Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-16DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105624
Justine Marty , Salomée Ruel
{"title":"Unpacking the interconnected challenges of rare metals supply chains: A systematic literature network analysis and conceptual framework","authors":"Justine Marty , Salomée Ruel","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105624","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105624","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The strategic importance of rare metals, essential to produce high-tech devices and green technologies, is increasingly recognized in today's global economy and highly uncertain geopolitical context. However, their supply chains (SCs) are fraught with complexities due to geographical concentration, environmental impact, and ethical concerns. This study addresses the pressing research question: “How do existing research streams on rare metals SCs address the complex, interconnected challenges within these SCs?” By employing a Systematic Literature Network Analysis (SLNA), this research provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge in the field, integrating both quantitative bibliometric analysis and qualitative content analysis. The key contribution of this study is the development of a conceptual framework that synthesizes insights from the literature, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of rare metals SCs. This framework emphasizes the critical need for resilient, and ethically managed supply networks that can face challenges posed by these materials. The findings suggest that while significant progress has been made, substantial gaps remain in understanding and addressing the full spectrum of issues within rare metals SCs. This study not only maps the intellectual landscape of the field but also provides strategic directions for future research, aiming to enhance the sustainability and resilience of SCs in the context of rare metals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"106 ","pages":"Article 105624"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144071168","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-16DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105601
Charlotte Taylor , Hannah Gold , David Watson , Anthony Darby , Richard Ball , Tim Ibell , Will Hawkins
{"title":"On solid ground: Assessing the scale-up potential of structural stone in the UK","authors":"Charlotte Taylor , Hannah Gold , David Watson , Anthony Darby , Richard Ball , Tim Ibell , Will Hawkins","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105601","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105601","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Concrete, a ubiquitous material in construction, is primarily composed of crushed limestone bound by cement, the production of which accounts for over 8% of global carbon emissions. Solid stone, in contrast, requires significantly less energy to produce, with its processing limited to extraction, cutting, and transportation. This makes it an increasingly attractive low-carbon alternative. Recent collaborations between structural engineers and stonemasons in the UK have demonstrated the technical feasibility of load-bearing and prestressed stone building systems. However, the potential for scaling up the use of structural stone in construction remains largely unexplored. To assess the scale-up potential of structural stone in the UK, our research employed a qualitative and quantitative design involving 19 in-depth interviews with stone quarry and mine managers across the UK and Europe. We found that, as perceived by our sample of interviewees, the biggest reported bottleneck to scaling up structural stone production in the UK is the availability and cost of labour; that a change in architectural preference of aesthetics and stone sizes could reduce waste, energy use and drive down costs; that there is lack of demand for structural stone products despite the increasing interest in it as a low-carbon material; that the decarbonisation potential of stone rests on investment in the sector; and that the total stone resource is not limiting but the process to extend existing, or open new, quarries needs streamlining to allow for rapid scale up. We anticipate our study to be a foundation for strategic planning and investment, enabling stone to reduce the embodied emissions of buildings and be produced economically at scale.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"106 ","pages":"Article 105601"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144071169","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-15DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105623
Manuel Bellanger , Pierre Scemama , Denis Bailly , Shani Friedman , Ugo Massé , Joëlle Richard , Olivier Thébaud
{"title":"A stakeholder perspective on the drivers and barriers influencing the emergence of deep-sea mining","authors":"Manuel Bellanger , Pierre Scemama , Denis Bailly , Shani Friedman , Ugo Massé , Joëlle Richard , Olivier Thébaud","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The identification of drivers and barriers influencing the initiation of commercial deep-sea mining (DSM) is key to developing research approaches to support the development of adequate DSM management frameworks. This study aims to provide a systems-level understanding of DSM drivers and barriers integrating both academic literature and diverse stakeholder perspectives (industry, NGOs, policy-makers, and academic researchers). To this end, we carry out a political, economic, social, technological, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) analysis combining the results of a literature survey, a participatory workshop, and semi-structured interviews. The results provide a broad overview of scientific knowledge and uncertainties relating to DSM drivers and barriers identified in the literature, alongside a synthesis of emerging perspectives and concerns expressed by stakeholders during the participatory workshop and interviews. The discussion highlights both areas of consensus and divergence across stakeholder groups and the literature, as well as a critical reflection on the relevance and limitations of the PESTEL approach, highlighting research needs to further support holistic decision making around DSM.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"105 ","pages":"Article 105623"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143949100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-13DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105622
Kadagde Dalam Debonheur
{"title":"Natural resource rents and non-resource tax revenue mobilization in selected developing countries","authors":"Kadagde Dalam Debonheur","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This paper examines the effects of natural resource rents on domestic public revenue mobilization, particularly focusing on non-resource tax revenues, in 59 developing countries over a period from 1996 to 2021. Using the two-step system GMM method, our results show that total natural resource rents are negatively associated with non-resource revenue mobilization and positively associated with total revenue mobilization. Specifically, non-renewable natural resources, such as oil and natural gas, are not conducive to non-resource tax revenue mobilization. Our results suggest that while energy (oil, natural gas, and coal) and non-energy (forestry and mining) resources are not conducive to non-resource revenue mobilization, they do contribute positively to total revenue mobilization. Additionally, public investment, grants, and control of corruption are positively associated with non-resource tax revenue mobilization. These findings study highlight the need for developing country governments to diversify their revenue sources, strengthen the transparency and efficiency of tax management, and invest in institutional quality to promote sustainable, sustained tax mobilization conducive to environmental sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"105 ","pages":"Article 105622"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143937697","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105604
Cecília Santiago Santos , Mariangela Garcia Praça Leite , Hernani Mota de Lima
{"title":"Integrated mine closure planning adherence Index: a new approach for evaluating mine closure plans","authors":"Cecília Santiago Santos , Mariangela Garcia Praça Leite , Hernani Mota de Lima","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105604","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105604","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The evaluation of adherence to Integrated Mine Closure Planning (IMCP) contributes to improved closure risk management and strategy development, facilitating the achievement of desired closure outcomes and intended post-mining land use. IMCP should provide mining companies with an early identification of risks, build a positive legacy to affected communities, encompassing physical and chemical stability, socio-economic transition, and financial considerations. Based on international best practices and legal requirements for mine closure, an Integrated Mine Closure Planning Adherence Index (IMCPAI) was developed and applied to 8 closure plans from iron mines located in Brazil. The IMCPAI is a weighted checklist comprising 21 requirements, distributed across four categories: (i) knowledge base, (ii) integrated mine closure planning, (iii) stakeholder engagement and economic and social transition, and (iv) execution of closure actions. The performance of each category was evaluated, and the respective adherence level was calculated. The majority of the mines demonstrated a moderate adherence to IMCP evaluated. The integrated closure planning category achieved the best overall performance, suggesting a significant gap between theoretical principles and practical application of mine closure on the other analyzed categories. The IMCPAI proposed in the present study has the potential to enhance the quality of mine closure plans. It enables mining companies and interested parties to assess the efficacy of their IMCP strategies at the outset of a mine's operations, allowing adjustments and improvements in time to ensure the achievement of closure objectives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"105 ","pages":"Article 105604"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143917938","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-07DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105610
George Ofosu , Francis Arthur-Holmes
{"title":"Transforming Ghana's ASM industry: The intersection of ‘mining schemes’ and stakeholder collaboration","authors":"George Ofosu , Francis Arthur-Holmes","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105610","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105610","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Weak institutional frameworks related to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations have exposed many mineral-rich countries to negative environmental consequences. In Ghana, for example, mining-related environmental challenges led to a total ban on ASM activities in 2017. In light of this, the government of Ghana launched a programme dubbed the ‘Community Mining Scheme’ (CMS), premised on multi-stakeholder cooperation, as an alternative to illegal mining. Recently, however, the new (NDC led) government has disbanded the scheme, proposing to replace it with a new scheme – mining cooperatives – which are also expected to be operationalised by local mining communities and other stakeholders. Thus, this study employs a stakeholder analysis framework to examine the roles and agency of the various stakeholders expected to operationalise the framework and structure of the new scheme. We delineate ways by which mining authorities can tap into the synergies of the various stakeholders in order to achieve sustainable mining practices. We conclude by encouraging future research to go further to place the CMS discussion more accurately into the context of how far the project grew, and possibly explore the challenges that confronted the project, so as to provide insights that could either help reshape policy or refine ideas about the new ‘mining cooperatives’ scheme.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"105 ","pages":"Article 105610"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-06DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105606
Keiran Doyle , Kathryn Moore , Patrick Foster
{"title":"Criteria-driven socio-environmental maturity modelling for mining: driving positive sustainability attitudes and perceptions at diverse operational scales","authors":"Keiran Doyle , Kathryn Moore , Patrick Foster","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105606","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105606","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We research whether real-terms change can be created by considering the socio-environmental impacts of mining from a position of care, such as that already demonstrated in safety culture. Socio-environmental culture, the prevailing attitudes and perceptions towards risk, is used to emphasise the reciprocal interdependencies between environment and people. Social and environmental maturity models were formulated for risks in formalised, regulated mining and mining practitioners self-scrutinised their performance against the 4 levels of culture maturity in the models. Self-assessment studies revealed that sites performed best in local employment and stakeholder relationships but fell short in post-closure planning and emergency preparedness. Bowtie analysis was utilised to further validate the models in the context of hypothetical end-member scenarios of immature and mature companies managing tailings permits. We discuss how this self-assessment can facilitate dialogue and highlight assumptions in a company's cultural development, and we debate what constitutes sustainable, customary philanthropy principles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"105 ","pages":"Article 105606"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143912199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-05DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105598
Theodorah Jarijari , Abraham Deka , Behiye Cavusoglu
{"title":"The synergistic role of natural resources, green finance and green technological innovations in promoting environmental sustainability in Sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"Theodorah Jarijari , Abraham Deka , Behiye Cavusoglu","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105598","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105598","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The general belief that natural resources are a curse in developing nations, where they are available in abundance because of political instability and corruption problems, is a cause of concern. This research adds to the growing body of knowledge by showing that natural resources rents support environmental sustainability. The study also investigates the influence of technological innovation, with an index generated with the Principal Component Analysis, financial development and Green Finance on environmental sustainability. The data of the forty-three Sub-Saharan African nations according to data availability for the period 2000 to 2023 is used. The Methods of Moments Quantile Regression technique is used in the analysis; thereby presenting reliable findings where heterogeneity and cross-sectional dependency issues are present. To check the findings robustness, the Panel Correlated Standard Errors and Feasible Generalized Least Squares techniques are employed. The research findings show that natural resources rents lower ecological footprint; hence, reduces the deterioration of the environment. This contradicts the notion that natural resources are a curse in the developing nations. Green finance and renewable energy are fundamental in ensuring the achievement of environmental quality. Moreover, financial development only supports environmental sustainability in the short-term and become detrimental in the long-term. However, technological innovations and government effectiveness promotes the deterioration of the environment through raising ecological footprint. Major policy recommendations call for the improvement in the natural resources for supporting environmental sustainability. International funds received to support green technologies should be used for the intended purpose and this can be achieved by lowering corruption levels.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"105 ","pages":"Article 105598"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143903942","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-05DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105602
Paul Hallwood
{"title":"Deep sea mining, developing legal regime, bonus bidding and the sharing of economic rents","authors":"Paul Hallwood","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105602","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105602","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 1970s proposals to create a new international economic order led to the present, inefficient, deep sea mining legal regime. The 1994 Implementation Agreement aimed to maximize shares in economic rents for low-income countries. However, the still incomplete distribution of lease blocks system, based on administrative allocation by the International Seabed Authority, is unlikely to achieve this. Much of the economic rents may well accrue to private companies and countries such as China, who have been allocated the 31 existing lease blocks. It is argued here that a system of lease block first-price bonus bidding should be given serious consideration as it could increase the share of rents going to low-income countries, as well as bring them forward in time.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"105 ","pages":"Article 105602"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143903941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Resources PolicyPub Date : 2025-05-05DOI: 10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105609
Arsène Aurelien Njamen Kengdo , Victor Kitio
{"title":"The defence sector faces the resource curse: Effect of natural resource rents on defence spending in Sub-Saharan Africa","authors":"Arsène Aurelien Njamen Kengdo , Victor Kitio","doi":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105609","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.resourpol.2025.105609","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the effect of natural resource rents (NRR) on military spending in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) from 1996 to 2021. The study employs the system Generalized Method of Moments and establishes three main results. First, military spending is negatively affected by coal, forest, mineral, and natural gas rents but positively affected by oil rents. Second, institutional quality plays a role in the link between NRR and military spending, mainly through corruption. Third, robustness checks indicate that all these results are sensitive to country characteristics but robust to the instrumental variable two-stage least squares and Driscoll and Kraay's fixed effects methods. Additionally, the use of forest and natural gas rent to finance military spending is driven by several factors, including cross-border conflicts, economic risk, ethnic tensions, military involvement in politics, external debt risk, and inflation risk. Therefore, reforms of military institutions in SSA are essential, and they should consider respect for universal standards of public spending and the fight against corruption. In this sense, the preparation and execution of military expenditures must be subject to administrative, parliamentary, and jurisdictional controls. Creating anti-corruption units within the ministries responsible for Defence and Security is strongly encouraged. Besides, diplomatic efforts in conflict resolution, economic development measures, and risk management policies could help reassess priorities regarding defence spending.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":20970,"journal":{"name":"Resources Policy","volume":"105 ","pages":"Article 105609"},"PeriodicalIF":10.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143908272","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"经济学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}