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The IGF Welcomes Chad as 61st Member, Applauds Commitment to Mining Sustainably

October 12, 2017

The Government of Chad expressed its commitment to good governance of the extractives industry by joining the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF).

“We are pleased to welcome Chad as the 61st member of the IGF,” IGF Director Greg Radford said. “Every nation that joins the IGF brings a unique perspective and adds depth to the dialogue. We look forward to Chad’s participation and applaud their commitment to leveraging mining for sustainable development.”

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Chad is eager to learn from the experiences of fellow IGF members and appreciates the opportunity to benefit from the capacity building services offered by the IGF Secretariat, said Youssouf Abassalah, Minister of Mines, Geology and Quarries. “Our overarching objective is diversified economic growth, including the mining sector which offers a solid source of revenue creation. Through our work with the IGF, we hope to grow the list of responsible investors who can spur industrial development of our mining sector while also working to improve our capacity for good governance and responsible management of our natural resources.”

The mining sector contributes to around 2–4 per cent of Chad’s gross domestic product. Construction materials—including clay, gravel, limestone—dominate the sector and are extracted by both artisanal and industrial miners. Chad also has a small contingent of artisanal gold miners.

“In the next five to ten years, Chad expects to complete its geological survey in order to augment its understanding of the nation’s mining potential and to promote this opportunity for national and international mining investors. We are also working to formalize the artisanal and small-scale mining sector,” the minister added.

“To achieve these objectives, we are currently researching methods to finance a geological survey, the establishment of a national mining research center and a mining cadastre which will allow for transparent access to mining rights and geological data. We established a clear mining policy in July 2017 and are revising our mining laws to reflect our sustainable development objectives, with a focus on: formalizing the artisanal and small-scale mining sector; adjusting the tax system and fiscal incentives; and industrializing the sector.”

The IGF is a voluntary partnership that welcomes any member state of the United Nations. It supports 61 nations committed to leveraging mining for sustainable development to ensure that negative impacts are limited and financial benefits are shared. The IGF is devoted to optimizing the benefits of mining to achieve poverty reduction, inclusive growth, social development and environmental stewardship.

The IGF is focused on improving resource governance and decision making by governments working in the sector. It provides a number of services to members, including: in-country assessments; capacity building and individualized technical assistance; and guidance documents and conferences that explore best practices and provide an opportunity to engage with industry and civil society.

These efforts are largely framed by IGF’s flagship policy guidance and assessment tool, the Mining Policy Framework (MPF). The MPF lays out international best practices in six key pillars of mining policy and law: the legal and policy environment, financial benefit optimization, socioeconomic benefit optimization, environmental management, mine closure and post-mining transitions, and artisanal and small-scale mining. 

The International Institute for Sustainable Development has served as Secretariat for the IGF since October 2015. Core funding is provided by the Government of Canada.