Author: mitja@pmfbl.org

We spoke with three experts from Poland to explore how mining enterprises can work in harmony with local communities, highlighting the importance of education, dialogue, and transparency.

Their insights show that building trust relies on three pillars: institutional cooperation, community engagement, and transparent communication—a framework for successful mine-community relations.

Strengthening Cooperation Through Institutions

Universities, research institutes, and local governments play a key role in building trust and facilitating engagement. Universities provide knowledge and raise awareness, while local governments oversee planning and participation processes. NGOs and industry associations help bridge communication gaps and bring issues closer to residents.

“We often overlook municipal bodies, but they are the organizational units closest to communities—the ones that truly organize our living space.” — Property Valuation Expert

Education and Dialogue as the Foundation

Successful engagement starts with education. Explaining mining processes, risks, and safety dispels myths and builds understanding. Transparent communication—sharing non-sensitive plans and strategies—helps residents know what to expect and trust mining activities. Consultations, surveys, and meetings are effective only once the community is well-informed.

Example from practice:
In regions like the Legnica–Głogów Copper District, KGHM Polska Miedź S.A. is not only a major employer but also a driver of regional development. The company supports education, finances infrastructure and community projects, and offers diverse employment opportunities—from geology and engineering to HR, legal, and public relations.

“Only when society is educated can meaningful dialogue take place.” — Mining Industry Expert

Practical Actions for the Near Future

In the short term, focus on information campaigns, tailored communication, and transparent planning. Projects should consider mine type, social expectations, and environmental impacts. Sharing operational and reclamation plans—even simplified or anonymized—helps communities anticipate changes and cooperate effectively.

“Information and communication are key. Transparency and proactive engagement build trust.” — Property Valuation Expert

Conclusion

By combining education, transparency, and strategic communication, mining enterprises and local communities can cultivate trust and sustainable development. The SLO+ Hub project strengthens these connections, ensuring mutual benefits and long-term collaboration.

“Collaboration is not just about operations, but about understanding, education, and mutual respect.” — Project Expert

You can watch the full interview on our YouTube channel.

Collaboration in the RM-SLO-PLUS-HUB project means bringing together expertise, shared values, and a common understanding of what sustainable transitions truly require.

We are proud to collaborate with LUT University (Lappeenranta–Lahti University of Technology), a Finnish public science university tackling global challenges through technology, business, and social sciences.

The Sustainability Change Research Group at LUT is one of Finland’s leading centres for sustainability science. Combining engineering, natural sciences, and social sciences, the team studies how technologies, business practices, policies, and human behaviour interact, providing evidence-based insights into what drives — or hinders — sustainable development. They have contributed to numerous EU and national projects, including SCI-MAT, GREENRENEW, FENIX, RELiEF, REINFORCE, and PATTERN, bringing extensive experience in sustainability transitions and circular economy.

Within the project, the LUT team contributes to developing a proof of concept for scalable training courses and consulting services related to Social License to Operate (SLO) in the raw materials sector, focusing on stakeholder engagement, trust-building and shared value creation.

The work is guided by Associate Professor Jarkko Levänen and Postdoctoral Researcher Laura Kainiemi, whose expertise ensures that the SLO training is both scientifically rigorous and relevant to real-world challenges.

Through this collaboration, we are shaping approaches to SLO that are scalable, socially grounded, and designed to make a lasting impact beyond the project itself.

As part of the RM SLO PLUS Hub activities, project partners NTUA (National Technical University of Athens) and PASECO organized an online focus group aimed at supporting the proactive management of Social License to Operate (SLO) in the raw materials sector.

The session brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including industry representatives, institutional and regulatory authorities, scientific and research organizations, as well as technical and ESG consultants.

Participants addressed key challenges related to building social trust in Greece, particularly in contexts affected by past environmental failures and a legacy of insufficient consultation practices. The discussion emphasized the need for methodological improvements in both regulatory frameworks and public consultation processes.

Several strategic directions were identified, including the importance of proactive and transparent engagement, the implementation of high-standard environmental practices and restoration measures, and the establishment of clear spatial planning mechanisms to reduce land-use conflicts. Participants also highlighted the role of transparent environmental monitoring systems, involving independent third-party bodies, as a means to validate data and rebuild trust.

A central conclusion of the focus group was the need to redefine relationships with local communities, recognizing them as essential partners rather than passive recipients of technical information. In addition, participants assessed local and regional educational and consultancy needs to support long-term capacity building for effective SLO management.

Our partner, Montanuniversität Leoben (MUL), is a specialised technical university in Austria with a long-standing focus on raw materials, mining, metallurgy, and related fields. It was founded in 1840 and has since developed into one of the key academic institutions dedicated to education and research across the raw materials value chain. MUL structures its activities around five guiding principles: energy efficiency, climate neutrality, sustainability, zero waste and circular design, which are reflected in both its curricula and research agenda.

The University has extensive experience in European research and education initiatives and has participated in a wide range of EU-funded projects addressing technical, environmental, and social dimensions of raw materials production. Among these projects are MIREU, SUMEX, S34I, EnactSDGs and RM@Schools-ESEE, with a particular emphasis on sustainable mining practices, skills development, and stakeholder engagement. Through these projects, MUL has contributed to advancing interdisciplinary approaches that link engineering solutions with societal expectations and policy frameworks.

In addition to its project involvement, MUL plays an active role in developing and implementing innovative education formats. The University coordinates the EIT RawMaterials-funded PhD education project PRO-SLO, which focuses on strengthening professional competencies related to Social Licence to Operate (SLO).

Within the RM-SLO-PLUS-HUB project, Montanuniversität Leoben is responsible for Work Package 3 (Development and Delivery of Services). In this role, MUL contributes to the design and implementation of training and support services aimed at improving understanding of social aspects in raw materials operations.

Our project at MUL is represented by three dedicated members who combine expertise in education, industry, and sustainable mining. Mariaelena Murphy is the education portfolio manager and researcher at the Resources Innovation Center at MUL. She coordinates education initiatives and international projects, including PRO-SLO project, developing trans-disciplinary approaches that connect research, education, and societal challenges. Hanno Bertignoll manages and supports project activities as the link between Leoben, university institutes, and project partners, contributing practical insights from his background in mining engineering and industry experience. Michael Tost, Professor for Sustainable Mining Technology at MUL, brings his expertise in sustainable mining and environmental management, guiding the project’s research and training efforts to integrate responsible and practical approaches within raw materials sector.

On 17 December in Madrid or partner the Iberian Sustainable Mining Cluster (ISMC), organized a stakeholder workshop brought together representatives from industry, public authorities, academia, civil society, and international organisations to explore the role of social acceptance in the delivery of raw materials projects. The event provided a structured platform to discuss how the Social Licence to Operate (SLO) can be effectively integrated into EU raw materials strategies.

Participants agreed that social acceptance is no longer a secondary concern or purely reputational issue. In today’s context of heightened societal scrutiny, environmental awareness, and governance expectations, SLO has become a necessary condition for project feasibility, alongside technical, legal, and financial requirements. They concluded that legitimacy is shaped locally, influenced by institutional credibility, historical context, and perceived fairness.

The first part of the workshop focused on connecting social acceptance to broader EU objectives, including supply security and international cooperation. While EU policies aim to accelerate strategic projects and strengthen partnerships, the discussions emphasised that successful implementation depends on alignment between policy ambition, governance capacity, and public trust. Without this alignment, permitting processes, investment decisions, and project timelines face increased risk.

The second part explored the territorial, social, and digital dimensions of legitimacy. Participants highlighted that technical feasibility and legal compliance alone are not enough because communities evaluate projects based on lived experience, historical memory, and fairness. SLO is strongest when embedded from the earliest stages in governance, stakeholder engagement, and communication. The workshop also underscored the growing role of digital platforms in shaping public perception, making clear and consistent communication more important than ever.

Overall, the workshop demonstrated that legitimacy is a strategic advantage. Organisations that integrate social acceptance into project planning, governance, and communication are better positioned to deliver resilient and sustainable raw materials projects. The RM-SLO-PLUS-HUB provides practical tools to support this approach, turning dialogue, trust, and engagement into concrete enablers of sustainability and supply security.

Focus groups are one of very important deliverables of RM-SLO-PLUS-HUB project, and they will be held at all partners premises. Let us display how our partner, University of Banja Luka organized their two focus groups to discuss sustainable industrial operations. The discussions brought together students and experts from various disciplines in both industry and academia.

Within the Focus group on Sustainable Industrial Operations in Urban Areas, participants discussed on how industrial activities could be managed sustainably within urban environments, while upholding a strong Social Licence to Operate (SLO). This topic is of particular interest for the citizens of the city of Banja Luka, which was always one of the leading industrial centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina. However, in the last three decades, it has undergone intense urbanization, becoming one of the major administrative centres. Consequently, densely populated neighbourhoods have surrounded several long-standing industrial facilities that once stood on the periphery. Drawing on examples from cities such as Vienna and Copenhagen, participants proposed introducing more green and public spaces, to improve the visual appearance of industrial areas, and developing educational or cultural elements that highlight the city’s industrial heritage.

The Focus Group on Citizens’ Perception and Social Permission (SLO) for the Implementation of Smart Traffic highlighted another important struggle for Banja Luka’s citizens – insufficiently developed urban transport network. During the focus group session, participants were presented with examples of best practices from Europe, such as Malmö and Gothenburg, where citizens use bicycles as their primary mode of transportation. On the other hand, the citizens of Banja Luka, do not have walking and cycling as part of their lifestyle, mainly due to lack of cycling lanes, as well as a general lack of awareness.

Overall, the focus group highlighted a shared belief that industry and urban life can coexist successfully when guided by sustainable practices, modern environmental standards, and ongoing engagement with the public.