Session 6 - Mineral sourcing from Myanmar: raising awareness on serious adverse impacts across different supply chains
May 23, 2024 | 9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
May 23, 2024 | 9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Description
A significant share of global supply of heavy rare earth elements (REEs) is mined in Myanmar, which is also one of the world’s largest tin producers. While both tin and REEs are crucial to the fabrication of a wide range of clean energy technologies and electronics applications, serious risks and obstacles to due diligence have emerged for sourcing from the country. Transnational criminal networks have mushroomed in the country and armed groups, including both those aligned with and opposed to the military junta have been involved in the minerals sector. Annex II risks of the OECD Minerals Guidance manifest in multiple ways, highlighting the need to ensure a global scope for company due diligence, and address dilemmas related to access restrictions, challenges to applying leverage and responsible disengagement when appropriate.
