Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources (ENR) Francis R. Fannon travelled to Toronto, Canada to launch a new toolkit for the Energy Resource Governance Initiative (ERGI). This initiative is a multinational approach to best practices for handling the key energy minerals necessary for the impending global energy transformation. The toolkit addresses mineral resource management, project development, production, and stewardship. It is available at www.ERGI.tools, as a collaborative resource for all mining stakeholders.

Since ERGI’s launch at the United Nations General Assembly in September 2019, Australia, Botswana, Canada, and Peru have joined as founding partners. The partners reconvene in Toronto to launch the new ERGI toolkit, a web-based platform giving operational guidance on sound mining sector governance and strengthening resilient energy mineral supply chains. This first iteration of the toolkit provides mining leaders with a compendium of best practices, tools, and case studies on cross-cutting mining sector governance issues, including managing mineral data, mineral leasing methodology, and understanding how to facilitate social license to operate. Through this worldwide platform, ERGI partners can engage to encourage a level playing field in the global energy minerals sector.

Assistant Secretary Fannon’s visit to Canada marks his second time participating in the annual Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) convention, billed as the world’s premier mineral exploration and mining convention. Assistant Secretary Fannon also joins the International Mines Minister Summit (IMMS) which brings together 20+ Energy and Mining Ministers, to discuss opportunities and challenges facing the mining industry. The Assistant Secretary’s panel discussion on energy minerals at the Canada Day Panel further builds on the success of ERGI.

For further information, contact Donald Kilburg, spokesperson for the Bureau of Energy Resources, at KilburgDF@america.gov or visit www.state.gov/e/enr. Additional information is available on Twitter at @EnergyAtState.