Better Mining at SLR Consulting supports integrated sustainability solutions that strengthen social licence and promote responsible operational performance.
SLR Consulting undertaking water and biodiversity assessments linked to mining activities to support environmental compliance, risk management and sustainable project development.
efficiency, emissions reduction strategies, biodiversity integration, progressive rehabilitation and strengthened tailings governance. Crucially, this work is most effective when initiated early in the project lifecycle. “One of the biggest risks we see is when environmental and sustainability considerations are introduced too late,” Smyth says. “By that stage, key design decisions have already been made, flexibility is limited and changes become costly. Early planning is where the real opportunity lies to optimise projects and reduce risk.” The importance of early-stage intervention is particularly evident in stakeholder engagement. Mining projects involve a wide range of stakeholders, including regulators, investors, communities and internal technical teams, and misalignment between these groups is a common cause of delays and disruption. “Many project delays are not caused by technical issues,” Smyth points out. “They arise because expectations among stakeholders were not aligned early enough.” She adds that the pressure of project schedules often dominates early decision-making with insufficient attention given to stakeholder engagement. This can result in rushed or superficial consultation processes, particularly with affected communities. “In practice, we often see community engagement being compressed to meet project timelines rather than being approached as a genuine opportunity to build relationships,” she says. “A hasty approach frequently leads to mistrust, opposition and ultimately delays. Ironically, trying to move faster can have the opposite effect.” The consequences can be severe, ranging from reputational damage to operational shutdowns. Smyth draws on direct experience to highlight how poorly managed stakeholder
SLR Consulting environmental consultants supporting integrated sustainability planning and environmental management at a mining operation.
relationships can escalate into conflict, disrupting site access and halting production. SLR Consulting addresses this by embedding stakeholder alignment into early project planning. By bringing environmental scientists, engineers, social specialists and permitting experts together from the outset, the firm enables clients to identify risks early and align priorities. This also helps avoid costly rework which can place additional strain on project budgets. “Investing time upfront in proper planning and stakeholder alignment may seem like it slows things down but it ultimately accelerates project delivery by reducing delays and uncertainty,” Smyth notes. This integrated early-stage approach is particularly valuable in Africa where regulatory environments vary significantly between jurisdictions. Approval pathways, environmental requirements and stakeholder dynamics differ not only between countries but often within regions. SLR Consulting’s strategy is to combine local expertise with international best practice. “We work to understand jurisdiction-specific requirements while ensuring alignment with global ESG standards and lender expectations,” she explains. “That balance is critical, particularly for projects seeking international finance.” For multinational mining companies, consistency across jurisdictions is essential. Even where local regulations are less stringent, investors increasingly expect adherence to global standards on issues such as tailings management, biodiversity, human rights and climate risk. “Our approach is practical and balanced, ensuring outcomes that are locally compliant, globally credible and tailored to the realities of each project,” she concludes. n
JULY 2026 | www.modernminingmagazine.co.za MODERN MINING 25
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