The need to incorporate aspects linked to the environment and community development throughout the entire mining lifecycle is crucial for companies to have a social license to operate. Assessing how mining projects are contributing to social and community development, the way in which they are carrying out their current tasks and what still needs to be done are all topics of discussion for the 2nd International Conference on Social Responsibility in Mining, Srmining 2013.
The meeting will take place from November 5-8 at the Sheraton Hotel in Santiago, Chile and will bring together a large number of representations from the mining industry and organizations linked to social welfare all with the aim of sharing viewpoints, experiences and results on social responsibility in mining.
The technical program of the event is made up of more than 60 papers from 18 countries and will analyze different strategies and programs implemented and developed by various mining companies.
Amongst the topics to be discussed, the presentation by the Fundación Minera Los Pelambres, Chile is worth mentioning. The presentation, entitled “Culture of Infancy - Salamanca: An early infancy program strengthened with local commitment,” outlines a project implemented with local institutions in 14 preschools in the area with a strong focus on skill building.
Other examples of working with the community are those which will be presented by Compañía MInera Teck Carmen de Andacolla, Chile. The first, conducted in conjunction the PHP Consultants, outlines a Teck-CDA water efficiency program as a participatory budget model and its contributions to community development. The second paper deals with the support provided by the company for the creation of a lodging network as an alternative to constructing a temporary camp.
In addition to these papers, there are others that address issues as diverse as the challenges of implementing the ILO Convention No. 169 in Chile, social impact assessment, coexistence of mining and agriculture, and new approaches to community relations, among others.
Moreover, interesting analyses and international experiences will be presented. The paper by the CCPM Consulting group in Peru will address the key success factors of local and district concerted development plans in La Encañada de Cajamarca, Peru. This part of the Peruvian government promotes mandatory coordinated development plans as a tool for local development.
Also noteworthy are the two panel discussions that will bring together experts from different areas. The first panel is entitled “The way towards socially responsible economic development for aboriginal communities” and the second “Mining and community: The media’s role and responsibility.”
Srmining is organized by the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining at the University of Queensland, Australia and Gecamin, Chile. The conference also includes three professional development courses prior to the event and a technical visit to the mining town Sewell, located in the El Teniente Division of Codelco, Chile and declared a UNESCO world heritage site.
