Grands projets d’exploitation minière et stratégie des firmes pour se rendre environnementalement acceptables

Abstract

The enormous increase of the world demand of some metals since the end of the twentieth century leads to the multiplication of great mining projects which concern very coveted and scarce minerals as gold. In the same time firms that want to develop new great mines with huge environmental impact risk to encounter a determined opposition from communities with the support of environmental NGOs. The influence of the NGOs on the public opinion through media campaigns can exert pressure on States and conduct them to reject mining projects. If conflicts between mining firms and environmentalist groups grew in numbers in the last years, particularly in developing countries, there are not systematic, or they don’t collect the same support in the communities. Some firms, aware of the stake which represents their environmental identity, have success better as others to develop a strategy, a communication and tasks to make more acceptable their mining projects, also when these projects have a huge environmental impact. The study of different gold mining projects in process or fruitless allows to analyze the strategy of the firms to become environmentally acceptable. It allows to discuss the impact of mining projects in regard of sustainable development.

Keywords

• mine project
• environment
• conflict
• acceptability