In this issue

Welcome to the latest issue of MINE Magazine.

This month, we look into a court ruling that has mandated a China-backed miner to pay wages and medical bills for a worker injured at its operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. While such a story ought not to be headline news, as the ruling simply upholds worker protections already enshrined in national law, any examples of individual employees securing legal victories over mining companies remains noteworthy. 

We ask if this ruling could set a new precedent for mining in other countries where the balance of power rests heavily in favour of the miners, especially wealthy foreign firms. With the world’s richest miners eager to expand and maintain their influence in an increasingly global industry, rulings like these could prove to be a critical reminder that, above all else, worker safety remains paramount. 

Elsewhere, we profile some of the world’s most in-demand precious minerals. With both rare earths and diamonds attracting more interest than ever, we ask how the world’s miners can diversify their supply, and ensure their recovery post-pandemic, in both the short and long-term. 

Human interest and technology also remain buzzwords within the mining industry, and with good reason. We commemorate International Women’s Day by speaking to Dr Eleonora Widzyk-Capehart about the experience of women in mining, and speak to Exodigo about its new technologies for use in the exploration and mapping sectors. 

For all this, and indeed more, read on.

JP Casey, editor