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IRMA and CCCMC panelIRMA and CCCMC panelAsia

MOU with CCCMC

24 September 2025By

Today IRMA entered a new collaboration to advance more responsible mining.

At the International Forum on Sustainable Mineral Supply Chains in Xiamen, IRMA and the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters (CCCMC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen collaboration on responsible mineral production.

Through this agreement, IRMA and CCCMC will work together to:
✅ Align standards and reduce duplication across assurance models
✅ Pilot co-audits to streamline expectations
✅ Provide joint training and capacity-building at mine sites
✅ Exchange lessons on system-wide grievance mechanisms
✅ Maintain ongoing dialogue to respond to global trends and stakeholder needs

This marks an important step in promoting transparency, accountability, and positive outcomes across the minerals value chain.

Chinese IRMA Draft 2.0 Standard coverAs we look forward to deepening this collaboration in support of companies, stakeholders, and communities worldwide, we are thrilled to release a Chinese version of the IRMA Standard v2.0 Draft 2 for public consultation. Please submit your comments!

Our goal is to make responsible mining standards accessible to all stakeholders, everywhere. The translation was made possible thanks to the fantastic work of Landscape Consulting.

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Blog

China, e-silk roads and a plea for change

22 August 2019By

The EV revolution is in its infancy, but it is gaining traction, and its minerals, whatever they are, will have to be mined responsibly.  

Author, John Harker

What if China, the EU, and North America co-operated to undertake a major survey of Responsible Mining and Rare-Earths? A survey in which major mining houses such as BHP, Glencore, and Anglo-American would have much to offer, especially as they are increasing or refining their own focus on “battery” minerals.

In fact, their involvement is key. They know the ups and downs in mining as the EV revolution unfolds. A year ago, Ivan Glasenberg, the CEO of Glencore, stressed that his company has “a key role to play in enabling the transition to a low-carbon economy”. This is true, but the company has seen its profits drop due in large part to its “battery minerals” business.

Anglo-American is the world’s largest supplier of platinum and palladium, which are essential to the smooth running of cars fueled by Petrol/Gas, and the company is now intent on developing a lithium battery which will use the platinum-group metals instead of cobalt and nickel.

The great mining houses are among the companies which created the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance, a body which would also be a source of strength for any such survey.

Read the full article on Mining.com >

Photo credit: Electric taxi in Shenzhen, China. (Image: Brücke-Osteuropa | Wikimedia Commons.)

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