MALI Law and Practice Contributed by: Fabiola Andriamalala and Felana Ranaivoson, John W Ffooks & Co
mental, social, and governance (ESG) standards within the mining sector. 2.8 Illegal Mining Illegal mining is a significant issue in Mali and poses challenges to the formal mining industry. The main issues in case of illegal mining are:
• partnerships with international organisations and NGOs that have supported infrastructure projects focusing on road construction, cor - ridors and energy access. Bad examples include: • artisanal gold mining, which has been prac - ticed for centuries and is a way of life for communities and an integral part of the socio-economic system of the region in ques - tion, but nonetheless leads to severe envi- ronmental degradation due to a lack environ - mental safeguards; and • certain mining projects that lead to tension between the community and operators due to inadequate environmental safeguards, in turn leading to environmental degradation such as land and water contamination.
• unregulated competition; • environmental damage; • high unemployment; and • economic damage and safety risks.
Illegal mining can take many forms, including mining activity in the absence of a mining licence and obtaining a licence by fraudulent means. The latter is punishable by a fine and imprison - ment, and even cancellation of the licence. In the event of mining activity in the absence of a mining licence, materials used in the activity are seized and brought to court. 2.9 Good and Bad Examples of Community Relations/Consultation Impacting Mining Projects In Mali, there are examples of both good and bad environmental and community relations sur - • the Diba Gold Project, where Altus Strategies implemented a long-term community devel - opment programme focused on health and education; • some mining operations that have funded vocational training centres equipping local residents with skills relevant to mining and related industries, creating better employment opportunities; and rounding mining projects. Good examples include:
3. Climate Change, Energy Transition and Sustainable Development in Mining 3.1 Climate Change Effects
Climate initiatives affect Mali’s mining sector through stricter requirements. Mali integrates strategic environmental assessments ( evaluation environnementale stratégique (EES)) into its min - ing policies and land use planning. This approach can enhance the mining sector’s contribution to sustainable development. In this regard, mining companies are adopting cleaner technologies and enhanced environmental standards. 3.2 Climate Change Legislation and Proposals Related to Mining No specific climate change legislation related to mining has been passed in Mali but discussions and initiatives are ongoing, particularly to align the sector with global sustainability goals. The
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