Permitting for Critical Minerals
A government toolkit for efficient and responsible mine development
Permitting for critical mineral projects faces challenges worldwide. Drawing on case studies from North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa, this report identifies causes of permitting delays and provides practical tools to streamline processes and support responsible mine development while protecting communities, human health, and the environment.
Policy Recommendations
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Prioritize predictability alongside efficiency. Establish clear milestones, transparent procedures, realistic and enforceable timelines, and accessible guidance, so proponents, communities, and regulators understand permitting requirements and sequencing.
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Strengthen coordination and clarify institutional roles. Designate clear responsibilities and leadership across permitting agencies, improve interagency data sharing, and reduce overlapping requirements, duplication, and repeated submission of the same information.
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Modernize permitting systems, not just digital platforms. Combine digital tools with broader procedural and institutional reforms, including streamlined processes, automated routine tasks, improved data interoperability, and risk-based approaches appropriate to project complexity.
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Strengthen transparent decision making and community engagement. Base project prioritization and permitting decisions on clear, transparent criteria and technical considerations, while establishing defined roles and protocols for government, proponents, and communities throughout the process.
Mining permitting is increasingly important as demand for critical minerals grows to support the global energy transition. Drawing on case studies from North America, South America, Australia, Asia, and Africa, this report examines causes of permitting delays and approaches to address them. It provides practical “Do” and “Don’t” tools across three areas:
- internal process tools for planning, coordinating, resourcing, and auditing,
- regulatory framework tools to define timelines and processes that are risk-based and streamlined, and
- external process tools to meet the needs of proponents and communities. Governments can analyze their mine-permitting system and choose the tools most relevant to their challenges, goals, and available resources.
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