As the global energy transition accelerates, so does the demand for critical raw materials. But this raises a fundamental question: can responsible mining truly exist? In this episode of RAW MATTERS, host Peter Tom Jones and co-host Julia Poliscanova are joined by Cecilia Mattea (IRMA) to unpack one of the most pressing dilemmas of the energy transition.
🎯 What you’ll learn in this episode:
• Why more mining is unavoidable – even under the most optimistic circular economy scenarios
• What “responsible mining” actually means in practice – beyond slogans and green claims
• How IRMA works as a global standard for environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance (examples covered: Imerys’ EMILI project in France; Eramet in Senegal; AngloAmerican in South Africa, Brazil, Peru and Chile; Novandino in Chile]
• Why third-party audits and scoring systems matter for building trust across supply chains
• The true cost of responsible mining – and why it is surprisingly small compared to total project investments
• Europe’s mining paradox (“The elephant in the room”): ambitious policy goals vs. strong local resistance to new projects
• Whether Europe is outsourcing environmental and social impacts through continued reliance on imports
• How to balance urgency and legitimacy – fast-tracking projects vs. meaningful community engagement (including FPIC)
• What recent Nordic debates reveal about (reindeer-herding Sami) tensions between speed, scale, and social acceptance
• The growing role of EU policy and due diligence, including the Battery Regulation and corporate sustainability frameworks
• Why responsible mining is central to the credibility of the energy transition itself
🎙️ Why this episode mattersWithout trust, transparency and accountability, the mining projects needed to decarbonise our economies may simply not happen.
🎧 RAW MATTERS is your go-to podcast on the geopolitics, sustainability and future of critical raw materials.
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