IGF Mining

05/08/2026

Indonesia’s role in global nickel market supply is expanding rapidly.

Policy shifts, including export restrictions on raw nickel ore, have driven a surge in domestic processing and strengthened downstream value addition.

Today, Indonesia produces over half of the world’s mined nickel and around three‑quarters of global nickel pig iron (NPI) and mixed hydroxide precipitate (MHP) output, making it the world’s dominant supplier of stainless‑steel and battery‑grade nickel intermediates.

What does this mean for global markets, governance, and responsible mining?

The latest in our series of country profiles explores the opportunities and the risks.

🔎 https://www.igfmining.org/resource/country-profile-factsheets/

04/23/2026

NEW ANALYSIS | Zambia can boost economic diversification, job creation, and poverty reduction by expanding its copper processing and manufacturing, in line with its plans to increase copper mine output.

In the near term, copper smelting and refining offer the largest and most feasible export gains, building on existing capabilities and infrastructure.

Over the longer term, copper-based manufacturing can support diversification and technological upgrading.

Key priorities to support the expansion of Zambia’s copper-based industries include:

⚡Greater, more reliable electricity supply to industry
💵 Improving access to affordable finance for local firms
🎓 Upgrading worker skills and R&D
📈 Streamlining trade and logistics costs
⛏️ Improving access to feedstock

Success also depends on government alignment—without coordinated policies across energy, trade, and skills, mixed signals can erode investor confidence and weaken results.

And strong environmental and social safeguards are essential for Zambia to create lasting value from copper, especially as its low carbon energy mix offers a chance to market cleaner copper globally.

More 👉 https://www.igfmining.org/resource/leveraging-copper-economic-transformation-zambia/

04/20/2026

NEW | Our latest case study describes environmental and associated social impacts from nickel mining and processing in Ontario, Canada, and examines policy measures for managing them.

The conclusions and lessons learned from this case study can be used to guide sustainable nickel sulfide ore mining and processing in Canada, as well as other jurisdictions.

Ontario’s experience shows how collaboration and strong regulation can help manage the environmental and social impacts of nickel mining.

While nickel sulfide mining generally has a smaller footprint than other types of extraction, it still presents challenges that require careful, long-term management to protect water quality and local ecosystems.

As demand for critical minerals like nickel continues to grow, robust planning tools such as regional assessments will be essential for identifying and managing cumulative impacts early on.

📘 Explore how Ontario’s approach offers valuable lessons for governments developing their own critical mineral strategies in our new case study 👉 https://www.igfmining.org/resource/nickel-mining-ontario-canada/

04/14/2026

📢 We're pleased to welcome Daniel Hill as the new Chair of our Executive Committee.

Daniel has spent his career working at the intersection of mining, economics, and international cooperation, helping governments make sure that natural resource wealth works for everyone.

"Canada brings a uniquely balanced perspective—as both a major mineral producer and a recent G7 leader shaping global priorities. Daniel brings this dual expertise.

"His leadership will be instrumental in strengthening IGF’s support to its member countries, and in advancing our mission and to help governments turn their mineral wealth into lasting benefits for people and communities," said Isabelle Ramdoo, IGF Director.

We look forward to working closely with Daniel and the rest of the Executive Committee as we continue to strengthen mining governance worldwide. 🌍

04/08/2026

Did you know that nickel is in your phone, your kitchen, and your electric car? Or that one country now produces nearly 60% of the world's supply? 🔩

Indonesia's rise from 9% to 59% of global nickel production in just a decade is one of the most dramatic shifts in any critical minerals market. And with battery demand set to surge, nickel is only going to become more important.

The IGF's new commodity profile on nickel breaks down the full picture — from geology and mining to trade, pricing, recycling, and the environmental footprint of different production routes.

👉 Read it now: https://www.igfmining.org/resource/commodity-profile-factsheets

04/01/2026

Did you know an estimated 20% of the world's gold comes from artisanal and small-scale miners — over 15 million people across more than 80 countries?

Yet much of this gold reaches global markets through informal networks, undermining the revenues and livelihoods it should be generating — and leaving mining communities vulnerable to exploitation by criminal groups.

The Global Coalition for Action on ASGM, a partnership between the IGF, the World Gold Council, and the World Bank Group, is working to change that.

Through governance frameworks, working groups, and country-level platforms, the Coalition is bringing together governments, industry, miners, and civil society to formalize ASGM and promote responsible gold supply chains.

Read our new blog to learn about the Coalition's work — including early progress in Brazil — and what it will take to turn illicit flows into responsible gold.

More 🔗 https://www.igfmining.org/illicit-flows-responsible-gold-asgm/

03/31/2026

When a mine stops operating, the work isn't over — it's just beginning. Responsible mine closure can protect the environment, safeguard communities, and prevent the creation of abandoned sites that can cause harm for decades.

With support from BGR and BMZ, the IGF has been working directly with governments in Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, Timor-Leste, and Zambia to help them better plan for and manage mine closure. From week-long government training sessions to reviewing draft national policy frameworks, our team provided hands-on support where it was needed.

We're also developing global tools that countries everywhere can use to raise their standards.

More 🔗https://www.igfmining.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/building-sustainable-mine-closure-frameworks.pdf

03/27/2026

Our new commodity profile on copper is packed with everything you need to know about one of the most critical metals powering the transition to low-carbon energy systems. ⚡🔌

From electric vehicles to wind turbines and smartphones, copper is everywhere. But did you know global copper demand is expected to grow by over 40% by 2040, or that recycling supplied ~20% of global copper in 2025? Or that just one country controls half of global copper smelting and refining?

Our new factsheet breaks down the numbers — supply, demand, prices, environmental risks, and more — to help governments make informed decisions about their copper sectors.

👉 Read it now: https://www.igfmining.org/resource/commodity-profile-factsheets/

03/24/2026

The IGF recently joined representatives from across Southeast Asia at the 15th Joint Working Group Meeting of ASEAN Minerals Cooperation in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The meeting brought together delegates from ASEAN member states, The ASEAN Secretariat, and key dialogue and development partners including UN ESCAP, CCOP Technical Secretariat, ERIA: Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, Asian Development Bank (ADB), Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), and the UK.

IGF Asia-Pacific regional coordinator Murtiani Hendriwardani presented a high-level update on the ASEAN-IGF partnership, highlighting key achievements under the joint workplan and the technical assistance and capacity building activities delivered to member countries. Delegates were also introduced to proposed new initiatives shaping the partnership's next phase.

The updated workplan broadens cooperation into emerging areas that directly respond to member priorities under the ASEAN Minerals Cooperation Action Plan IV (AMCAP-IV) 2026–2030 and the ASEAN Minerals Development Vision (AMDV) 2045, and aligns with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) Strategic Plan 2026–2030.

As the region looks ahead, the minerals sector, with its deep connections to trade, investment, innovation, and sustainability, is set to play an increasingly strategic role in shaping ASEAN's economic future.

03/12/2026

NEW | We’ve just launched a new training resource that captures the outcomes and curriculum from our recent work in Dakar.

During a three-day strategy workshop in collaboration with UEMOA in Dakar, Senegal, IGF experts facilitated discussions on regional collaboration to overcome barriers for women in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).

If you’re looking for technical insights into ASM governance, inclusive formalization, or addressing the structural barriers that women ASM miners face in the UEMOA region, this summary covers the seven key focus areas we addressed.

Topics included:

🚧 Barriers to participation
❗Health and safety challenges facing women
🔷 Considerations for gender inclusive mine waste systems

You can explore the full training details and the path forward for women in ASM here:

A three-day capacity building and strategy workshop in Dakar, Senegal, on gender equality in artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM).