Of all industries, mining has possibly the widest ranging and deepest impact on humanity and the planet. At one end of the value chain, every person’s life is reliant on the mining industry, from the steel beams that hold up the buildings we live and work in, to the mobile phones in almost every person’s pocket. At the production end of the value chain, mining also has a significant impact: as a major employer, as a purchaser of goods and services, as a user and builder of infrastructure, as a utilizer of water and energy, as a payer of taxes, and in terms of its impact on host communities and the environment.
The economic, social, environmental and political impact mining has, and the size and length of time of the investments it makes, means that it has the potential to be a powerful and hugely positive, transformational, partner. By actively aligning its resources and investments alongside those of government, international development partners, communities, and NGOs it can deliver extensive social, environmental and economic benefits that contribute to community resilience both within and beyond its own value chain and, through this, reap extensive benefits itself.
For the mining industry to maximise its potential as a transformational partner in sustainable development, it needs to be institutionally optimised for systematic, effective partnering. This means supportive leadership, a clear and compelling partnering strategy, the right systems and processes, the skills and culture, and the right connections and relationships across stakeholders.
