Transparency for building trust - local community of interest committees

Challenge the practice is addressing: Eldorado depends on the relationships it has with its stakeholders, from the early phases of exploration to the final reclamation and rehabilitation of a mine site, to make sure that the opportunities brought about by its activities result in socially inclusive and sustainable growth. The most noticeable social, environmental, and economic effects of Eldorados' operations are felt most acutely in the nearby towns. They make a concerted effort to support the development objectives of their host communities and governments by maintaining open and transparent communication, offering competitive wages and benefits, giving preference to local procurement, paying their fair share of taxes and royalties, and investing in community programs and infrastructure.

Concrete practice to achieve the expected goal: Eldorado's Lamaque mine in Quebec has a Monitoring Committee, headed by an impartial third party, to routinely update and consult local stakeholders and include the official Community of Interest at the site in decision-making about our activities and initiatives. For instance, the Monitoring Committee and the Lamaque team collaborate to put cutting-edge stakeholder engagement techniques for tailings management into reality. On proposed and actual tailings facility modifications, designs, standards, lifespans, and pertinent environmental, social, and economic elements of tailings management, the Committee is informed and consulted.

Expected impact/goal of the practice: The Committee acts as one of a number of channels through which information is shared with local stakeholders and their opinions are sought in order to make decisions on tailings management. Using this method, Eldorado has made judgments in the past, most recently working with a nearby First Nation to rule out two greenfield possibilities for potential tailings storage facilities.

Who is the target user group of the practice/intervention or implementing the practice/intervention? This practice is relevant for companies in the extractive industry.