摘要
Social issues are increasingly recognized as significant inhibitors to mineral development projects. Increasingly, social risk is being recognized as a key factor determining the success of a mineral investment. Groups opposed to a mine for social or political reasons otten use environmental impacts, real or perceived, to prevent mine development. These risk factors depend largely on cultural perceptions of mining activities and must be understood as such in order to be appropriately managed. A first step to addressing social issues is inclusive, transparent and meaningful engagement of stakeholders. This process allows stakeholders to understand what the other parties value in order to collectively establish a common currency for development and the creation of mutual value. Expanding the scope of benefits and values a mine can bring is of increasing importance to mining companies who typically consult outside specialists remote from the mine site and late in the development timeline for this purpose. Training technical staff, engineers and geologists, who make initial and ongoing contact with local interests, in a holistic approach to mine development is crucial to successful and economic mineral development projects. Further extending this conversation to the genera/ public, media governments and non-govemmental organizations is a necessary step in developing a meaningful discourse on the benefit of mining activities.
