Mines and metallurgical plants inevitably lead to questions being raised by local inhabitants, elected representatives, the media, NGOs, etc. regarding the safety and the environmental impact of their activities. Eramet seeks to establish close contact with all the entities that are stakeholders in its activities.
Every unit needs to know local stakeholders and listen to their opinions and expectations on the environmental, economic and social issues relating to Eramet’s operations. For this purpose, Eramet has set up a mapping tool to enable units to identify their stakeholders by both location and topic.
Many Group units have shown their ability to dialogue with multiple stakeholders, while adapting to the political and cultural context of their host countries.
Discoveryof “SLN invests for 40 years” exhibition and showroom for the C power plant.
The Group’s units also regularly welcome elected representatives and members of central and local administrative centres. These visits are an opportunity to present the site’s activities, developments and capital projects. In Gabon on Saint Eligius’ day in 2014, for example, SETRAG’s activities were presented to representatives of Owendo town hall as well as senior police officials. The Minister for Transport and the Chairman of railway regulator ARTF also took advantage of the event to tour a worksite on the Transgabonais railway.
Dialogue with local populations can take several forms, with each unit developing its initiatives according to its sensitivity and resources. While public meetings are a preferred channel for giving out information, SLN’s electricity plant project was explained to the public in 2014 through a dedicated showroom. This included a model of the Doniambo site including the new power plant, and educational hologram and instructive videos. For the sake of transparency, SLN also takes part in local information and consultation committees to discuss its activities and its units’ news with New Caledonians.
The Group’s units also organise specific events to go and meet their stakeholders. In Gabon COMILOG celebrates the traditional, popular Saint Barbara’s Day in honour of the patron saint of miners. The annual event brings together employees, families and inhabitants of Moanda for fetes, sporting activities, shows and exhibitions. In a completely different register, two French units, Aubert & Duval TAF Gennevilliers and Erasteel Champagnole, inaugurated a new machine and new workshops, respectively, in 2014. Partners, customers, investors and employees were all invited for the occasion.
The Eramet Group is committed to partnership or sponsorship actions in topics ranging from the environment to sport and culture. Most industrial and mining units have local partnerships with stakeholders. On a different scale, foundations and mining projects contribute to community development. In 2014, many partnerships of various kinds and sizes were recorded, mostly concerning NGOs but also local authorities, institutions and schools, etc.
2013 Eramet and its subsidiary SLN sponsored the biggest exhibition on Kanak art and culture of the past 20 years, “KANAK, l’Art est une Parole”. It was held from October 2013 to January 2014 at Quai Branly Museum in Paris (France) then from March to June 2014 at Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Nouméa (New Caledonia). It was an undisputed success with record visitor numbers: 112,000 in Paris and 30,000 in Nouméa.
Eramet strives to contribute to the economic and social development of the regions of the world where it is based, particularly by promoting employment, building infrastructure or supporting local sporting, cultural or other initiatives.