, energy and food security in the country. With these on‐going developments, Myanmar's future is largely dependent on how its natural resources are managed and how the benefits from the resource extraction are shared. With various institutional changes and new actors welcomed to the sectors, existing livelihoods and ecosystems dependent on the land and water resources are to face increasing competition for the shared resources, while lacking secured access to them. There are increasing concerns that this sectoral development is occurring at the expense of environmental and social sustainability. As one way to tackle these challenges, the water‐energy‐food nexus approach could help in finding synergies and co‐benefits across sectors by addressing the imbalances along the nexus and externalities derived from the on‐going intensification.     

青海省矿产资源综合开发利用探析

作为我国有色金属、贵金属、盐类与能源等矿产的主要蕴藏地之一的青海省,在经济发展的四大支柱——石油和天然气、盐湖矿产、有色金属矿产和水电资源产业中,有三项为矿产资源,为推进全省国民经济和社会快速发展提供了强有力的支撑,综合开发利用这些资源对全省经济社会发展具有重要意义.通过对青海省矿产资源综合开发利用的全面分析,找出存在的突出问题及其原因,提出相应的对策和建议.     

我国利用外商直接投资与环境保护问题

随着改革开放的深入发展，我国利用外资规模不断扩大，特别是近几年来，利用外商直接投资的额度每年都上新台阶。外商直接投资对我国经济发展起到了重要作用，但往往人们在注重经济发展时，却忽视了环境污染问题。目前我国迫切需要正确处理好利用外商直接投资与保护环境的关系，采取有效的对策，实现二者的协调发展。     

FRONTIER AREAS, RESOURCES, AND DEVELOPING NATIONS: THE CASE OF GUATEMALA

The conscientious and planned integration of frontier areas into the national economy can at least partially alleviate both environmental and economic problems that are common to many developing countries. Full development of the agricultural potential of frontier areas can lessen the environmental deterioration often found in traditionally settled regions. Exploitation of mineral resources, in particular energy resources, can lessen economic burdens associated with increased costs of imported energy. The authors examine how recent international developments have spurred the government of Guatemala to undertake measures designed to develop a previously underutilized region. The short term negative consequences of increased costs for imported grains and petroleum may well have a positive result in the long term insofar as they lead to more balanced and rational use of land and resources.     

Imperatives for attracting investment and technology in the Indian mining sector

In India, the mineral resource inventory and the production of a large number of important minerals have registered significant increases during the last few decades. Yet the country continues to be a net importer of many high value and scarce minerals and metals, like gold, diamond, and several base metals. Exploration and development of the resources of these minerals are technology- and capital-intensive. To bring technology and capital through foreign direct investment (FDI) into the Indian mineral sector, it is imperative to lay stress on: accurate resource estimation and categorization, as well as realistic projection of the true values; rationalization of legislative measures based on R&D studies and reorganization of the implementation machinery; conducive tax structure; notification of acts and rules applicable to offshore mineral resources; time-frames for granting licences and leases; encouragement to labor productivity by rationalizing labor laws; reforms in the monetary system to increase market competitiveness of Indian minerals; and judicial reforms. FDI in the Indian mineral sector is important to firm up the knowledge-base of mineral resources and their optimum exploitation.     

WATER RESOURCE INVESTMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BALANCED VERSUS UNBALANCED INVESTMENT STRATEGIES1

ABSTRACT: A number of recent investigations have attempted to determine whether or not a relationship exists between water resource investment and economic growth. Reasons for the disparity in the conclusions of these investigations are examined. The degree of balance in an investment strategy may be a primary cause of the disparity in the conclusions and in determining the extent to which investment in water resources induces economic growth. Providing definitions of balanced and unbalanced investment strategies that involve water development is complicated by the polarity associated with the terms and the wide spectrum of possible components in an investment strategy. Interpretations of the polar concepts of balance and imbalance are provided and form a basis for examining the potential role of water resource development in an investment strategy and the ability of water investment to induce economic growth.     

安徽矿业企业境外资源开发模式研究

为了缓解资源供给压力,保证经济健康与可持续发展,安徽省政府在2008年明确提出要“走出去”开发境外的矿产资源。在国际矿业市场主流资源开发模式研究的基础上,对安徽矿业企业的投资环境进行战略分析,提出安徽省可以将“走出去”分为三个阶段,在每个阶段分别配合实行相应的矿产开发模式以顺利达到开发目标,实现自身发展。     

Corporate social responsibility in the mining industry: Perspectives from stakeholder groups in Argentina

Since the liberalisation of its investment regime in the 1990s, Argentina has seen a rise in foreign direct investment into large-scale exploration and exploitation of mineral resources. However, many social groups (local communities, grassroots movement and the church) often strongly oppose new mining projects on the grounds of environmental, ethical and economic concerns. In a situation marked by widespread conflict, mining companies continue operating and develop Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives which are often promoted as a means of contributing to the sustainability and development of the nation. The paper develops a framework to highlight how the principles of stakeholder theory could be used as conceptual and practical guidance for conflict-resolution oriented CSR policies. The framework is further used to analyse two case studies of conflictive mining projects in Argentina. The paper explores how key stakeholders perceive contribution of CSR to welfare and the socio-economic development of mining communities and sustainable development of the nation. It demonstrates that institutional and social stakeholder networks often strongly oppose the idea of voluntary self-regulation implied by CSR in situations characterised by weak governance. Even though the CSR of companies could be improved in areas of corporate communication, transparency, stakeholder engagement and dialogue, it is not seen as a panacea for the social conflicts in the sector.     

RESOURCE DEMANDS FOR ENERGY DEVELOPMENT IN THE YELLOWSTONE RIVER BASIN1

ABSTRACT: This paper reports on the development of a mathematical model for forecasting energy development in the Yellowstone study area for the years 1985 and 2000, and determining the associated economic demands for water, land, labor, capital, and mineral resources. The study was prepared for use by the Missouri River Basin Commission in conducting a comprehensive, “Level B” planning study of the water and related land resources in the Yellowstone River Basin. The study results indicate that the amount of coal development in the Yellowstone study area will depend primarily upon state and federal energy policies and regulations. Policies related to slurry pipeline transportation of coal will be particularly important in determining the level and pattern of future energy development in the area. Coal production under the “most probable” scenario is expected to increase from about 40 million tons in 1976 to 163 million tons per year by 1985, and 513 million tons in the year 2000. Consumptive water use for energy development in the study area could be as much as 556,000 acre-feet per year by the year 2000 (under the high scenario). A parametric analysis was conducted on the 1985 most probably scenario to determine the influence on the study results of variations in the delivered price of water. Water requirements were reduced by nearly one-fourth as water costs increased from zero to over $750 per acre-foot.     

我国小型矿山的可持续发展战略

目前 ,我国小型矿山普遍存在着缺乏规划、设备简陋、工艺落后、管理和技术水平低、安全保障条件差、运销不畅以及职工素质低等问题 ,并由此造成的浪费资源、污染环境十分严重。当前 ,经济建设中 95%的能源和 80 %的原料依赖矿产资源供给 ,矿产资源探明的储量已显不足。进入 2 1世纪后 ,保证经济可持续发展的矿产资源更加不足 ,尤其是小型矿山要在 2 1世纪保持可持续发展成为一项非常艰巨的任务。     

Making private capital flows to developing countries environmentally sustainable: the policy challenge

The 1990s have seen a dramatic shift in capital flows into the developing world. Despite pledges made at the 1992 UNCED Conference in Rio de Janeiro, official development aid has declined in real terms. At the same time, private direct investment and lending to developing countries has risen from $44 billion at the beginning of this decade to $256 billion in 1997, supporting a record economic boom in the developing world. Developing countries have become significant sources of capital, as well as hosts to transnational corporations.
Cases illustrating the negative impacts of large investments under environmentally lax conditions are contrasted with the rise of environmental screening of funds by commercial entities, such as banks, insurance companies and investors. Although the new inflows of foreign capital may have brought the spread of Western consumerism, this new economic potential has also contributed cutting-edge environmental technologies, that may assist developing countries leapfrog over the most damaging phases of industrialization.
The article discusses the role of public lending agencies, international organizations and NGOs in setting the investment climate that determines the effects of foreign capital on the natural resources base, communities and the environment. Various mechanisms for defining environmental standards are discussed, and a more active role for governments and the United Nations is advocated.     

平朔矿区生态经济重建的意义及其内容

以处于生产鼎盛期的全国最大露天煤矿之一的平朔矿区为例,针对它与区域生态经济紧密相关的特点,分析它在生态经济方面存在的问题,研究生态经济重建对资源型区域可持续发展的作用,提出生态经济重建的主要内容.     

攀西地区农业开发条件、潜力与对策

攀西地区位于四川省的西南部,包括攀枝花市和凉山州的全部。幅员面积6.75万km~2,1988年末人口为437.3万人。攀西不仅矿产、水能资源举世瞩目,而且光热资源丰富,宜农荒地资源多,农业开发条件好、潜力大,是国家原材料、能源和农业开发的重点地区。本文拟就种植业为重点,对攀西农业开发条件、潜力和对策进行分析论证,以引起社会重视,使之尽快列为全国农业开发的重点区,进行先期开发。     

长吉图开发开放先导区固定资产投资效益及其滞后效应分析

随着国家对长吉图先导区经济发展支持力度的加大,对其固定资产投资将会进入一个高速增长时期。因此,通过切实提高长吉图先导区域的固定资产投资效益,对化解长吉图先导区乃至整个吉林省潜在的资金风险,实现区域经济的可持续发展具有极其重要的意义。在分析长吉图先导区固定资产投资与经济增长相关性的基础上,通过建立区域固定资产投资效益模型,全面系统地研究长吉图先导区固定资产的投资效益,并进一步建立投资效益的一期滞后模型。研究结果表明,长吉图先导区的经济增长与固定资产投资额之间密切相关,且滞后一期固定资产投资对长吉图先导区GDP增量的滞后效应最为显著。在实证研究的基础上,提出解决问题的有效措施以及具体的政策建议。     

Determinants of foreign direct investment in the mining sector in Asia: A comparison between China and India

The aim of this paper is to assess the conditions that influence foreign direct investment in the mineral industries of China and India. The paper first surveys literature on the determinants of foreign direct investment to identify key conditions, under which host countries attract mining FDI. It then builds an evaluative framework which allows for comparative analysis. The paper then comparatively evaluates the performance of foreign investment regimes that govern mineral industries in China and India. Its findings show that the overall conditions for foreign mining investment in China and India are not favourable and that substantial policy, regulatory and other changes in both countries need to be made if more investment is to flow.     

The cumulative dimensions of impact in resource regions

The development of mineral and energy resources worldwide has placed pressure on regional environments, economies and communities. The cumulative impacts, or cumulative effects, arising from overlapping development have stretched political systems that have traditionally been geared toward the regulation and management of individual resource developments, presenting challenges for policy makers, resource developers and civil society actors. An equally challenging task has been realisation of the potential development dividends of mineral and energy resources in the areas of business development, infrastructure, human development or the management of resource revenues. This paper introduces a special issue on ‘Understanding and Managing Cumulative Impacts in Resource Regions’. The special issue interrogates the effectiveness of new and traditional policy responses, explores methods and strategies to better respond to cumulative impacts, and details practical examples of collaborative and coordinated approaches. Papers cover a range of environmental, economic and social issues, geographical regions, commodities, and conceptual approaches. This introductory paper introduces the cumulative impact issues that have manifest in resource regions, critically appraises current conceptions of cumulative impacts, and details management and policy responses to address the cumulative dimensions of impact.     

Economic impact measurement and evaluation of China's investment in geological exploration: The empirical analysis based on the data from 1999 to 2009

With the continued growth in demand for mineral resources and China's efforts in increasing investment in geological prospecting, economic impact evaluation of geological exploration becomes a research hotspot.     

矿产资源经济区划的理论与方法

矿产资源经济区划是保护与合理开发利用矿产资源、实现资源优化配置和区域经济可持续发展的基础。本文依据经典的区位理论和地域分工理论,应用系统分析的方法,建立了矿产资源经济区划的一般程序,并归纳了定量分析中必要的技术手段和方法路线。