What strategies can you use to minimize the social impact of mineral exploration?

1 Stakeholder engagement

One of the key strategies to minimize the social impact of mineral exploration is to engage with the stakeholders, especially the local communities, indigenous groups, and civil society organizations, who may have interests, rights, or concerns related to the exploration project. Stakeholder engagement involves identifying, consulting, informing, and collaborating with these groups throughout the exploration cycle, from planning to closure. By doing so, mining engineers can build trust, address grievances, obtain consent, and foster partnerships with the stakeholders, as well as avoid or mitigate potential conflicts and impacts.

3 Social impact assessment

A related strategy to minimize the social impact of mineral exploration is to conduct a social impact assessment, which is a process of identifying, analyzing, and managing the potential social impacts of the exploration project on the affected stakeholders. A social impact assessment can help mining engineers to understand the positive and negative effects of the exploration activities on the social environment, such as the health, safety, well-being, rights, and interests of the local people. It can also help them to develop and implement mitigation measures, compensation plans, and benefit-sharing schemes that can reduce or offset the adverse impacts and enhance the positive impacts.

4 Social license to operate

A further strategy to minimize the social impact of mineral exploration is to obtain and maintain a social license to operate, which is the acceptance and approval of the exploration project by the affected stakeholders and the broader society. A social license to operate is not a formal or legal requirement, but rather a dynamic and ongoing process of building and sustaining relationships and trust with the stakeholders, based on mutual respect, communication, and accountability. By having a social license to operate, mining engineers can demonstrate their commitment to corporate social responsibility, ethical conduct, and stakeholder participation, as well as to avoid or resolve potential disputes and challenges.

5 Social performance management

A final strategy to minimize the social impact of mineral exploration is to implement a social performance management system, which is a framework of policies, standards, procedures, and indicators that can guide and measure the social performance of the exploration project. A social performance management system can help mining engineers to integrate social considerations into their decision-making and operations, as well as to monitor and report on the social outcomes and impacts of the exploration activities. It can also help them to identify and address any gaps, weaknesses, or improvements that may be needed to ensure that the exploration project is socially responsible and sustainable.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?