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Sand mining: What happens when all the sand is gone?

Once thought of as an unlimited resource, the overexploitation of sand is causing ecological problems.

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Quantumrun Foresight
November 2, 2023

Insight summary

The escalating global demand for sand, driven by population growth and urbanization, is stressing natural resources, with sand consumption outpacing its replenishment. Unregulated exploitation, highlighted by the United Nations Environment Programme, threatens environmental balance, urging nations towards stricter sand mining regulations. The adverse ecological impacts of over-mining are evident in altered river courses and encroaching saltwater in regions like Southeast Asia. Proposed solutions encompass imposing taxes on sand operations and fostering the development of alternative, sustainable building materials to mitigate the burgeoning "sand crisis" and its environmental repercussions.

Sand mining context

Sand is one of the most exploited natural resources in the world, but its use is largely unregulated, meaning people are consuming it faster than it can be replaced. A United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report advises countries to take urgent action to avert a “sand crisis,” including implementing a ban on beach excavation. Regulating sand is particularly important since the global consumption of glass, concrete, and construction materials has tripled over two decades. If no interventions occur, harmful environmental effects may increase, including damaging rivers and coastlines and possibly eradicating small islands.

For instance, in South Africa, sand mining has so become problematic that sand miners must be licensed and are required to follow strict laws that add a price premium to sand. However, because of this regulation, illegal sand mining has increased across the country, resulting in the maturation of elaborate and covert sand mining operations. Meanwhile, in Singapore, the overexploitation of its limited sand resources has caused the country to become the world’s top sand importer.

Disruptive impact

Some scientists state that the effects of sand mining exploitation can be seen and felt globally. As of 2022, sand mining has altered the course of rivers and caused sedimentation, blocking channels and denying fish access to clean water. Southeast Asia’s longest river, the Mekong, is losing its delta because of too much sand extraction, resulting in saltwater moving inland and killing plants and animals. Similarly, a freshwater river in Sri Lanka was flooded with ocean water, bringing crocodiles to previously habitable areas.

Some experts believe that the most viable solution to control sand mining is to impose regulations and taxes on operators and importers. While sand importation bans can be helpful, the long-term effects can lead to smuggling and other illegal practices. Instead, a tax rate that considers the potential social and ecological damages of sand mining in communities may be a good starting point.

Implications of sand mining

Wider implications of sand mining may include:

Increasing ecological damages caused by disappearing sand, such as flooding in coastal cities and islands. This trend may result in a growing number of climate change refugees.
Sand-rich countries taking advantage of sand scarcity by increasing prices and negotiating for more favorable trade agreements.
Industrial material manufacturers researching and developing mass-produced recycled and hybrid materials to replace sand.
Countries that share borders with sand resources collaborate on implementing sand export tariffs.
Sand miners and construction companies being heavily regulated, taxed, and fined for overexploitation.
More companies researching synthetic building materials that are biodegradable, recyclable, and sustainable.