Stakeholders’ perceptions of sustainable mining in Morocco: A case study of the abandoned Kettara mine

Abstract

In order to embrace the sustainable development challenge, the mining industry must balance economic, environmental and social costs and benefits. Collaboration between the industry, governments and local populations requires an understanding of each other’s needs and views. This paper examines the case of the Kettara abandoned mine in Morocco, comparing perceptions of sustainable mining among the local population, governmental representatives, and industrial developers. All stakeholder groups agreed that sustainable mining is a shared responsibility. Converging themes were mostly environmental: (1) a clear and effective legal framework is needed to ensure adequate environmental protection; (2) best environmental management practices should be employed; and (3) the post-mine closure has to be planned before the beginning of a mining project. Differences in viewpoints were mostly related to socioeconomic issues, and included (1) the role (direct or indirect) of mining companies in fostering community sustainability; (2) the magnitude of the social impacts of mine closure; (3) the risks to the security of employees; (4) the measures to be taken to minimize health impacts on local populations; (5) the amount of investment to be requested from mining companies to guarantee the long-term viability of local communities; and (6) the understanding of inter-generational equity.