Description
Negotiation of mineral contracts in the global south, particularly African countries have been critiqued by scholars for several reasons including unbalanced terms of trade, forced negotiations or renegotiations, asymmetry of information on quantifying mineral deposits, pricing and supply chain. Despite these concerns contracts signed under inequitable terms are still binding. The unbalanced terms of such contracts prejudice most African countries that are host states to key minerals with higher prices such as gold, copper and Lithium. This paper asks: How can Africa’s mining industry be equitably included in world global trade? This paper departs from the conservative approach to inclusion where different stakeholders are invited in and of itself. Rather, it deploys a different tool (that is a technological breakthrough with the femtosecond laser ablation laser induced breakdown spectroscopy: fs-la-libs) of measuring minerals using Lithium as an exemplar. With this new technology, the quantity and quality of minerals such as Lithium can be accurately predicted. It also fulfills one crucial UN sustainable development global goal to ensure sustainable energy supply, green technology and environmental protection. This paper contends that leveraging this innovative technological advancement in mineral exploration will provide host African countries engaged in negotiations with precise and comprehensive value of their mineral resources, both quantitatively and qualitatively. This information can also be leveraged to aid in compliance with contractual obligations for sustainable mining in negotiating fair terms of mineral trade and supply chain. Apart from its importance in aiding symmetry of information to host countries in negotiating practices, it also ensures equitable inclusion in global mineral trade.
Keyword: sustainable mining; Africa, terms of trade; quantifying minerals; femtosecond laser ablation laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy
