Mechanism for improving relations between mining companies and local communities in order to achieve sustainable development in mining areas in Siguiri, Upper Guinea

In this study, we analyzed the dynamics of relations around the SAG mining concession in the Siguiri prefecture. The analysis of land use dynamics from 1992 to 2022 showed that during this period there were changes in land management and new dynamics in the relationships between local communities, state institutions and the industrial gold mining company AngloGold Ashanti of Guinea (SAG). The results of the relational capacity (RC) calculation showed some positive effects of the company's presence in the Siguiri prefecture. These results show a reduction in the poverty level of Siguiri. Siguiri is one of the prefectures in Upper Guinea with the lowest level of poverty. However, local communities that initially had high expectations of AngloGold Ashanti of Guinea (SAG) are not entirely satisfied with the company, even though there have been some improvements in terms of access to electricity, road infrastructure, and basic social services, as they have not yet received what they expected. Feelings of discontent have often led these populations to demonstrate against the company or to attempt to reoccupy former sites in the mining concession. Thus, the thesis has developed a conceptual model for a mechanism to improve relations between the gold mining company and the local communities of Siguiri. This mechanism is based on the process of obtaining a social license for acceptance and approval of the operation by the communities. The analysis showed that obtaining the social license to operate necessarily requires the development of good relations with local communities. Good relations are maintained and guaranteed by the fundamental criteria of trust, transparency, communication and the impact of basic infrastructure. This relationship dynamic has as its main expression the relationship of trust. The achievement of the trust relationship reduces the risk of social conflicts and improves the reputation of the company. The conceptual model used was not run on specialized software and the mining company did not collaborate with the research team despite the administrative arrangements made for this purpose, which are the limitations of this study. Future studies will involve running the conceptual model in specialized software and applying it to another mining company in another region.