Protecting Water in the Mining Rush: Lessons from Africa and Southeast Asia

Amid the global rush to secure critical minerals, there is a growing spotlight on mining’s impact on water, from extraction practices that strain water availability in dry regions to water pollution from mining waste. In mainland Southeast Asia, the Stimson Center’s Southeast Asia Program is tracking the proliferation of unregulated mining alongside rivers, exploring implications for local communities, riparian ecosystems, and agricultural production. In Africa, a series of toxic spills in Zimbabwe and the DRC, and the recent tailings dam collapse at a copper mine in Zambia, have repeatedly underscored how mining accidents can contaminate water that local people rely on for drinking, cooking, and farming. When these impacts are felt acutely by communities on the ground, it can spark pushback, litigation, or social conflict, with cascading impacts on instability and supply chain insecurity. This virtual event, hosted in advance of World Water Day, will explore the impact of mining—including mining for minerals used in clean energy technologies—on communities’ access to clean, safe water. Speakers will share concrete examples of how these challenges are playing out on the ground and highlight promising efforts to protect water resources as demand for minerals continues to grow.