Every miner knows the importance of breaking new ground – but the real test of a project’s future is not found solely in the resource model. It lies in whether the people living around the mine feel they’re part of its progress. Projects that remain stable, cost-effective, and bankable over time are those where communities can point to tangible, visible benefits linked to the mine’s presence.
As expectations rise and scrutiny intensifies, the industry is moving from making commitments to demonstrating outcomes. Ahead of Mining Indaba 2026, investors are paying closer attention to which operations can demonstrate how they strengthen communities that extend beyond the life of mines. In practice, a social licence to operate is the level of trust and acceptance a mine earns from the people around it, often reflected through tacit approval rather than formal agreements.
Its absence carries real consequences. Companies that overlook social licence in early study phases or delay engagement with community and environmental groups risk objections, legal challenges, and delays to first production. These risks are amplified by geopolitical pressure, unemployment and inequality, and ongoing shifts in mining codes across countries such as SA, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Zambia, and Mali.
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Within this context, while many mining projects claim they will create jobs, support local businesses, and uplift surrounding areas, what matters is evidence. That begins with setting baselines before a project starts or, for existing operations, as early as possible. These baselines work best when co-created and shaped in collaboration with communities, reflecting their priorities and keeping measures aligned with what the mine can realistically deliver.
When communities help determine what should be tracked, shared accountability becomes clearer and misalignment later in the project cycle is less likely. Economic indicators remain the clearest markers of opportunity. They include local employment, procurement from nearby suppliers, workforce development, participation in training programmes, and income trends in the host area.
Alongside these are qualitative indicators such as access to education, health services, water, energy, and transport, as well as perceptions of fairness, safety, and wellbeing. Companies already report some of this data, and often it is verified through transparent formats backed by independent assessments. When third parties validate the numbers, the discussion moves from intention to proof. In contrast with the direct impacts, it is typically a more challenging task to accurately measure the broader positive externalities that are derived from the mining project’s contributions to the communities it operates in.
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