This initiative aims to significantly improve and transform the quality and accessibility of sector information by building robust, transparent data that can inform policy and advance wider discussions about mining and metals' evolving role in sustainable development.
Scope of the dataset
ICMM’s new Dataset is the most comprehensive publicly available compilation of mining and metals facilities globally, including 15,188 mines and processing facilities covering 47 different primary commodities.
Key insights from the dataset
- The mining and metals industry is global, but its footprint is unevenly distributed, with China, Australia and the USA accounting for approximately 45% of all facilities.
- Coal, gold, copper, and iron ore are the most represented primary commodities by number of mines, with coal mines comprising 43% of all mines.
- Metal mining and extractive metallurgy (smelters, refineries, and steel plants) often occur in different regions, with China recorded as having the largest number of metallurgical facilities (426).
Why global mining data matters
As demand for minerals and metals grows to support the energy transition and sustainable development, there is an urgent need to overcome the longstanding lack of quality data that has hindered the ability of policymakers, investors, civil society, and the industry itself to make fully informed decisions and craft effective regulations.
The report: Understanding global distribution
The first step in this initiative has been the development of the report Global Mining Dataset: Understanding the global distribution of mining and metals facilities. It identifies how many mines, smelters, refineries and processing plants exist worldwide, where they are located, and what they produce. The Dataset was developed with support from Accenture, Global Energy Monitor, and Skarn Associates, using both public and proprietary sources.
Leadership perspectives on the dataset
Rohitesh Dhawan, President and CEO, ICMM, said: “ICMM’s foundational Dataset shows that over 75% of national economies have at least some connection to large-scale mining or mineral processing. Having a global view of the location, type, commodity and footprint of these facilities is essential to inform the right public and policy debates for this critical sector.”
Janez Potočnik, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel, commented: “Reliable, transparent, and consolidated data on the mining and metals industry is a prerequisite for evidence-based policymaking, effective governance, and progress towards sustainability targets. Only with robust data can we fully understand the sector’s impacts and ensure accountability throughout global supply chains.”
Next steps for ICMM
Dr. Emma Gagen, Director of Data and Research, ICMM, explained: “Existing global data about the mining and metals sector is either incomplete, inconsistent, commodity- or region-specific, or locked behind paywalls. Moving beyond fragmented reports to establish a credible source of information is critical.”
Future of the Global Mining Dataset
The Dataset is likely an underestimate of the total number of large-scale mining and minerals processing facilities worldwide. ICMM plans to expand the dataset further and introduce key sustainability indicators in future updates.
