Panel discussion – October 12th – Brussels
Growing global demand for critical raw materials, driven by the energy transition, digitalisation, defence needs and efforts to strengthen industrial resilience and strategic autonomy, is bringing renewed attention to artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM). Across producer countries, particularly in Africa, ASM supports hundreds of thousands of livelihoods and could play an important role in emerging critical mineral supply chains. Yet growing traceability and due diligence requirements also risk excluding the sector if they are not designed with ASM realities in mind.
The European Union’s efforts to secure and diversify critical mineral supply chains offer an opportunity to do things differently. Inclusive approaches to traceability and due diligence can help integrate ASM into responsible supply chains rather than push it towards informal markets, while creating economic opportunities and supporting decent work, environmental protection and human rights.
Join us for a panel discussion on the conditions to build responsible and traceable EU critical mineral supply chains that unlock the socio-economic potential of artisanal and small-scale mining.
The event is organised by IPIS in collaboration with Enabel and will examine how upstream realities and downstream requirements can be better aligned. The discussion will draw on research into critical mineral traceability and experiences from ASM–LSM coexistence in Zimbabwe’s lithium sector, copper and cobalt mining in the DRC, and emerging graphite supply chains in Tanzania. It will bring together perspectives from the European Union, development cooperation, civil society in producer countries and applied research on responsible mineral supply chains.
The event will take place on Monday 12th October 2025 in Brussels (in-person attendance only).
Date: October 12th
Time: 16:00 – 18:00
Location: Atelier 29
Jacques de Lalaing 29, 1000 BRUSSELS
PROGRAM:
15:45: Arrival of participants
16:00: Welcome and opening remarks
Loïc De Cannière, IPIS Chair.
16:10: Keynote
Jean Van Wetter, CEO of Enabel.
16:25: Panel discussion
Building responsible and traceable EU critical mineral supply chains that unlock the socio-economic potential of artisanal and small-scale mining
- Isabelle Magne
Deputy Head of Unit, DG INTPA – Trade, Investment Climate, Entrepreneurship and Value Chains, European Commission.
- Joyce Nyamukunda
Extractives Program Unit Lead, Zimbabwe Environmental Law Organisation.
- Hans Merket
Researcher and Policy Manager, IPIS.
- Moderation: Filip Reyniers
Director, IPIS.
17:15: Q&A with the audience
17:45: Drinks
The discussion will be followed by a networking reception.
Register here to join us (in-person attendance only).
This event is a collaboration between IPIS and Enabel and is supported by the European Union and the Belgian Development Cooperation.
