Oakland Institute report warns of mining's
A new report from the Oakland Institute warns the global scramble for critical minerals is devastating land and water, with African nations bearing a heavy cost.
A new report from the US-based Oakland Institute think tank warns that the global rush for critical minerals is waging a war on people and the planet. The analysis, titled "RUSH: Global Scramble for Minerals Wages War on People and Planet," directly challenges the narrative that expanded mining is primarily for the green energy transition.
Frederic Mousseau, policy director at the Oakland Institute, stated the intensification of mineral extraction has already had devastating consequences worldwide. He warned that the projected expansion to meet soaring global demand will only perpetuate the destruction of land, livelihoods, and waters.
Soaring demand beyond green tech
Global demand for critical minerals is projected to increase drastically over the next two to three decades. Historical production figures show staggering growth between 2000 and 2024.
| Mineral | Production Increase (2000-2024) |
|---|---|
| Nickel | 187 per cent |
| Rare Earth Elements | 329 per cent |
| Lithium | 1,602 per cent |
The International Energy Agency forecasts that total mineral demand from clean energy technologies will at least double by 2040. Demand for six key minerals - copper, graphite, lithium, cobalt, rare earth elements, and nickel - is expected to skyrocket.
However, the Oakland Institute report found that most critical minerals produced today do not end up in green energy. Sectors like solar, wind, battery storage, and renewable power networks together account for only about a fifth of total demand. The remaining majority is consumed by defense and aerospace, conventional transport, AI data centers, and construction.
The high stakes for Africa
Africa, home to 30 per cent of the world's known mineral reserves, faces particularly high stakes. Currently, mineral-producing countries on the continent process less than 15 per cent of their output domestically. Most value-added processing occurs abroad, though some governments are pursuing more local industrialisation.
The report questions whether increased local control over mining and processing will actually generate more value for communities or create local jobs. Frederic Mousseau posed a critical question about equity. "Where will equity be if extraction takes place against the will of the people living on the land that is destroyed, drinking water that is contaminated, and breathing toxic air," he asked.
He highlighted Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo as stark examples of the risks. In Zambia, copper mines consume over half of the country's electricity, while only 43 per cent of households are connected to the national grid. In the DRC, mining operations use more than 60 per cent of generated electricity, yet less than a fifth of the population has access to power. The report's findings on these impacts provide a sobering set of statistics on resource distribution.
A plan for expanded devastation
The report outlines a troubling trajectory for nations already scarred by extraction. Mousseau described the intent to massively expand copper and cobalt mining in countries with long histories of negative impacts. He said the plan proceeds in nations where decades of extraction have already led to land grabbing, massive pollution of waterways, and the destruction of livelihoods. This pattern of exploitation shows a clear winner and loser.
The source for this story is Mongabay.com, which published the original report with permission.
