Mining industry faces critical water scarcity risks

The report, which maps 12,000 facilities against global water-risk indicators, identifies competition with domestic and industrial users as the primary threat to production. Data shows that 65.7% of sites face at least one significant water-related risk, with 38.2% located in arid zones or catchments defined by extreme baseline water stress. These vulnerabilities are geographically concentrated: 85.8% of facilities in Chile, a critical hub for copper and lithium, struggle with simultaneous water stress and supply variability.

Dr. Emma Gagen, ICMM’s Director of Data and Research, cautioned that failing to manage these risks could lead the sector to sleepwalk into a major constraint on low-carbon technology production. While 27% of global facilities face high drought risk, others contend with unpredictable annual supply, such as the 74% of Oceania-based sites experiencing high interannual variability. Developed in partnership with the World Resources Institute and WWF, the dataset provides a foundation for policymakers to coordinate land and water use planning, though researchers emphasize that the findings reflect geographical exposure rather than individual company performance.