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Paper short abstract:

This paper focuses on the changing relationship between value creation, supply chains and the social and environmental costs of extracting tin in a colonial and post-colonial context (1850-1980).

Paper long abstract:

The environmental history of mining is dynamic and varies depending on specific minerals, regulatory frameworks, technological, regional and temporal contexts. Today, there's a growing awareness of the environmental and social impacts of mining, especially in ecologically sensitive areas and in communities where mining takes place. This paper explores the changing relationships in value accumulation, the shifts in composition of global supply chains, and the impact of social, political and environmental conflicts that emerged during these processes in both the colonial and post-colonial context. The paper takes the Dutch Billiton Maatschappij as a case. This company that was founded in 1852 played an important role in tin mining in the 19th and 20th centuries in Indonesia. While the economic benefits of mining were significant, particularly for the colonial powers and the mining company, there were also long-term environmental and social costs and sovereignty issues associated with the extraction of tin in this part of the world. The paper shed light on how some of these issues changed, while others remained after decolonization. If focusses on changing roles of markets and the responsibility for social and environmental issues. The case of Billiton is emblematic of the broader story of resource extraction in colonial and post-colonial contexts. It highlights the intricate relationship between economic development, environmental impact, and social consequences. It also serves as a case study for understanding the challenges of balancing economic interests with environmental sustainability.