The Implementation of Sustainable Development Values - Bauxite - Case Study Example

Management: Bauxite Prepared By Student ID Institution Date of submission Executive Summary Although Bauxite was known to exist in Jamaica in the beginning of the 19th century, commercial exploration of the element began in the last decades of the century. Since the start of the commercial research, Jamaica has incorporated sustainable development as a significant aspect of the mining industry policy (Brauer 2013). This paper addresses the implementation of sustainable development values in the country’s mining industry with the primary focus being on Bauxite. This is a matter of concern especially because it relates to environmental protection and Jamaican people’s welfare, predominantly those living in zones full of mining procedures. In the last 15 years, the Jamaican government has put efforts on management of the environmental and protection as stipulated in the constitution and international requirements for ensuring sustainable development (Evans, Nordheim & Tsesmelis 2012). The process of sustainable development has got its challenges in the country’s struggle for minerals. These challenges are addressed in this report and proposed solutions that can be implemented to ensure that the metal satisfactorily meets the economic demands of the nation. Key Words: Sustainability, Mineral Sector, Environment, Mining, Bauxite Sustainability is the level at which the available resources can meet their demands without causing adverse effects on the individuals and the environment. The mineral sector is an industry that deals with mining, processing and distribution of mineral products. The environment refers to the resources and the surrounding. Mining is the act of extraction of mineral elements from their sources. Bauxite is the chief commercial ore of aluminum that consists of largely hydrated alumina with varying iron oxide proportions (Lewis 2012). Historical Context of Sustainability Challenge The mineral sector plays a very significant role in the Jamaican economy. The mineral industry accounts for about 10% of the overall GDP, making it the single largest contributor to the country’s economy. Bauxite mining is a capital intensive industry that currently employs only 3500 workers. This is a drop from 6900 workers in 1975, probably because of rationalization and modernization of the industry. After the first shipment of the mineral element to Jamaica in 1952, the production of the Bauxite rapidly increased and by the end of 1957, the country had become the leading producer of bauxite in the world with a production capacity of up to 6 million tons annually (Fuentes-George, 2013). During the 1970’s, the bauxite industry experienced challenges in changes of ownership. The changes altered the way the industry contributed to the Jamaican economy. The exploiting companies were subsidiary owned by North American companies, but the Jamaican Government bought 51% of some companies operating locally (Grant, Lalor & Balcázar 2012). The challenge of integrating mining activities with environmental integrity and social life remains the biggest concern for bauxite mining in the country. The industry has faced the challenge of trying to address the issues of wealth construction and reduction of poverty since 2004. The use of sustainable development concept in the mineral industry is basically affected by factors such as technology, education and proactive legal measure to uncover the components of industrial mining. This involves aspects such as the promotion of recycling, embracing clean technology, efficient land rehabilitation, minimizing adverse impacts on the people and ensuring desirable environmental practices. Also, the benefits of sustainable development from the mining sector are expected to be evident through investments in the healthcare, natural amenities, education, technology, good governance and social equality (Schwartz 2014). Bauxite mining also faces challenges with regards to the national capability for policy preparation and legislation. Besides, an additional challenge involves coming up with laws and database for its assessment and other resources. The ability to evaluate the mineral project in the country in issues such as the environment and the social impact assessment has been a challenge for the government since the commercial exploration of the mineral began. Despite the declaration of the National Policy Industry in 1995, the government has still faced the problem of environmental protection in the bauxite mining. However, it has tried to develop and implement this policy through activities such as refined and the growth of the Bauxite Community Development Program with community-based Quarry monitoring committees attempting to boost the National Policy industry (Witter 2014). Nearly three-quarter of Bauxite mined in Jamaica is shipped in its processed form. The rest is processed in export countries. The greatest challenge facing the Bauxite industry as pointed out earlier is integrating the environment and development considerations (Fuentes-George 2013). As much as the mineral remains one of the largest export minerals and earns the government a lot of revenue, there is still complaints concerning failure to take environmental protection into account. Development of the Idea The future of Jamaica’s bauxite industrial sector lies in its ability to deal with land competition and its contribution to national sustainable development. This in particular, refers to the host community in which the extraction and processing activities take place. The continuation and existence of this sector need evaluation on grounds of its contribution to the national sustainability and development. To be on track with mineral activities across the globe, the expansion of the sector should embrace elements of economic, social, political and environmental sustainability so as to attain the eco-efficient aspects of the industrial activities (Brauer 2013). This particular approach is necessary so as to minimize the environmental degradation that is caused by mineral exploitations. This method is also useful as it leads to optimal economic and social profits from the mineral wealth of the country. This will intern ensure that there is a harmonious coexistence of other factors that compete for land use in the country (Schwartz 2014). The environmental and humanitarian concerns due to bauxite exploitation in Jamaica resulting from hazardous waste are simply too risky and will severely impact the entire region. Its exploitation causes the hazardous waste of chemicals and polluted parameters that may be lethal to human life and lead to the destruction of the region's ecology affecting agricultural land which may not be recovered for generations (Brauer 2013). It also dismantles and changes the social structure of families, but creates neither any economic effectiveness nor tax advantage for Jamaica and its people. The approval of the Bauxite mining Licensure is a process that follows procedure of licensing like other minerals. The minister responsible is supposed to issue the license; however, the approval process is usually very slow and requires the views of several agencies for the final decision to be reached. This poses a big challenge in the bauxite sector which has possibly hindered the expansion of the company into other areas of Jamaica and maintenance of the environment (Fuentes-George 2013). There is need to adopt more measures with regards to the environmental management issues surrounding bauxite mining. To achieve efficiency in Jamaican bauxite industry, the following steps are necessary: • Increase the efficiency of fuel in the country. • The cost of caustic soda needs to be improved to attain a certain level that appears beat. • Conversion of the energy used from oil to natural gas so as to reduce the energy costs and improve environmental condition. • Expansion of bauxite plants and operating them at a near capacity so as to lessen the unit of production value. • Maintaining all the plants technology up to date. Sustainable development in bauxite mining will lead to the reduction of poverty in the country and observation of environmental fundamentals. Since the Jamaican government has entered into agreements with global environmental movements, integrating the social, economic and environmental concerns into the industry is the only way of fulfilling the contracts. The national mineral policy still being formed should be completed as a priority for continuing with the already made progress. For proper sustainable development, there is need to carry out necessary legislative amendments concerning the provision of consequences for quarry operators who fail to restore the land after their operations (Brauer 2013). The economic development resulting from bauxite should be regarded as a priority and the profits generated should be directed towards community development, social programs and economic activities that will produce profits for investment in the country’s economy. Reflective Analysis The government and private sector ought to emphasis on training and developments based on research necessary in expanding the market for mineral products. The government should reposition the industry by stressing its importance to the economy. As long as people are in need of airplanes, freight cars, buildings, automobiles, power lines and foil wrap the need for bauxite also increases. This means that the element is in high demand at a global market increasing its significance in the world market. Life has been made easier on earth since the discovery of this significant component. One may try to reflect on how life would be without the discovery, extraction, and processing of the element. The study of bauxite and its components enables one to appreciate the significant efforts that have been put since then in an attempt to make the best out of the raw materials. This report reveals some challenges faced in the discovery and extraction of bauxite products since the beginning of the 21st century. Various challenges have led to the discovery of more production ways while adhering to the sustainable development in the country and the rest of the world. Bibliography Brauer, R 2013, Joining Babylon-Opportunity or Curse-A study about the local Population's Perceptions of the Mining Industry in Jamaica. Evans, K., Nordheim, E., & Tsesmelis, K 2012, Bauxite residue management. Light Metals. Warrendale, PA: TMS, 63-66. Fuentes-George, K 2013, Neoliberalism, environmental justice, and the Convention on Biological Diversity: How problematizing the commodification of nature affects regime effectiveness. Global Environmental Politics, 13(4), 144-163. Grant, CN, Lalor, GC, & Balcázar, M 2012, Radon monitoring in sites of economical importance in Jamaica. Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 71, 96-101. 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