Diversified natural resources group Eurasian Resources Group (ERG) Africa’s COMIDE asset, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), has committed to its community development plan agreement, which outlines sustainable development initiatives benefitting 16 communities.

The signing ceremony, which was held on COMIDE’s site in the Lualaba province on August 9, was attended by several government Ministers, community leaders, members of the local community development committee, community representatives, civil societies and other dignitaries.

In his address, acting CEO Sergei Verbitckii highlighted ERG Africa’s commitment to the sustainable development of its impacted communities, while respecting the natural environment in which it operates.

“Currently, ERG Africa supports around 100 communities in the DRC. By investing in education, healthcare, infrastructure and projects that stimulate the local business environment, we aim to ensure that our host communities will prosper not only in the short term – but endure beyond our operations,” he said.

The community development plan, called a Cahier des Charge in the DRC, is the culmination of a year of participative dialogues and extensive consultations between the DRC government (through the Provincial Ministry of Mines), community members, COMIDE’s community engagement team and external consultants.

Together, they identified and scoped the projects that will address the most pressing community challenges and aim to make a lasting impact.

The projects captured in the finalised plan were collectively agreed upon to ensure transparency, align expectations and establish collective ownership among all stakeholders.

The projects outlined in the plan build on previous development activities, the requirements of the 2018 Mining Code and community priorities.

ERG Africa says projects for the first five-year period will focus on agriculture, education, healthcare, access to clean drinking water and the creation of job opportunities through vocational training.

The Cahier des Charges includes the construction of four new schools with equipped classrooms, as well as the addition of equipped classrooms to existing schools in the area.

To create more job opportunities for people from its hosting communities, COMIDE also intends to establish a vocational training centre to equip future skilled workers with the tools to take advantage of diverse employment opportunities within the mining industry, including at COMIDE – once the asset is fully operational.

The community-identified need for sustainable food production and economic development is addressed through the plan’s agricultural projects.

These will focus on maize production and livestock farming. In addition to providing the means to farm higher-quality produce, capacity-building programmes aim to increase farmers’ yields and move them from subsistence farming to becoming sustainable small enterprises.

In addition, four new healthcare centres will serve communities, while the construction of borehole systems will deliver reliable sources of clean water.

Once COMIDE, which is currently in care and maintenance, becomes operational, the company posits that communities will stand to benefit further through employment opportunities, the 0.3% endowment legislated in the Mining Code and the contribution of social mining royalties towards social development initiatives.

Works to prepare COMIDE for future operations are expected to begin in the fourth quarter.