OUR APPROACH : Environmental & Social Delivery Plan

Introduction

The previous section sets out LIO’s thinking in regard to the sequencing of its activities.  All of these are aimed at developing LIO to be world competitive, to maximise the use of the resource and the use of Liberian management and labour - and to benefit the company’s shareholders and stakeholders (especially the local community).  This plan will be undertaken in stages so that the both the short term and long term needs of the investors and the community are addressed.

Both investors and the community have a legitimate desire to see some action as soon as possible.  At the same time, it is prudent that the full scale production arrangements are evaluated and optimised carefully so that:-

  • capacity building of Liberians can be achieved in all aspects of the business;
  • effective community liaison and involvement is achieved so as to meet the legitimate needs of the community and thereby win meaningful local support for a sustainable long term operation.

In addition, for the long term interests of the community to be served, it is essential to match the technical and financial capacity of the business that can be economically developed on the ore bodies, to the desires and expectations of the community.  This process takes time, care in two way communication, and involvement and commitment by all involved.  As such, it is best done with deliberation if the result is to be durable.
In developing the substantial infrastructure needed to support LIO’s operations, the guiding principle will be that they are provided to support LIO’s operations but, if they can also be used by the local community without impeding LIO’s operations or requiring the addition of capacity, then such use will be encouraged on an “at cost to LIO basis”.  This would especially be applicable to such facilities as roads, railway, water and power supplies. 

Establishment of Community Liaison Committees

LIO will establish Community Liaison Committees at the earliest practical time.  These will be designed to be flexible so as to accommodate changes in the needs for representation by the each community, but will need to be meaningfully representative of the communities who have a stake in the business of the company by reason of its impact on them, or their proximity to its operations.  Both the communities and the company will need to be represented by persons properly mandated by their respective interest holders and with the authority to make binding commitments.  It is envisaged that there will be three regional Community Liaison Committees (Bomi, Bea & Mano River) whose task will be to deal with local matters, and one Central Liaison Committee whose task will be to coordinate matters of shared interest and establish effective liaison with State interests (this latter committee perhaps operated so as to include company and State Government representatives as joint convenors).

Social and Environmental Impact Assessment for Initial Operations

At the earliest opportunity, LIO will work with the local communities and government to have an independent social and environmental impact assessment carried out.  The aim of this will be to provide the community and relevant authorities of the likely impact of early activities, while at the same time expediting the starting of the Initial Operations of the company.

Socio-Economic co-operation with local and State Government

The needs of the company in developing its business and the desires of the community will emerge progressively and be identified through the liaison committees, and, as they do so, matters arising from these committees will then be addressed in detail by the company.

However, it is already possible to anticipate that the following initiatives may be appropriate and the company will pursue them at an early stage:-

  • Support for local schools and vocational training institutions improving literacy and basic skills appropriate to the company.  In providing this support, LIO will encourage the development of capability in the community that will assist small local enterprises in meeting LIO’s outsourcing needs in areas such as vehicle and housing maintenance, security, catering, accommodation, cleaning etc.
  • Support for the football league in such a manner as to assist in the development of clubs in the regions of LIO’s operations.  This could be done by sponsoring support from Arsenal Football Club to assist in league development and administration and in skills development and players clinics and the like;
  • the establishment of annual trophies and awards to encourage the striving for excellence and fairness in football at a National level;
  • the sponsoring of foreign students to local community hospitals and clinics to assist in delivery of medical services to the local community;
  • the establishment of a scholarship fund for students who have the potential to support mining in Liberia by undertaking tertiary studies in Geology, Mining, and Engineering in British Universities;
  • The transfer of a percentage of the company’s profits into a fund (which would be jointly administered by the local communities and LIO) that would provide loans (micro-credit) to support the establishment of small businesses in the local communities.

EIA and SEA for Full Scale Operations

The normal practices applicable to the development of Environmental, Social and Economic Impact Assessments will be implemented.  For each stage, LIO will make available a comprehensive description of its intended activities. The impacts of these will be assessed by independent experts and assembled into reports (prepared independently but paid for by LIO) that will be made available to interested parties to assist them in making any representations they may wish to the regulators. The company will also attend meetings chaired by the regulators to explain further its intended activities and to discuss their impacts and any mitigation (or enhancement) of them that the community may feel is necessary or appropriate.