The importance of responsible mining in the exploration phase
Mining experts believe that mining, environmental and local activists in the country are often at odds with each other and have no interaction with each other, while in other mining countries, they see the interaction of these actors as mining stakeholders. Are.
Problems of the mining area
Aydin Zeinalzadeh, social affairs consultant of Iran's Youth Chamber of Industry, Mines and Commerce, said: "One of the problems in the field of mining is local conflicts, natural resources and the environment, which is considered in the form of responsible mining in the world."
The exploration expert of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade stated: Identifying and determining the reserves of mineral resources is an essential step that must be done before the mine is opened. At this stage, the explorer should benefit from situational analysis and interaction with stakeholders. Although the miner does not have as much presence in the area and the community affected by the operation as he does in the exploration and extraction operations, he may provoke the sensitivities of the locals by creating dust.
Referring to the opposition of local communities to the miners, the Social Affairs Advisor of the Iranian Youth Chamber of Industry, Mines and Commerce stated: Some local communities do not differentiate between exploration and exploitation operations; Unless the miner intervenes directly in their work, this increases the risk of dissatisfaction of the locals before opening and even before the feasibility stage.
Zeinalzadeh added: "Any hostility that arises during the exploration phase will weaken subsequent efforts to engage constructively with local stakeholders, and in return for any goodwill created during the exploration phase, it is likely to pave the way for effective interaction with stakeholders until the end of the mine life." Will smooth.
The exploration expert of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade, referring to the benefits of early interaction with stakeholders for the miner, said: Will share with the community so that the mining development process and the community can proceed simultaneously.
Zeinalzadeh stated that failure to interact with the community can weaken the value and vision of the mine, adding that successful interaction can increase this value exponentially by creating an atmosphere of cooperation and goodwill. In the exploration phase, it is not possible to use all the quality of mining tools responsibly, but it creates a simple analysis and initial interaction with stakeholders, which, of course, will lay the foundations for future interactions during the life of the mine.
The social affairs consultant of the Iranian Youth Chamber of Industry, Mines and Commerce continued: "The main ideas in this field are to establish a positive relationship with the local community, clarify the role of the exploration phase and the general process of mine development." In the meantime, local officials, government observers, and representatives of NGOs and NGOs can assist the explorer in communicating effectively. The rationale for using a participatory approach to project development is that those involved in the decision-making process are more likely to welcome the results.
Zeinalzadeh added: "A participatory process with poor design and management will be ineffective at best and will have negative effects on social and environmental outcomes, while a participatory approach that is well designed with local conditions and all social capacities in mind." Recognizes, invites stakeholders to join the unified process and ensures that the opportunity is provided to express needs, expectations and concerns.
Emphasizing that an effective participatory process begins with the identification and analysis of stakeholders, the Social Affairs Advisor of the Iranian Youth Chamber of Industry, Mines and Commerce continued: "Initial interaction with stakeholders will help miners to build trust and establish mutual respect." . Stakeholders are assured that the miner intends to be seriously informed of their views. Of course, sometimes some miners interact with stakeholders before exploratory and feasibility studies, and raise the expectations of local people for no reason; Expectations that will rise by themselves and miners by doing so will negatively affect public opinion.
The exploration expert of the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Trade stated: If the interaction with the stakeholders starts after the conflict, the miner will not gain sufficient level of credibility and trust to effectively resolve the disputes and if he waits long enough to attract the support of the local community or associations. The local people, the institution or the government, whose reputation is in danger, has waited longer than usual! In between, the situation and conditions of each region are unique and the appropriate participation of stakeholders varies from mine to mine.
Zeinalzadeh added: "Experience has shown that the expectations of new stakeholders may emerge at any stage following a miner's decision to advance the mining project during the evaluation process and even after the mine is opened, and the miner may be forced to take legal action due to disturbances caused by new stakeholders." Refer to. In the meantime, recognizing that some stakeholders may deviate from the initial identification process and remain in the shadows, it can be recommended that the identification of stakeholders continue uninterrupted throughout the mining process.
The importance of an interactive look
Kourosh Shabani, a member of the Mining House, said: "The first issue that should be considered by the explorer after the registration of the free zone is receiving inquiries from natural resources." Natural resources, meanwhile, have strict rules and sometimes oppose more than ninety-five percent of requests; For example, in 2016 in Tehran province, 100% of the requests were opposed. The situation is the same now, and natural resources only agree to a limited number of mining activities.
The mining activist pointed to another example: The legislature allows the miner to register a range of up to about 240 km for group six (which includes metals). In this process, initial exploration must be done to identify, while natural resources limit space and do not allow it; In this way, in the first days of exploration, it creates a problem.
Shabani stated that according to the belief of mining activists, it is better not to erase the problem, he clarified: we need resources and raw materials in the country's industries to provide factory feed and employment growth in the country. In the meantime, we must allow the explorer to do his job with an interactive view, instructions and principled solutions.
Referring to the mining situation in other countries, this member of the Mining House noted: In many countries of the world, such as Brazil, Georgia and Germany, we are witnessing the growth of mining in the middle of the forest. The problem is that in these societies we see interaction between stakeholders; Something that is lacking in our country.
Shabani stated that in Iran, natural resources and mining are facing each other and neither of them understands each other, he clarified: these two areas should be together and solve their problems with an interactive view; For example, if there is a plan for exploration, it should be accompanied by a view to the environment and natural resources.
At the end of his speech, the member of the Mining House stated: "There is wealth in the country that, with proper functioning and proper investment, may replace part of the oil revenues after twenty years." These reserves should not be left unused, but should enter the field of production of the country and bring with it wealth and employment so that the country becomes capable. He stressed: There is no way to achieve this but interaction.
last word
Mining experts believe that mining, environmental and local activists in the country are often at odds with each other and have no interaction with each other, while in other mining countries, they see the interaction of these actors as mining stakeholders. Are. Today, in order for mining to flourish and for local communities and the environment not to be confronted with it, interaction must be considered. The cooperation of each of the stakeholders can be the key to opening the economic growth and profit of each of the actors related to the mining sector.
