Africa’s supplier countries are taking a more prominent role in shaping global mineral governance as work begins on an International Organization for Standardization (ISO) project to develop a global traceability standard for copper.
Speaking during a Creamer Media webinar on December 10, Future Minerals Forum (FMF) Strategy Director Aldo Pennini said the initiative emerged from several years of ministerial discussions involving about 90 governments participating in the FMF. He said sustainability, responsible supply and transparency consistently rank at the top of the agenda.
“We set about trying to define a work plan on this issue of responsible supply and to do so in a way that reflects supplier country realities,” Pennini said. One of the FMF’s ambitions is “to provide these supply countries with a voice in the rule setting for mineral supply – from rule takers to rule shapers”, he added.
Pennini noted that copper is identified as a priority because of its essential role in electrification and the energy transition as well as its strong production base across the African Copperbelt. The region was selected as a pilot area for the initiative. In September, the Saudi Standards Organization, on behalf of FMF, submitted a proposal to the ISO, requesting the development of an international copper traceability standard within ISO Technical Committee 308.
ISO Technical Programme Manager Mercè Ferrés Hernández said copper demand is expected to rise significantly with global forecasts pointing to a 40% increase by 2040. She explained that the proposed standard aims to provide “one global, harmonised framework that can be implemented in all settings producing copper” – covering diverse mining methods ranging from large-scale operations to artisanal and small-scale mining.
Hernández emphasised the ISO’s consensus-based approach, which requires agreement among technical experts and later among member countries. “It must be understood exactly in the same way by everybody so that everyone can implement it,” she said.
African Minerals Strategy Group Chief of Staff Patrick Mulindwa said the standard comes at an important moment for the continent where copper exports remain concentrated in a handful of countries. He highlighted the importance of addressing governance challenges, supporting formalisation in artisanal mining communities and strengthening regulatory oversight. Mulindwa said traceability can also help ensure environmental and social care in mining regions that continue to host communities long after mine closure.
The speakers noted that more than 130 experts from over 40 countries have contributed to the initiative through FMF working groups, reflecting broad international interest in developing a unified approach to copper traceability.
