Europe-focused lead, zinc and silver developer Europa Metals has completed the first round of engagement meetings with representatives of local mayors in the region of Castilla y León, north-west Spain, where the Toral project is located.
The stakeholder consultation initiative, stipulated by the Junta of Castilla y León, is required as part of the company's mine development application.
Europa said on Friday that, while community engagement had been at the centre of its work over the course of the last two years, the company was following a more coordinated and structured methodology.
Its initiatives include a local website on the Toral project (europametals.es and proyectotoral.com.) to serve as an online hub for feedback and answering queries or concerns relating to the company and the Toral project. The website would also outline how a future underground lead, zinc and silver mine would work and its appropriateness to the local area, share potential economic scenarios and local content policies relating to the project as they develop through the prefeasibility study and notify community meetings and key dates for interaction.
Following an initial round of meetings with the representatives of mayors from the five town halls within the Toral project area, Europa reported that there was support for the potential rejuvenation of the local mining region through the Toral project, provided that activities were respectful to the environment and other economic factors were considered.
The next stage of community meetings would take place with local village representatives.