Friends or foes: Can large-scale mining companies partner with small-scale miners? Yes, they can?

Ofosu, George and Arthur-Holmes, Francis and Siaw, Daniel and Sarpong, David (2025) Friends or foes: Can large-scale mining companies partner with small-scale miners? Yes, they can? Journal of Rural Studies, 119. p. 103709. ISSN 0743-0167

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Abstract

This paper (re)examines the nexus between large-scale mining (LSM) activities and artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) operations. Broadly speaking, the existing combative resource politics between the two mining entities has created room for the emergence of divergent opinions on sustainable solutions encapsulated in standpoints of ‘cohabitation’ vis-à-vis ‘autonomy’. Employing ‘partnership’ as an analytical lens, this study provides a refreshing perspective of the ‘cohabitation’ of LSM and ASM where they develop and flourish together. Firmly rooted at the base of this success, however, is the formalisation canon that has long ignored the partnership opportunities for ASM operations in many resource-rich countries. We, therefore, argue for formalisation policies to design cohabitation agreements that focus on creating synergies devoid of resource conflicts. Further, we discuss ways through which resources that cannot be fully enclosed by LSM companies can become sources of compromise and negotiation rather than of conflict and violence.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1016/j.jrurstud.2025.103709
Dates:	Date Event 19 May 2025 Accepted 22 May 2025 Published Online
Subjects:	CAH17 - business and management > CAH17-01 - business and management > CAH17-01-02 - business studies
Divisions:	Faculty of Business, Law and Social Sciences > College of Business, Digital Transformation & Entrepreneurship
Depositing User:	Gemma Tonks
Date Deposited:	26 Jun 2025 14:08
Last Modified:	26 Jun 2025 14:08
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/16446

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