Community

Stakeholder communication and consultation meetings at Sadiola

The Sadiola and Yatela operations held a three-day Stakeholders' Communication and Consultation Workshop at Sadiola between 23 and 25 September 2004. Topics covered included an overview of the year's activities at the Sadiola and Yatela mines; progress regarding the Integrated Development Action Plan (IDAP); progress on recommendations made at the previous workshop held in June 2003; and identification of key issues regarding mine closure.

Represented at the workshop was the Ministry of Mines, Water and Energy; the central authorities of Bamako; the local administration authorities of Kayes and Sadiola; local communities of Sadiola Commune; NGOs (non-government organisations); associations; SEMOS and Yatela SA; the International Finance Corporation (IFC); AngloGold Ashanti; and members of the public and the media.

It was reported that much had been achieved between the June 2003 and September 2004 meetings. Notable were:

• the establishment of a Stakeholders Committee (comprising current members of the workshop, representatives of the national, regional and local authorities, local communities, and Semos management) to monitor progress on recommendations emanating from the June 2003 meeting
• the initiation of a Code of Conduct to improve stakeholder relationships between the two mining operations; the establishment of a water management committee to ensure sustainability after mine closure
• appointment of the services of the National Institute of Research in Public Health (INRSP) to assess public health risks
• dust management initiatives
• an education programme to improve the level of English, and
• a malaria and STI/AIDS prevention programme.

The forum was reminded of the Malian government's expectations of the mines' responsibilities towards vocational training, the development of villages impacted by mining operations and their environmental obligations.

Feedback on progress thus far was encouraging, for example:

• the INRSP health survey began on the 14 September 2004
• an awareness programme on STDs (Sexually Transmitted Diseases) and HIV/AIDS has been conducted
• an 'open-door' policy is now in operation to encourage interaction between the local community and the mines
• women are being trained in small business activities like cloth-dyeing, soap manufacture and plastic re-cycling
• 16 wells and a number of small dams have been constructed in some villages
• a dust suppression programme is to be implemented after initial trials
• a current tree-planting initiative is being expanded, and
• efforts are underway to provide electricity through the installation of solar panels.

Much discussion was given to an IDAP study that had recently been conducted. Although stakeholders at the workshop were in agreement on the objectives of the IDAP document, concerns were raised regarding content and form of the document. These concerns include:

• too much focus on training and development rather than on the funding of projects
• operating costs are too high compared to investments
• too little involvement of recipient communities, and
• the absence of an IDAP monitoring tool.

Another worrying aspect, which became evident during the workshop discussions, was the realisation that many participants did not fully understand what the IDAP project is about. This was an issue that was addressed before embarking on the final day of the workshop, which concerned issues of sustainability on mine closure. These related primarily to health, employment, communication, women promotion and the preservation of natural resources. Suggestions on a range of issues were volunteered, for example:

• ongoing health care provision
• the promotion of women in mining
• job creation
• education and training
• the development of tourism
• water management, especially quality and availability of potable water
• agriculture and livestock breeding
• protection of flora and fauna
• rehabilitation of mine sites
• road infrastructure and maintenance, and
• clarity of Malian legislation laws regarding mine closure.

The next annual Stakeholders' Communication and Consultation Workshop, which will once again provide a platform for feedback on recommendations suggested at this forum, as well as a review of the year's activities, will take place during the latter part of 2005.