Formalizing Small-Scale Mining: A Key to Achieving Just Transition

The concept of a fair shift to low-carbon, sustainable economies and societies, known as “Just Transition”, is well established in the energy sector. However, it remains largely unexplored in regard to small-scale mining, despite clear interconnections. The sector programme “Extractives and Development” brought together international experts in a digital roundtable to delve into this nexus.

Although artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) hardly contributes to climate change, a lack of regulation often causes environmental damage such as deforestation, soil erosion and water pollution. At the same time, ASM is a crucial source of income for millions of people in African countries and increasingly plays an important role in producing critical minerals for the energy and mobility transition. Nevertheless, the sector is often stigmatized as illegal and harmful, which reinforces its historical marginalization.

Against this backdrop, the sector programme “Extractives and Development” hosted a digital roundtable titled “Advancing Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining Formalization as a Just Transition Strategy” on 22 July 2025. The panelists Mkhululi N. Ncube (African Minerals Development Center), Jonathan Hamisi (Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development), Joyce Machiri (Zimbabwe Environmental Law Association) and Gavin Hilson (University of Surrey) shared valuable insights. Judy Hofmeyr (Africa Policy Research Institute) gave opening remarks, while Elena Weinreich (GIZ) moderated the discussion. Around 70 participants attended the session.

Fairness and Access to Energy as Basic Right

In her opening remarks, Judy Hofmeyr emphasized that formalization only contributes to Just Transition when it is fair. It is important to offer ASM stakeholders support mechanisms rather than simply enforcing measures. Jonathan Hamisi added that Just Transition has different meanings for various actors: many ASM communities do not have access to energy. Thus, the debate on the ASM-Just Transition-Nexus should not be limited to the supply of critical raw materials but also address energy poverty and the interests of miners.

Overcoming Structural Marginalization

Gavin Hilson pointed out that the mining policies of African countries have historically favoured large-scale mining and excluded ASM, particularly in the context of structural adjustment programmes. This problem still exists, as the export ban on raw lithium ore in Zimbabwe shows: despite the aim of fostering local value creation, small-scale miners lost access to the market due to a lack of processing capacity. Joyce Machiri warned against marginalizing ASM amid the energy and mobility transition and the increasing demand for critical raw materials, which often benefits large companies providing fewer livelihood prospects.

Shaping Global Extractive Policy

Mkhululi N. Ncube criticized global structures that reinforce unjust extraction systems at the disadvantage of African countries, which hampers ASM formalization at the national level. A Just Transition therefore requires structural reforms for global resource justice. In this context, the African Green Minerals Strategy (AGMS) (External link) is a promising framework that promotes local processing of critical minerals, supports the electrification of the continent and helps ASM actors to move up the value chain.

The session concluded with a lively audience discussion, highlighting the strong interest in the nexus between ASM and Just Transition. As Jonathan Hamisi pointed out, the webinar laid “important groundwork” for future discussions.