Natural Resource Management: Legal and Governance Issues of Reko Diq Project
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61506/01.00157Keywords:
Balochistan, Rek Diq, Volcano, Copper-Gold mining, Balochistan Development AuthorityAbstract
Balochistan Province of Pakistan is gifted with enormous reserves of minerals owing to its unique geological condition. One of the most important mineral resource projects is the Reko Diq mining project which is one of the largest projects of its kind globally. The Reko Diq mineral resource located in the mineral-rich Tethyan belt was discovered by the Geological Survey of Pakistan (GSP) from 1960 to 1970. The estimated reserves of Reko Diq comprise 12.3 million tons of copper and 20.9 million ounces of gold. However, the Reko Diq project became embroiled in legal disputes and controversy when the Balochistan government, represented by the Balochistan Development Authority, signed agreements with foreign investment companies for gold and copper exploration in the area of Reko Diq at Chagai. This research paper examines the establishment of the Chagai Hills Exploration Joint Venture Agreement (CHEJVA), analyzes the Supreme Court's decision on Pakistan regarding Maulana Abdul Haq Baloch's case against the government of Balochistan, and highlights the arbitration proceedings of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. The research also concludes that an American mineral company Broken Hills Proprietary (BHP), took advantage of the unstable political situation in Balochistan under the caretaker government in 1993. The Balochistan Mineral Rules, 2002, were enacted to grant undue relaxations favoring foreign companies. These issues significantly impacted the validity of the Reko Diq agreement. Consequently, this case created an impression that foreign investments are not secure in Pakistan, necessitating actions to protect their interests. Moreover, the Reko Diq case had various economic impacts on Pakistan and hindered the development of the province and the country. This research paper recommends reforms in the legal framework of the mineral sector and advocates for advanced equipment in exploration to create employment opportunities. Additionally, establishing a domestic dispute resolution forum is proposed as a more favorable approach for settling such disputes, rather than resorting to international jurisdictions.
References
Ahmed, M. (2017). Magic Mountains: The Reko Diq gold and copper mining project. Retrieved November,13,2022,from;https://herald.dawn.com/news/1153283/magic-mountains-the-reko-diq-gold-and-copper-mining-project
Allbritton, C. (2012). Gold war in Pakistan highlights investment risks. Retrieved January,07, 2023, from https://www.reuters.com/article/pakistan-goldmine-idINDEE81G03G20120218
Ali, A., & Zulfiqar, K. (2018). An assessment of association between natural resources agglomeration and unemployment in Pakistan. Journal of Pakistan Vision, 19 (1), 110-126.
Annual Report. (2012). Lake Resources N.L. Retrieved November,13,2022, from; https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReportArchive/l/ASX_LKE_2012.pdf
Akram, H. (2020). Education governance in Pakistan: A critical analysis of challenges. Journal of Social Sciences Advancement, 1(1), 38-41. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52223/JSSA20-010105-05
Akram, H., & Yang, Y. (2021). A critical analysis of the weak implementation causes on educational policies in Pakistan. International Journal of Humanities and Innovation (IJHI), 4(1), 25-28. DOI: https://doi.org/10.33750/ijhi.v4i1.104
Akram, H., Yingxiu, Y., Al-Adwan, A. S., & Alkhalifah, A. (2021). Technology integration in higher education during COVID-19: An assessment of online teaching competencies through technological pedagogical content knowledge model. Frontiers in psychology, 12, 736522. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.736522
Audi, M., Ali, A., & Roussel, Y. (2021). Aggregate and Disaggregate Natural Resources Agglomeration and Foreign Direct Investment in France. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 11(1), 147. DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijefi.10869
Baloch, S.U (2021). Reko Diq: How fair is international arbitration in investment disputes. Retrieved March,18,2023.
Baloch, S. U (2019) , The Reko Diq matter. https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/507421-the-reko-diq-matter
Baloch, S. U. (2014). Balochistan's El Dorado. Retrieved April,25,2022,from http://thebalochistanpoint.com/balochistans-el-dorado/ .
Business Recorder. (2022). The shifting sands of Reko Diq mine. Retrieved November,13,2022, from; https://www.brecorder.com/news/40204078/the-shifting-sands-of-reko-diq-mine
Darr, A. (2019). The Reko Diq Fiasco in Perspective: Pakistan's Experience of International Investment Arbitration (London School of Economics and Political Science) <https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/southasia/2019/08/14/long-read-thereko-diq-fiasco-in-perspective-pakistans-experience-ofinternational -investment -arbitration/> accessed on 19 ,May, 2022
Decision on Jurisdiction and Liability, ARB/12/1 (ICSID November 10, 2017). Retrieved March,6,2023, from https://www.italaw.com/search/site?query=Reko%20Diq%202013&f%5B0%5D=date%3A2017
Farooq, E. (2020). Reko Diq case: an integrity risk to the mining industry of Pakistan. PCLSJL Vol 4, Issue 2, 2020, 72-118. Retrieved November, 13, 2022, from https://leappakistan.com/pclsjl-vol-4-issue-2-2020/
Finnigan, C. (2019). Long Read the Reko Diq Fiasco in Perspective: Pakistan Experience of international investment Arbitration. Retrieved November,13,2022, from, London School of Economics and political science. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/southasia/2019/08/14/long-read-the-reko-diq-fiasco-in-perspective-pakistans-experience-of-international-investment-arbitration/
Gujjar, W. (2020). Analysis on the Decision of Pakistan Supreme Court and the Decision of ICSID on Provisional Measure and Liability in an International Investment Dispute of Mining in Reko Diq, Balochistan. Balochistan Retrieved March,13, 2023, from http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3695699 DOI: https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3695699
Hassan, S. S. (2015). The Reko Diq billion of dollars mystery. Dawan paper. January 23, 2015
Idrees, R. Q., Azhar, I., & Baig, M. S. R. (2020). The Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards: A Critical Analysis of. Global Political Review. 5(4), 11-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31703/gpr.2020(V-IV).02
Jamil, U. R. (2012). Batling it out for the future of Pakistan. Paper Magazine, 145. , Retrieved June,1,2023, from https://www.scribd.com/document/218370325/Battling-it-out-for-the-Future-of-Pakistan-The-Reko-Diq-Copper-and-Gold-Mines-Case
Khurram, M. (2021). Genesis of Reko Diq crisis, Pakistan observer, February 10, 2021 https://pakobserver.net/genesis-of-reko-diq-crisis/
Li, S., & Akram, H. (2023). Do emotional regulation behaviors matter in the professional development of EFL teachers? A process model approach. Porta Linguarum Interuniversity Journal of Foreign Language Didactics, (2023c), 273–291. DOI: https://doi.org/10.30827/portalin.vi2023c.29654
Maulana Abdul Haque Baloch and others V. Government of Balochistan through Secretary Industries and Mineral Development and others, PLD SC 641(2013)
Myirski, S. E. (2014). Copper, Gold, corruption, and no arbitral relief. Arbitration law review, 309.
Rafay Siddiqui, A. (2017). Pakistan's Need for Amicable Resolutions Concerning Foreign Investment Disputes: The Reko Diq Case. LUMS LJ, 4, 195.
Ramzan, M., Bibi, R., & Khunsa, N. (2023). Unraveling the Link between Social Media Usage and Academic Achievement among ESL Learners: A Quantitative Analysis. Global. Educational Studies Review, VIII, 407-421. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31703/gesr.2023(VIII-II).37
Ramzan, M., Javaid, Z. K., & Fatima, M. (2023). Empowering ESL Students: Harnessing the Potential of Social Media to Enhance Academic Motivation in Higher Education. Global Digital & Print Media Review, VI, 224-237. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31703/gdpmr.2023(VI-II).15
Ramzan, M., Javaid, Z. K., Kareem, A., & Mobeen, S. (2023). Amplifying Classroom Enjoyment and Cultivating Positive Learning Attitudes among ESL Learners. Pakistan Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 11(2), 2298-2308. DOI: https://doi.org/10.52131/pjhss.2023.1102.0522
Surbana Jurong. (n.d). Reko Diq Mine. Retrieved Mrach,23, 2023,from https://surbanajurong.com/sector/reko-diq-mine/
Supreme Court of Pakistan. (2013). Civil Petition by Maulana Abdul Haque Baloch and others VS government of Pakistan. Retrieved June ,05,2023,from; https://www.supremecourt.gov.pk/downloads_judgements/C.P.796of2007-dt-10-5-2013.pdf
Sachs, J.D. (2019). How World Bank Arbitrators Mugged Pakistan. Retrieved November,13,2022, from; https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/world-bank-corrupt-arbitration-ruling-against-pakistan-by-jeffrey-d-sachs-2019-11
Ullah, I. (2014). Reko Diq case: Another intervention from the Supreme Court of Pakistan. International Arbitration Law Review, 62.
