Who should decide and how do we trust the process?
The world needs metals and minerals to develop and countries need to benefit from the exploitation of their mineral deposits to fund development. Open pit copper mine at Kansanshi, Zambia,…
Can good neighbours lead to better development?
I've just read an article in the international edition of The Guardian, discussing experiences at the East Boulder Mine in Montana, USA, and asking whether a mining corporation can ever…
What is the legacy of a donor-funded development aid project?
This is a question that I have asked myself and others over the past 15 years or so. After you've read my comments below, I would like to get your…
Relocation to Zambia
As of mid-January 2017, I have relocated to Lusaka, Zambia, where I am Team Leader of the EU-funded Mineral Production Monitoring Support Project (MPMSP). I've already been contracted to Adam…
The real value of mining to a country’s economy
The linked article from a digital newspaper in Kenya, is very interesting and describes in just two pages something that I feel passionately about - that a mining industry in…
Second-hand gold mines shine bright
In a similar vein to my earlier post about the environmental liabilities of older mines, comes this linked article in the Daily Mail & Guardian about the maturing (ageing?) South African gold…
Who will eventually pay for mine rehabilitation?
The linked story in the Daily Mail & Guardian illustrates very well how important it is for governments to not 'trade down' ageing mines into a situation where it becomes…
Cafe Amsterdam in Ulaanbaatar
Yes, even here... No, I didn't go in. I was not keen to find out what Mongolians would make of bitterballen or a 'broodje kaas'...
A very interesting geological museum!
This afternoon I visited the Geological Museum here in Ulaanbaatar, hosted in the same buildings as the Mining Engineering School in the Mongolian University of Science and Technology. The curator…
American Independence Day celebrations in Mongolia
Yesterday was 6th July, but since the 4th had been on a weekday, there were American Independence Day celebrations held on the Saturday. Arranged by Brigitte Cummins, a German lady…