Parallel Session 1A

Mining operations contribute significantly to economic development but also generate complex environmental, social, economic, technical, governance and legal challenges. In Sri Lanka, sustainability evaluation of mining operations has traditionally focused on regulatory compliance and environmental assessment, while integrated operational-level sustainability assessment frameworks remain limited. This study presents the development and statistical validation of a semi-quantitative, matrix-based sustainability assessment framework for mining operations in Sri Lanka. The framework integrates six sustainability pillars: Environmental, Social, Economic, Technical, Governance and Legal, within a structured interaction matrix developed through a comprehensive literature review.

The Sohagpur Coalfield in District Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh, India represents a critical mining zone where extensive coal extraction activities have significantly altered the natural hydrological balance between groundwater and surface water systems. The study encompasses primary data collection from 45 monitoring wells and 12 surface water bodies across the coalfield, supplemented by secondary data analysis from government agencies and mining corporations. Hydrochemical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, heavy metals, and coal-derived contaminants were analyzed to understand the extent of mining-induced modifications to natural water systems. Results indicate significant groundwater depletion in active mining zones with average water table decline of 2.3 meters annually, coupled with deteriorating water quality characterized by elevated sulfate concentrations (450-680 mg/L) and heavy metal contamination exceeding permissible limits (1). Surface water bodies show seasonal fluctuations with reduced baseflow contributions from groundwater, particularly during post-monsoon periods when groundwater-surface water exchange rates decreased by 35-40% compared to pre-mining conditions (2). The research establishes a comprehensive understanding of mining-induced alterations to hydrological systems, providing critical insights for sustainable water resource management and environmental restoration strategies in coal mining regions of central India.

Petroleum fiscal regimes provide the legal and financial framework through which governments regulate oil and gas activities and share economic benefits with investors. This study compares Sri Lanka’s Production Sharing Contract (PSC) Cost Recovery System (2007), Indonesia’s PSC gross split (2017) system, and Tanzania’s Model Production Sharing Agreement (MPSA 2013) across different reservoir sizes under oil price uncertainty using a stochastic cash flow model. The model was implemented using Monte Carlo simulation to generate multiple oil-price scenarios. The comparative results indicate that the Indonesian gross split system maximizes government revenue but reduces contractor returns due to the lack of cost recovery, while the Sri Lankan PSC cost recovery system significantly improves contractor profitability by lowering investment risk through cost recovery provisions. The Tanzanian MPSA produces intermediate outcomes between these two extremes. A hybrid fiscal model combining the Sri Lankan PSC cost recovery mechanism with the Indonesian gross split system was developed for both offshore and onshore conditions. The findings demonstrate that this hybrid approach is more attractive to investors, as it provides higher contractor NPVs and contractor shares under the simulated conditions.

The coexistence of agriculture and mining underscores the need to manage shared resources, with evapotranspiration (ET) serving as a critical indicator of crop water use and land surface dynamics. ET, a major component of the hydrological cycle, is particularly sensitive in croplands near mining areas, where soil disturbances, changes in surface energy balance disrupt natural processes. Despite its importance, studies directly comparing ET in agricultural regions adjacent to mining zones versus those farther away remains limited in Sri Lanka. To address this gap, ET was estimated using the Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land (SEBAL) applied to Landsat 8 imagery, providing spatially detailed measurements. These estimates were examined across four distance zones surrounding the mining area and compared with MODIS ET data to evaluate consistency. Statistical analyses, including boxplots and Mann-Kendall trend tests, were employed to identify spatial and temporal variations and assess potential mining influences. The Random Forest classification achieved 89.09% validation and 89.45% testing accuracy. Mann–Kendall analysis indicated non-significant decreasing trends across all distance zones (p > 0.05). Overall, the findings suggest limited statistical evidence of mining effects on cropland ET, while demonstrating the utility of satellite remote sensing for environmental monitoring in mining‑affected landscapes.

Japan’s Green Transformation Emissions Trading System (GX-ETS) entered its mandatory participation phase in FY2026, creating demand for cost-effective, transparent environmental value trading infrastructure. Al Sadawi and Ndiaye implemented a smart-contract-based carbon trading mechanism in Remix IDE, reporting USD 147.21 per four-operation cycle under 2021 gas-price conditions. Ethereum has since changed substantially through the Proof-of-Stake transition and Layer 2 adoption. This study re-evaluates the marginal transaction-execution cost and confirmation time of the same four smart-contract operations under 2025–2026 conditions, addressing: (RQ1) is blockchain execution cost competitive with traditional trading-method fees in Japan’s GX policy context, and (RQ2) is confirmation time short enough for practical trading? A three-stage design was used: Stage 1 (Remix IDE reproduction), Stage 2 (Hardhat local simulation), and Stage 3 (30-trial Arbitrum Sepolia testnet simulation). Full-cycle cost on Arbitrum Sepolia ranged USD 0.051–0.057, a 99.96% reduction from the 2021 baseline. Mean per-operation confirmation time was 2.97 s (empirical 95th percentile: 3.4–5.4 s), roughly 90% faster than 2021. For the four simplified operations tested, blockchain execution cost and latency are no longer prohibitive on current Layer 2 infrastructure—though mainnet validation and full-system evaluation remain necessary before generalizing to production markets.

Japan’s Green Transformation Emissions Trading System (GX-ETS) entered its mandatory participation phase in FY2026, creating demand for cost-effective, transparent environmental value trading infrastructure. Al Sadawi and Ndiaye implemented a smart-contract-based carbon trading mechanism in Remix IDE, reporting USD 147.21 per four-operation cycle under 2021 gas-price conditions. Ethereum has since changed substantially through the Proof-of-Stake transition and Layer 2 adoption. This study re-evaluates the marginal transaction-execution cost and confirmation time of the same four smart-contract operations under 2025–2026 conditions, addressing: (RQ1) is blockchain execution cost competitive with traditional trading-method fees in Japan’s GX policy context, and (RQ2) is confirmation time short enough for practical trading? A three-stage design was used: Stage 1 (Remix IDE reproduction), Stage 2 (Hardhat local simulation), and Stage 3 (30-trial Arbitrum Sepolia testnet simulation). Full-cycle cost on Arbitrum Sepolia ranged USD 0.051–0.057, a 99.96% reduction from the 2021 baseline. Mean per-operation confirmation time was 2.97 s (empirical 95th percentile: 3.4–5.4 s), roughly 90% faster than 2021. For the four simplified operations tested, blockchain execution cost and latency are no longer prohibitive on current Layer 2 infrastructure—though mainnet validation and full-system evaluation remain necessary before generalizing to production markets.

This final segment invites reflections from presenters and attendees, synthesizing key insights from the session. The session chair will conclude the discussion by summarizing thematic threads, highlighting interdisciplinary contributions, and outlining potential collaborative directions.