
Communities “kept in the dark” over mining
Climate campaign group Friends of the Earth Scotland is raising concerns about mining companies in Scotland failing to engage with local people as they explore areas for transition mineral mining. People felt “kept in the dark” by the companies and “let down” by their political representatives.
New research talking to communities in Aberdeenshire, Dumfries and Galloway and the Highlands – where mining companies have recently been exploring for transition minerals – has found that companies are not engaging with residents as they should be. For many locals, witnessing exploration activity happening was the first they knew of mining plans. Planning rules in Scotland require community engagement that “should be early, collaborative, meaningful and proportionate”.
Transition minerals, such as lithium, cobalt and nickel, are required to build renewable technologies. Demand for transition minerals is rising rapidly globally. Whilst these materials are essential to move away from fossil fuels, transition mineral mining has been linked to serious and extensive social and environmental harms and mining related conflicts have been rising as a result.
Transition mineral mining exploration happening in Scotland:
- In Arthrath, near Ellon in Aberdeenshire, a local company, Aberdeen Minerals, has been conducting mining surveys for nickel, copper and cobalt. Aberdeen Minerals largest shareholder is Central Asia Metals Plc, which owns a lead and zinc mine in Macedonia where a dam failure in 2020 resulted in toxic pollution spilling into the local river system, affecting five municipalities.
- In Gairloch near Loch Maree, in the Highlands, Canadian company Galantas Gold is exploring a 217km2 area for zinc, copper, lead, silver and gold. Loch Maree is a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of Wester Ross Biosphere management zone. The Ross-shire Journal reported that residents felt “kept in the dark” and that Gairloch community councillors said they had hoped for better communication from Galantas.
- In Blackcraig near Newton Stewart in Dumfries and Galloway, British company JDH which is owned by the Australian mining company Walkabout Resources, is exploring for lead, zinc, copper, nickel, gold and silver. The site is found within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere.
Communities also experienced a lack of support from policy makers at all levels. Many MPs, MSPs and councillors have failed to act on the concerns of their constituents when contacted by them about transition mineral mining exploration.
Tamsin Wake, lead researcher said:
“We know that the energy transition needs to happen as quickly as possible, but this can’t be done at the expense of people and planet. Mining companies must not be allowed to take shortcuts, sidestepping ethical practices for the sake of their own interests and undercutting affected local communities.
“Prioritising reducing demand and increasing reuse of transition minerals is essential to prevent harm in the first place. Any mining companies wishing to carry out extraction beyond this must be fully transparent and have the full, prior consent of locals.”
Kim Pratt, circular economy campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland said:
“It is vital that we move away from fossil fuels to address the climate crisis, however, if our transition plans don’t consider the concerns of communities and the environment, we will fail to create a fairer, more sustainable future.
“The pattern of harm seen in other countries which are further down the road than Scotland in their transition mining journey, is being repeated here with companies failing to engage local people and politicians ignoring the concerns of those they claim to represent.
“The solution is to put people and communities at the heart of energy transition plans now and to create safeguards to limit the demand and damage created by extraction of these materials, wherever that occurs.”
A local resident from Ellon Aberdeenshire said:
“[The community] don’t know what’s going on, and I think the council has a responsibility. I think the Scottish Government has a responsibility. I think UK Government has a responsibility.”
Australian mining company Walkabout Resources were exploring for transition minerals in Dumfries and Galloway but went into administration in November 2024.
A local resident in Dumfries and Galloway said:
“The company had held exploration licenses since 2018. Residents were kept in the dark until late 2021. Our community council at that time had been provided with some information but did not share it with residents.
“To suddenly see a drilling rig outside your window is a nasty experience. We felt strongly about protecting our area. We thought we were on our own until meetings were set up and we established campaign groups. We then became one voice and one community.”
Another Dumfries and Galloway resident said:
“People felt let down that something as major as that [could happen without consultation]. The majority of people are really proud of their area. And why weren’t people informed? It was such a dereliction of duty.”
Friends of the Earth Scotland – Communities and transition mineral mining in Scotland
A list of 631 documented allegations related to the environmental and social damage created through extraction of transition minerals globally can be found at Business and Human Rights Resource Centre
Friends of the Earth Scotland – report on the environmental and human rights impacts of transition minerals in the Scottish supply chain
Latest public information on Walkabout Resources restructuring efforts