The short answer is that both concepts are myths.
The long answer is that “Responsible Mining” is the current term applied to the framework of the government for the revitalization of the mining industry. This was a modification of the “Sustainable Mining” approach being espoused by the Mines, Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) paradigm at the international level.
However, global environmental groups successfully debunked the concept of “Sustainable Mining” forcing the industry to replace it with the term: “Responsible Mining.”
The framework of Responsible Mining is very impressive. However, what is not easily apparent is that there has yet to be any large-scale mining operation that has completed the whole cycle of the model yet. What the model provides are examples of best practices from DIFFERENT and VARIOUS operations happening in DIFFERENT countris. The model has not been successfully closed or “looped-in” in one single mining operation in a specific area.
In our own analysis, the concept of responsible mining is a weak model, because:
A. It relies on the voluntary compliance of large-scale mining companies.
B. It highly depends on the ability of the government to enforc/ implement safeguards articulated in national laws.
C. It does not address the issue of corporate and state graft and corruption, a scenario that is not uncommon in extractive industries or third world countries.
D. There is only token recognition of safeguards such as the particiaptory decision making process, the free prior and informed consent process, the Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Compliance Certificate and so on.