Case Studies

Freeport-McMoRan - Community Engagement

Community Engagement in the Democratic Republic of Congo

In 2008, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. formed the Environmental Services and Sustainable Development Department that includes Environmental Services, Life Cycle Assessment, Water and Land, Social Responsibility and Community Development.  This integrated approach is reflected in their Community Policy which explicitly references the ICMM Sustainable Development Principles as well as the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards.

This approach has been successful at the company’s recent Tenke Fungurume Mining Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Specifically they have incorporated ICMM Principles 3 and 9 and the International Finance Corporation’s “Performance Standard No. 5” into their Resettlement Action Plan.   The plan engaged community members to assist in the project.  

Performance Standard 5: Land Acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement

To avoid or at least minimize involuntary resettlement wherever feasible by exploring alternative project designs

To mitigate adverse social and economic impacts from land acquisition or restrictions on affected persons’ use of land by: (i) providing compensation for loss of assets at replacement cost; and (ii) ensuring that resettlement activities are implemented with appropriate disclosure of information, consultation, and the informed participation of those affected

To improve or at least restore the livelihoods and standards of living of displaced persons

To improve living conditions among displaced persons through provision of adequate housing with security of tenure4 at resettlement sites

The  Resettlement Action Plan places households in the community into new villages that have infrastructure, access to clean water and sanitation and access to health and education facilities.  Many of the families are settled into new homes in the villages they helped design and the project has prioritized the use of local labor and supplies whenever possible. The Resettlement Action Plan project has faced some delays due to issues involving coordination of numerous local contractors and difficulties facilitating delivery of building materials. To help assess our performance, we have selected an external expert to audit the village resettlement in accordance with the Resettlement Action Plan. This audit is a critical part of our continual improvement plan.