2015-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2015 Volume 4: Meech Intl. Symp. / Mining Operations
| Editors: | Kongoli F, Veiga MM, Anderson C |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2015 |
| Pages: | 275 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-987820-27-0 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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Economic Development Models in Mining-Affected Communities
Suzette McFaul1; Andre Xavier2; Javier Nava1; Maria Teresa Ledezma3;1SEF CANADA LTD., Vancouver, Canada; 2UBC-MINING, Vancouver, Canada; 3TECNOLOGICO DE MONTERREY, San Luis Potosi, Mexico;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 474
Topic: 4
Abstract:
For so many years, economic development has been implemented as a way to pursue communities' sustainability. Such approach leads to economic dependency rather than economic opportunities. Traditionally, mining companies invest in the economic development model as part of their Social Responsibility, yet it does not always result in economic benefits for communities. A good example of this is the community of Cerro de San Pedro, in Mexico. Throughout the time, the practice of the traditional economic approach implemented by mining companies has not only created an unhealthy dependency, but also led to investment in the wrong sectors. As a consequence, the current infrastructure of the community consists of abandoned hotels, unsuccessful greenhouses and empty farms. Local new businesses have not been started, and the created infrastructure has not been fully seized. The answer to promote opportunities relies on focusing not on the ideas of the planners, but on the ideas, passion, energy and imagination of local entrepreneurs. Economic diversification has to start with entrepreneurs willing to come forward with their ideas. For this to happen, entrepreneur-friendly infrastructure and environment have to be created. Communities that can successfully create the virtuous circle of economic development can both produce infrastructure projects and have them properly and fully utilized and maintained. They are capable of developing timely projects based on the needs of entrepreneurs. When a community like Cerro de San Pedro has this balanced model of economic development securely in place, larger numbers of people explore entrepreneurship and existing resources and programs are better utilized. This paper presents a comparison between economic development and economic diversification taking as an example the community of Cerro de San Pedro.
Key words: Sustainability, Mining, Community, Economic Development