This Encyclopaedia provides a cutting-edge, up-to-date reference source on mineral and energy policies around the world. It offers information on GDP, population, investment scenarios and current environmental regulations in over one hundred countries from 13 geographic regions around the world. It covers topics such as geo-conservation, raw material recycling and mining technology as well as rare earth, green technology and international organizations that are actively involved in minerals and energy through exploration, arbitration, marketing and investment. Topical entries are presented alphabetically with extensive cross-referencing to ensure user-friendly reading. This Encyclopaedia presents the work of more than 20 section editors and more than 100 international experts in the fields of mineral and energy policies. It is designed as a essential resource for researchers, students, libraries, industry, governments, and international organizations and presents a wealth of insights and guidance for corporate planning regarding exploration and financial investments, as well as for venture capitalist and international funding bodies. As such, it provides an indispensable point of reference for future research on mineral and energy policy.

Associate Prof. Dr. Guenter Tiess is managing director of MinPol, Agency for international Mineral Policy. MinPol is also running an international network of experts of every branch in the field of minerals policy that is continuously growing (www.minpol.com). The network is already by now covering almost all continents, which emphasises the world-wide approach of MinPol. An economy geologist by training (PhD, Habilitation), he has more than fifteen years of experience in research on focused on international mineral policy, mining and sustainability (Montanuniversitaet Leoben [2002 - 2014]; Technical University of Ostrava [since 2015]; since 2011, close relationship with the Department of Mining Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

Peter Cameron is Professor of International Energy Law and Policy and Director of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum and Mineral Law and Policy at the University of Dundee in Scotland UK (www. http: //www.dundee.ac.uk/cepmlp/staff/pcameron.php). He is a barrister (Middle Temple) and door tenant at Tanfield Chambers, London. Peter is the author or editor of more than a dozen books and over a hundred articles, including the sole authored monograph, 'International Energy Investment Law: the Pursuit of Stability' (Oxford University Press, 2010). He is also joint editor of the online Encyclopaedia of Mining and Energy Policy (Springer). He was senior coordinator of the World Bank funded project on Good Practice in the extractives industries, entitled Oil, Gas and Mining: The Extractive Industries Source Book (www.eisourcebook.org). He has often worked as an advisor or consultant to governments, particularly in the developing world and emerging markets, and to international organisations. Peter is frequently instructed as an expert witness in arbitration proceedings, and has given oral testimony before the ICC, the Stockholm Chambers of Commerce, the London Court of International Arbitration and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre. He has regularly advised the Energy Charter Secretariat, most recently on the introduction of amendments to address low carbon issues, and is a member of its Legal Sub-Committee. In 2013 Peter was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Tapan Majumder is a former Professor and Head of the Department of Applied Geology, Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad, India. Currently he is a technical consultant at Himadri Chemical and Industries, Calcutta as well as an environmental consultant on mining, geology and geohydrology at Grass Roots Research and Creation, New Delhi.