Paris – On May 5–7, 2025, Mouna Wasef, Head of Advocacy and Research at Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Indonesia, participated in the 2025 OECD Forum on Responsible Mineral Supply Chains in Paris, France. The forum brought together over 1,000 participants from governments, industry, and civil society to address major challenges in creating fair and sustainable mineral supply chains. Over three days, discussions focused on critical issues such as transparency, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects, mineral traceability, and inclusive governance, all within the context of the ongoing global energy transition.
Traceability in complex mineral supply chains was a key topic. Experts agreed that effective tracking systems require multi-stakeholder collaboration, clear standards, and transparency from upstream to downstream. Industry representatives emphasized supporting small-scale miners through site-level certifications and data-sharing systems to build trust.
Another major theme was ensuring ESG principles are more than just formalities. The forum highlighted the need for companies to genuinely integrate ESG values into their operations. Regulations like the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive were seen as viable tools, linking ESG commitments to legal accountability. Civil society organizations pushed for stronger reporting on gender equality and human rights, as well as harmonized global regulations to close legal loopholes.
In a session on the impact of rising electric vehicle production, Mouna raised serious concerns about Indonesia’s nickel sector, a key material for global EV batteries. She criticized regulatory changes, such as the Mineral and Coal Mining Law and the Omnibus Job Creation Law, which centralize mining permit authority, sidelining local communities and weakening environmental oversight. Mouna highlighted critical issues, including unrecorded deforestation, delayed mine rehabilitation, opaque permitting processes, and the lack of accessible grievance mechanisms. A stark example is in North Morowali, Central Sulawesi, where mine sediment has polluted Lake Tiu, destroying local livelihoods without clear avenues for justice.
As a civil society representative in Indonesia’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), Mouna proposed key measures: public access to licensing and environmental data, stricter enforcement of reclamation funds, and genuine implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). These reforms are vital to protect communities and the environment while maintaining Indonesia’s strategic role in the global energy transition.
Mouna also stressed the importance of integrity and anti-corruption measures in mineral supply chains, particularly for critical commodities like nickel, cobalt, and lithium. Despite Indonesia’s EITI membership, implementation remains lacking. PWYP Indonesia noted that critical data, such as contracts, permits, beneficial ownership, and social-environmental expenditure reports, are still not publicly accessible, heightening corruption risks and undermining accountability.
In closing, the OECD Forum in Paris underscored that achieving fair and responsible mineral supply chains requires more than good intentions. It demands genuine commitment, transparency, cross-sector collaboration, and sustained action. PWYP Indonesia emphasized the need for mineral sector governance that prioritizes social and environmental justice, with the hope that the global energy transition benefits all, not just a few.