Extended Minerals Reporting Template 1.4 and Additional Minerals Reporting Template 1.2

RMI announced the release of the new versions of the Extended Minerals Reporting Template, EMRT 1.4, and Additional Minerals Reporting Template, AMRT 1.2.

What Are the Additional and Extended Minerals Reporting Templates?

In today’s global supply chains, responsible sourcing of minerals is critical. Businesses are increasingly responsible for ensuring that the minerals used in their products are sourced ethically and in compliance with international standards. To meet these requirements, companies use specialized reporting tools to track and disclose the origins of the minerals in their supply chain. Besides the Conflict Minerals Reporting Template (CMRT), two other main tools in this area are the Extended Minerals Reporting Template (EMRT) and the Additional Minerals Reporting Template (AMRT), both developed by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI).

Extended Minerals Reporting Template 1.4

The previous versions of the Extended Minerals Reporting Template only cover two minerals, cobalt and mica. RMI added the four additional minerals in the EMRT 1.4:

Copper
Graphite (natural)
Lithium
Nickel

From April 2025 onward, businesses must use this version to conduct surveys of the covered minerals in their supply chains.

Copper

Copper is an essential material in the electronics industry due to its excellent electrical conductivity and versatility. It is one of the core materials in electrical wirings, Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), semiconductor devices (e.g., transistors and integrated circuits), motors, transformers, antennas, connectors, etc.

Copper is mined in many countries worldwide, with Chile and Peru accounting for most global production. Other copper-producing countries with notable mining locations include the United States, China, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mexico, Zambia, Russia, Australia, and Indonesia.

Graphite (Natural)

Manufacturers widely use natural graphite in electronics due to its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. Moreover, its versatility makes it essential for improving device performance and energy efficiency in modern electronics. Some of its main applications include:

As the anode material and energy storage in lithium-ion batteries
As a conductive coating on electronic components
As a lubricant for electronics manufacturing
As a shielding used in Electromagnetic Interference (EMI)
As a base material for graphene used in transistors, semiconductors, and other electronic components

China is the world’s largest natural graphite producer, accounting for about two-thirds of global production. Other key graphite mining locations are Brazil, Mozambique, India, Canada, Tanzania, Russia, and Ukraine.

Lithium

Lithium is essential in electronics due to its lightweight and excellent electrochemical properties. Furthermore, lithium’s role in batteries is critical for powering portable electronics and electric mobility. Lithium batteries are widely used in smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, fitness trackers, and electric vehicles (EVs) due to their long lifespan, fast charging, and energy storage capabilities.

Lithium is extracted from two primary sources: lithium-rich brine and hard rock mineral deposits. Australia and Chile are the two world’s largest lithium producers. Other major lithium-producing countries and mining locations include Argentina, China, the United States, Canada, Bolivia, Portugal, Zimbabwe, and Brazil.

Nickel

Manufacturers employ nickel in electrical connectors and switches due to its excellent corrosion resistance and ability to maintain electrical conductivity. It is also used in materials that shield electronic devices from electromagnetic interference (EMI), ensuring stable and reliable operation. Nickel plating is applied to electronic components to enhance wear resistance and improve conductivity. Other applications are in soldering materials and batteries (e.g., nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries).

Nickel is mined globally, with leading producers including Indonesia, Australia, the Philippines, Russia, Canada, and Cuba.

Why AMRT Matters?

Like CMRT and EMRT, the AMRT is a tool to streamline the collection and transfer of information about the supply chain’s smelters, refiners, and processors. It aids in adhering to due diligence practices based on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply Chains of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas (OECD Guidance). Moreover, the AMRT helps identify new smelters, refiners, and processors that may be subject to an audit through the RMI Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP).

The AMRT helps downstream companies collect and share information about their supply chains. It aims to make the supply chain surveying processes more efficient and straightforward.

AMRT vs PRT

The Pilot Reporting Template (PRT), introduced on November 11, 2022, is a free and standardized tool created by the Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI). Its purpose is to help identify critical issues and gather due diligence data for minerals not addressed by the CMRT and EMRT.

The PRT has progressed beyond its pilot phase two years after its initial launch. Subsequently, the Responsible Minerals Initiative renamed the PRT to the Additional Minerals Reporting Template (AMRT). Starting October 4, 2024, companies must use the AMRT version 1.2 file to conduct their mineral surveys for the 2024 reporting year. Notably, aside from the name change, the only other modification from the previous PRT version 1.1 file is the addition of German language support.

Which Minerals Does the AMRT Cover?

The AMRT supports businesses in gathering supplier information for any mineral of concern other than those covered by the CMRT and EMRT. Accordingly, companies can select up to ten minerals to request data on. In other words, users define the scope of the AMRT and can include up to ten unregulated minerals of interest in their form.

Therefore, companies must continue using the CMRT for gold, tin, tantalum, and tungsten (also known as 3TG) supplier reporting and the EMRT for cobalt, mica, copper, graphite (natural), lithium, and nickel supplier reporting. The AMRT is used to report all other minerals such as:

Aluminum
Indium
Germanium
Neodymium

Contact Enviropass to learn more about conflict minerals reporting!