SLP METRIX : MANAGING A MINE’S SOCIAL LICENSE TO
OPERATE
SLP Metrix is a new product offering created through
a partnerhsip between IsoMetrix and Metago
Strategy4Good with the aim to assist mining clients
at managing their social license to operate. Built
on the same risk management methodology on which
IsoMetrix is found, SLP Metrix is an internet-based
risk management tool that ensures that a mine
complies with the commitments made in its Social and
Labour Plan.
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The major reason for developing SLP Metrix
is to assist mines meeting the challenges
set by the Mineral Petroleum and Resource
Development Act (2002). When signed into
effect in 2004, this Act fundamentally
changed the way the mining industry does
business in South Africa. It wrote into law
the necessity for a mine to obtain a social
license to operate. The Act outlines the
regulations which the mining industry has to
comply with in order to achieve
transformation, both internally within their
organisations and externally in their labour
areas. Given that mineral resources belong
to the state, non-compliance with this Act
poses a major risk for a mine and in this
regard the Social and Labour Plan is a key
component thereof.
From a compliance perspective, a SLP is no
different to an Environmental Management
Plan – its a binding commitment and becomes
a contract between a mine and the South
African Government. The benefits to
compliance, and going beyond, is that a
Mine’s sustainability is vastly improved.
Not only does it mitigate against
uncertainties with respect to securing a
license, it also enhances a mine’s Corporate
Sustainability profile which have been shown
to add a considerable premium to shareholder
value on most international stock exchanges.
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Gerrie Muller, MD
Metago Strategy4Good |
For mining clients already familiar with IsoMetrix,
the adoption of SLP Metrix is relatively easy as it
builds on its existing risk assurance framework. The
essence of Risk Assurance is the identification,
interpretation and intervention of risks. Therefore,
in the planning phase, SLP Metrix records all risks
identified in the SLP and through the IsoMetrix risk
assessment tool, it assists a mine to interpret the
significance of these risks. During the
implementation phase, SLP Metrix assists a mine to
intervene appropriately. The content that SLP Metrix
assists in managing, is the mine’s Human Resource
Development Plan, its Local Economic Development
Program, Housing, Nutrition and Downscaling
Management. Given that SLP Metrix, as in IsoMetrix,
records all risks and actions taken, it allows a
mine to demonstrate to the authorities its SLP
compliance activities.
The process used to assist mining clients is to
firstly deconstruct its SLP, making a risk
assessment of all the commitments made to the
authorities and then to capture all these in SLP
Metrix. Typically IsoMetrix simply creates a new
risk type, being SLP-risks, and Metago Strategy4Good
assists the clients in capturing the data. Where
training is required, this is jointly provided by
Metago Strategy4Good and IsoMetrix, with the latter
providing the technical support. Where necessary, Metago Strategy4Good can assist a mine to implement
its SLP.
The benefits of SLP Metrix for all stakeholders are
self-evident: it firstly assists a mining client to
manage its commitments in terms of the SLP; second,
it extends IsoMetrix’s product range and third,
allows Metago Strategy4Good to effectively assist a
mine to implement its SLP successfully.
For further
information contact Paul de Kock at:
Cell: +27 83 633 0607
Email:
pdk@isometrix.com
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