THIRD MEETING OF APEC MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR MINING
Perth, Australia
14 February 2007
Joint Statement
The Third Meeting of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining was held in
Perth, Australia, on 14 February 2007.
1. We, the Ministers Responsible for Mining representing APEC Member
Economies, convened our Third Meeting in Perth, Australia, on 14 February 2007,
chaired by the Hon. Ian Macfarlane, Minister of Industry, Tourism and Resources
of Australia.
2. In the spirit of the APEC 2007 theme of "Strengthening our
community, building a sustainable future "and the MRM3 theme, "APEC -
Improving Leading Practice Sustainable Development in Mining", we recognised,
especially in the era of globalisation, the need for closer regional cooperation
for the sustainable development of the region's minerals resources. This view,
which should transcend borders, aims to foster sharing and prosperity,
recognising the different minerals resources endowments and development stages
of economies.
3. As noted in the first two APEC Meetings of Ministers Responsible for
Mining, we recognised that the Asia Pacific region is the main driver of global
economic growth and a significant producer and user of minerals and metals. Many
economies derive important economic and social benefits from their development,
trade and use. The mining and metals industry can effectively be an engine for
development. Resource endowment and minerals and metals usage varies
considerably between APEC member economies; making the relationship among
Ministers Responsible for Mining economies vital.
4. The meeting of Ministers Responsible for Mining provides Member Economies
with the opportunity to discuss the challenges arising for both producer and
consumer economies from the increasing demand for minerals and metals globally,
and the development of new technologies and applications which require new
material.
5. We welcomed the direct engagement of the region's mining industry through
the APEC Mining Industry Forum. We noted the recommendations in the Mining
Industry Forum's Chairman's report.
6. We discussed and analysed issues under three main themes: Global Supply
and Demand; Effective Governance; and Sustainable Development - Implementation
Global Supply and Demand
7. Recognising the importance of open and transparent markets as the most
efficient mechanism to allocate resources effectively, we noted that:
- Global minerals prices have risen, in some cases to historical levels.
- The APEC region accounts for a substantial share of world mineral
resources and utilisation and recycling is an increasingly important source
of supply for some materials.
- Understanding the trends and drivers for minerals commodities markets and
consistent collection and sharing of data would improve understanding of the
operation of minerals markets and enhance sustainable development.
- Trends and drivers as well as the degree of market transparency differ
between commodities. Governments can help improve transparency in minerals
markets by facilitating the provision of public or pre-competitive
information to the market.
Effective Governance
8. Recognising the importance of a balanced approach to regulation
complemented by mining sector initiatives, we noted that:
- A stable, well-designed and transparent regulatory framework can improve
an economy's attractiveness as an investment destination and facilitate
technology transfer.
- Regulatory frameworks should not be unduly prescriptive and should
establish performance goals and outcomes that are beyond minimum compliance.
- Regulatory frameworks should be flexible and enable industry to find
cost-effective ways to meet society's sustainable development expectations
in areas such as health, safety, environment, mine planning, design and
closure.
- Regulation can contribute to enhanced participation of local and
Indigenous communities in minerals, metals and mining development throughout
the life cycles of mining operations.
- Multi-stakeholder processes have introduced a range of initiatives to
better manage environmental and social issues arising from mining
operations, and these initiatives can be integrated into flexible regulatory
approaches.
Sustainable Development - Implementation
9. Recognising the importance of APEC producer and consumer economies taking
responsibility over the life cycle of minerals resources utilisation, and the
benefits of capacity building initiatives between APEC economies, we noted that:
- Life cycle partnerships involves participants working together to ensure
that mining materials and products are produced, consumed and disposed in a
responsible manner.
- There is a distinction between those parts of the life cycle where the
mining industry has a direct role, and those parts where there is a shared
concern.
- A life cycle approach can assist economies in identifying capacity
building priorities. Capacity building can occur on many levels:
institutional systems such as regulatory approaches, operational
improvements relating to mine sites, including through transfer of
technology and services, and community development and engagement.
Action Items
1. Recognising the importance of mining and metals to the growing integration
of APEC economies, Ministers agreed to the 10 APEC Mining Policy Principles. Our
agreement to the APEC Mining Policy Principles recognises that application of
these principles will be dependent on the specific circumstances of each Member
Economy.
i. Pursue policies that enhance the sustainable production, trade and
consumption of minerals and metals thereby improving the economic and social
wellbeing of our people.
ii. Foster regular exchange between member economies about experiences with
regulations, policies and practices and about significant developments in each
economy's minerals and metals sector.
iii. Promote the best possible functioning of global markets for minerals
and metals, through support for market transparency and facilitation of trade.
Export restrictions should be employed only in exceptional cases, and in
accordance with WTO rules.
iv. Foster investment certainty in the APEC minerals sector through the
pursuit of open minerals and metals markets and the articulation of clear and
predictable investment policies.
v. Promote cost effective, evidence based, transparent and objective-based
measures which improve the efficiency in the regulation of the minerals
industry to contribute to economic, environment and social development
outcomes.
vi. Encourage, support and promote initiatives by the minerals and metals
industry and stakeholders that contribute to national and international
sustainable development goals.
vii. Encourage research to develop and apply new minerals exploration,
extraction, and pollution control technologies that are more cost effective,
efficient, economically sound, environmentally responsible and socially
acceptable. Promote information exchange and cooperation on such technologies.
viii. In partnership with all life cycle participants, ensure that
materials and products made from minerals and metals are produced, consumed,
recycled or disposed of in a responsible manner.
ix. Encourage all participants in the life cycle of a material or product
to take direct responsibility for their area of action, and a shared concern
over other stages of the life cycle.
x. Support capacity building activities for sustainable development so that
all APEC Economies are able to maximise the benefits and minimise the impacts
from minerals resource development.
2. We agreed to study the impediments to greater trade and barriers to
investment in the minerals and mining industry. This study should:
- explore practical actions to deliver free trade and investment for
minerals and metals in the APEC region;
- link to other APEC fora, as appropriate, for input to the overarching
analysis to be conducted by APEC Senior Officials (SOM) for regional
economic integration; and
- include the Mining Industry Forum recommendations.
APEC Mining Working Group
3. Ministers noted the proposal to establish a Mining Working Group.
4. The Russian Federation accepted to chair the proposed Working Group for
2007-2008. Ministers instructed mining officials to work with The Russian
Federation, to develop a detailed proposal for the APEC Senior Officials meeting
on 22 June - 3 July 2007, including objectives, terms of reference and operating
procedures for submission to APEC Senior Officials and subsequently to the APEC
Ministerial meeting in September 2007.
5. The proposed Mining Working Group would replace the activities previously
conducted in the Group of Experts on Mineral and Energy Exploration and
Development (GEMEED) and the Non Ferrous Metals Dialogue (NFMD). The Mining
Working Group would be reviewed at the end of 2010.
6. We agreed that the proposed Mining Working Group would advance the mining
policy principles adopted at this meeting and address the issues raised by
industry.
7. We agreed to the proposed Mining Working Group developing a draft report
for submission to the UNCSD process, for consideration by APEC Senior Officials
prior to consideration by APEC Ministers Responsible for Mining at MRM4.
