Mining in the Asia-Pacific

This book provides the most comprehensive survey of mining activity and the principal challenges confronting the resources industry in the Asia-Pacific region today, and presents new theoretical and practical insights into the political and business risks faced by mining companies operating in the region from both academic and corporate perspectives. It focuses on the exploration, production and trade of the principal commodities coal, iron ore, uranium, oil and gas, and gold, as well as the emerging commodities unconventional gas and rare earth minerals, provides the reader with a valuable understanding of resource activity in the region. In addition, it also integrates and draws attention to eight key issue areas which have the potential to pose significant risks, challenges and opportunities for the industry going forward, which include sustainable development, resource governance and economic contributions, declining ore grades and territorial expansion, community aspects of mining, mining and indigenous peoples, climate change, and impact assessment. The contributors to this volume are experts in their respective fields, and the diversity of voices makes this book a must read for scholars, industry participants, investors and policy-makers with an interest in mining in the Asia-Pacific.

Contenu
Introduction.- Section One: Overview of Risk, Regulation and Investment in the Resource Sector in the Asia-Pacific.- Theorising political risk in the mining sector.- Regulatory regimes, foreign mining investment and risk in the Asia-Pacific region: comparative evaluation and policy implications.- Determinants of foreign direct investment in the mining sector.- The return of resource nationalism?.- Social and business risk and the resources sector.- A corporate view of risk and regulation in the mining industry.- The Resources.- Iron ore.- Coal.- Uranium.- Rare earth minerals.- Oil and gas.- Unconventional gas.- Gold and copper.- Section Three: The Main Issues.- Mining and sustainable development.- Resource governance and economic considerations.- Corporate social responsibility and reputation risk.- Declining ore grades and territorial expansion.- Community aspects of mining (opposition/protest, community development, community relations, FIFO, human rights, etc.).- Mining and indigenous peoples.- Mining and Climate Change.- Legacy Issues and Abandoned Mines.- Conclusion: opportunities and challenges for the resources sector in the coming decade.