⎪ Minerals processing and materials handling ⎪
Dieter Rodewald, SLR Consulting’s International Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) Lead for Africa and the Middle East, stresses that building a mining proj- ect that is financially viable, operationally robust and socially responsible requires early and continuous alignment among all stakeholders. “This is where SLR Consulting positions itself not just as a technical consultant, but as a strategic partner,” he says. “People often think environmental and social assessments are just compliance exercises. However, our work starts much earlier, helping clients navigate ESG imperatives from day one so that sustainability becomes embedded in decision-making rather than added as an afterthought.” Rodewald notes that early partnership is increasingly vital as mining jurisdictions across Africa tighten and modernise their regulatory frameworks. At the same time, international financiers are imposing more rigorous ESG standards for funding approvals. “If a client wants access to capital, they need to meet global good practice, not just national regulations,” he explains. “Financial institutions want assurance that the full range of project risks is understood and managed from the start.” Many mining projects also face legacy issues that require careful handling. Rodewald recalls a case in which SLR Consulting supported a client
in reviving a project burdened by socio-political challenges inherited from previous owners. The new project team urgently need to reach financial close, finalise engineering designs and complete ESG baselines, but community mistrust threatens progress. “We had to work with the client to take a step back and help them rebuild trust,” he says. “The solution was a grassroots engagement strat- egy that reset expectations and re-established transparent communication. Over just a few months, we saw marked improvement in com- munity confidence.” This experience underscores critical lessons: social licence cannot be rushed, and project timelines must account for community realities. Looking ahead, Bracken notes that technol- ogy is opening powerful new avenues for min- ing in Africa, but only if the right partners are brought in early. He points to renewable energy integration as an area where early engagement enables independent power producers and min- ing operations to collaborate to reduce carbon footprints and secure long-term power supply. “Digital innovation and artificial intelli- gence can transform monitoring and planning, through digital twins, predictive analytics and hyperspectral imagery, for example,” he adds. “Remote sensing and advanced satellite data can now support improvements in everything
from exploration to tailings monitoring and biodiversity assessment.” For both Bracken and Rodewald, the mes- sage is consistent: sustainability in mining requires strategic partnership, whole-of-value- chain insight, and early engagement across dis- ciplines. With this approach, mining projects can achieve more resilient operations, stronger ESG performance and deeper trust with the stake- holders who ultimately shape their success. https://www.slrconsulting.com/afr/ Early and continuous stakeholder alignment is central to SLR Consulting’s approach, ensuring mining projects meet regulatory requirements, secure financing and maintain long-term social licence.
March-April 2026 • MechChem Africa ¦ 25
Made with FlippingBook flipbook maker