FAQ
- What is the time schedule for the BGR mineral certification projects?
- What is the relationship between Certified Trading Chains (CTC) and the Analytical Fingerprint (AFP)?
- What are the relationships between CTC mineral certification and other supply chain due diligence initiatives in the Great Lakes region?
- Which local partners are involved in BGR’s mineral certification projects in Central Africa?
What is the time schedule for the BGR mineral certification projects?
The analytical fingerprint (AFP) project has started in July 2006, initially focusing on developing a method to identify the origin of tantalum (coltan) ore concentrates by multiple mineralogical and geochemical methods. Being successful with this approach, the project has been streamlined since then to simplify the analytical protocol and reduce costs. Extension of the AFP method to tin and tungsten ores is currently underway, and analytical protocols for these commodities should be available by the end of 2011 and 2012-13, respectively.
Building on the development of the CTC concept in 2007-2008, the CTC pilot project on mineral certification in Rwanda started in September 2008 with on-the-ground work commencing in early 2009. Five Rwandan mineral producers, participating as partners in the project, were audited in October-December 2010 and, depending on audit outcomes, were subsequently issued certificates of CTC progress or CTC compliance. Results of the pilot project Rwanda and a discussion of the way forward took place at a joint OGMR-ICGLR certification conference in Kigali in March 2011.
The project “Strengthening of transparency and control of the natural resource sector of the Democratic Republic of the Congo” has a mineral certification component based on central elements of the CTC system. Practical implementation of project phase 1 has started in September 2009 with a scheduled run time of 3 years for the first phase.
The BGR support project to the implementation of the ICGLR Regional Initiative against the Illegal Exploitation of Natural Resources (RINR) is scheduled from 2011-2015. The project will support both the ICGLR secretariat as well as selected member states in successfully setting up a mineral certification mechanism. A central focus of the project will be to integrate the AFP technique into the RINR scheme and to drive implementation of mineral certification at the national level building on the experience of CTC Rwanda.
What is the relationship between Certified Trading Chains (CTC) and the Analytical Fingerprint (AFP)?
Both CTC and AFP have been developed at the BGR Mineral Resource Section and target verification of the origin of minerals (with CTC additionally certifying transparency and ethical production standards). While the two systems may be applied individually, they complement each other and maximize efficiency when used in combination.
The CTC system evaluates trading chain integrity (including certification of origin) through regular independent third-party audits where the auditor performs plausibility checks based on verifiable documentation, site visits, and key informant interviews.
At the moment, the AFP project is a mainly research-oriented project, aiming to establish the methodological background to identify the origin of tantalum (coltan), tin, and tungsten ore concentrates based on geochemical and mineralogical criteria. While already functional for tantalum ore concentrates, the AFP method is still in development for tin and tungsten ores, and should be available for these commodities by the end of 2011 and 2012-13, respectively.
AFP is integrated into CTC standard 1.1, and serves as an optional verification instrument for trading chain traceability. In order to achieve maximum compliance with CTC standard 1.1 (a prerequisite for obtaining a CTC certificate), companies seeking certification are required to facilitate access to their mineral production sites for AFP sampling purposes, such that an AFP reference database may be constructed for a given mineral concession if requested by a stakeholder. AFP is to be integrated into the ICGLR mineral certification scheme as outlined above
What are the relationships between CTC mineral certification and other supply chain due diligence initiatives in the Great Lakes region?
The national implementation of CTC systems for individual ICGLR member states (such as Rwanda and DRC) is thought to contribute to the regional mineral certification protocol of ICGLR. As such, extensive consultations between ICGLR and CTC stakeholders (BGR and local partners) take place and the outcomes of CTC certification in Rwanda and DRC will be integrated into the ICGLR scheme.
Furthermore, BGR is actively engaging in discussions setting the political frame for mineral certification initiatives in the Great Lakes region. On behalf of the German government, BGR is participating in the “Task force on illegal exploitation of natural resources in the Great Lakes Region”. The OECD has set up a workgroup on “Due diligence guidance for responsible supply chain management of minerals from conflict-affected and high-risk areas”; BGR experts are actively involved as members of the workgroup.
In Rwanda, the CTC certification system and the iTSCi (ITRI tin supply chain initiative) mineral traceability scheme complement each other in order to verify the legitimacy of original Rwandan mineral production. Similarly, CTC and iTSCi cooperate in DRC (notably at the Nyabibwe cassiterite mine, South Kivu) and jointly aim to improve supply chain due diligence.
Which local partners are involved in BGR’s mineral certification projects in Central Africa?
The pilot project on mineral certification in Rwanda benefits from the close cooperation of BGR and the Rwanda Geology and Mines Authority (OGMR). BGR maintains a permanent office and staff at the OGMR facilities in Kigali. OGMR expertise with respect to the administrative, legal, and economic framework in Rwanda is essential for project success.
A Memorandum of Understanding of OGMR, BGR, and the Rwandan Bureau of Standards (RBS) has recently been signed. The memorandum outlines the formation of a national workgroup designed to implement the CTC scheme at the national institutional level in Rwanda beyond the scope of the pilot project terminating in early 2011. While OGMR is responsible for mine inspections in Rwanda, RBS is charged with the review of Rwandan standards (including CTC standards), and is thus envisaged to be the principal certification authority.
In the frame of the German-Congolese cooperation project “Strengthening of transparency and control in the DRC natural resource sector” BGR supports the DRC Ministry of Mines in the development of a mineral certification system based on CTC components.
BGR supports the ICGLR secretariat in Bujumbura as well as selected ICGLR member state authorities in implementing a mineral certification scheme based on the RINR tool set and integrating the AFP method as well as CTC elements.