We combine a strong focus on profitability with a highly developed sensitivity to our social responsibilities and a real commitment to making a positive contribution to the countries and communities in which we operate.

Sustainable Development

Randgold Resources is committed to the integration of sustainable environmental and social impact management into its business activities. The optimum utilisation of mineral and other resources encompasses the protection and conservation of the existing environment. Within this framework, the company strives to assist the communities most affected by its operations to develop in a sustainable way and to give all its employees a high quality of work life, including a safe workplace.

Policy

Our integrated social and environmental management process identifies potentially significant negative and positive impacts. The implementation of sustainable environmental and social responsibility strategies aims to minimise negative impacts and maximise the positive impacts of our activities, commensurate with our business strategy and with national and World Bank standards. The strategies we use to achieve this include the following:

• Encourage and reward the use of integrated environmental management to ensure that management decision making processes include a sensitive and holistic consideration of environmental issues. To facilitate this, all projects must include a comprehensive environmental and social impact assessment. Where appropriate, specialist consultants are employed.
  
  
• Maintain positive relationships with neighbouring communities, local and national government authorities, NGOs and aid agencies and the public.
  
  
• Respect and consult with the communities in the areas affected by our operations so that these communities receive fair treatment and where possible benefit from our activities.
  
  
• Budget a percentage of profit for sustainable community development projects. The projects are selected and prioritised in consultation with communities and carried out in cooperation with community members.
  
  
• Aim to forge a pact with employees through having respect for fundamental human rights, including workplace rights, employee development and the need for a healthy and safe workplace.
  
  
• Strive for the highest quality of rehabilitation, waste management and environmental protection in the most cost effective manner.
  
  
• Strive to optimise the consumption of energy, water and other natural resources.
  
  
• Through the introduction of new alternative, environmentally friendly products and processes, as they become available, avoid the use or release of substances which, by themselves or through their manufacturing process, may damage the environment.
  
  
• Practise responsible environmental stewardship to meet the demands of local communities, host country government requirements and international standards, and strive for continuous improvement of environmental performance.
  

In terms of this policy we recognise that a successful mining company is one which is profitable because it also meets its social responsibilities and makes a real contribution to the countries and communities in which it operates. On each of our new developments, a process of assessment and engagement is undertaken to ensure that the positive impacts are maximised and negative impacts minimised. Strong local relationships are one of the foundation stones on which the company has been built and we thus take our social networking and interactions seriously. Our overall approach is guided by the recently updated IFC Guidelines on Environmental, Health and Safety as well as the IFC Mining and Performance Standards on Social and Environmental Sustainability.

During the early exploration stage our aim is to make as small a social impact as possible while respecting customs of the local communities. Once a target progresses to the feasibility stage, full social, medical and environmental baseline studies are conducted, which define the pre-mining conditions and are used as benchmarks throughout the duration of the project. Full environmental and social impact assessments are then carried out including public participation programmes with the local communities where the impacts, both negative and positive, are discussed with the local communities.

A community liaison committee, consisting of a broad spectrum of community representatives, is set up prior to the start of construction and provides a forum where issues concerning the project can be discussed and mutually acceptable solutions found. Randgold Resources has now completed its third such process at Tongon and sees this as instrumental for allaying suspicions and conflicts, while building relationships based on trust between the mines and surrounding communities.