Convened by Sara Geenen, Hadassah Arian,  Divin-Luc Bikubanya and Bossissi Nkuba, Institute of Development Policy, University of Antwerp

The world’s hunger for metals and materials continues to grow. Fast urbanizing areas demand massive amounts of construction materials such as steel, cement and sand, while the green energy transition depends on the availability of critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt. Many other minerals and metals are key to various sectors of the economy. Currently we mine almost 3 billion tonnes of metal ore each year. Against this backdrop, this panel centers questions around notions of waste and value. First of all, we critically question what is considered to be valuable, by whom and for whom, and what narratives and imaginations are drawn on to label materials as valuable, responsible, ethical or legitimate. Why is gold a ‘high-value’ metal, gravel a ‘development mineral’, and cobalt a ‘critical mineral’? What is the link with imaginations of ‘development’ in mines or in cities in different regions of the world? How do ethical frameworks, legitimizing discourses and so-called responsible mining practices shape our understanding of value? Second, how are these labels in turn strategically drawn on to (de)legitimize particular mining activities? Similar questions can be raised about the notion of ‘waste’, which is produced in no lesser volumes. What is considered to be waste, when and why? Mine tailings or e-waste may become valuable again for small-scale producers, opening up new possibilities and imaginations. At the same time, mining produces ‘wasted soil’ as well as ‘wasted lives’, which generates resistance from communities trying to protect their lives, their livelihoods, and their values. By drawing parallels across regions, supply chains and time we aim to unpack the continuities and changes in prioritizing and legitimizing certain practices and interests over others.