Local communities are undertaking an increased role in mine project decision making processes, associated with growing pressure and expectations from regulators, financiers and the general public. This is particularly evident in international projects within developing economies._x000D_
Environmental and social issues are often complex. Solutions demand difficult choices and trade-offs between sustainable development dimensions: economic growth, social equity and environmental integrity. Proactive stakeholder engagement can play a critical role in assisting decision-makers in determining the operational reality of sustainable development by jointly exploring project trade-offs between proponents and affected stakeholders. Good stakeholder engagement has other potential benefits, ranging from reduced financial risk due to regulator delays, legal disputes or negative publicity to increasing market share through good public image._x000D_
Approaches to consultation and disclosure have changed from short-term regulatory based focuses, to longer-term, strategic tools for relationship building, proactive risk management and new business identification. Approaches to consultation form a significant opportunity to contribute to overall social sustainability._x000D_
This paper discusses, based on authors' experience, the broader concept of stakeholder engagement and its contribution to social sustainability of the mining industry. The focus is on key considerations for an effective stakeholder engagement. Three case studies outline how broad based, proactive stakeholder engagement can contribute to improved operation and overall sustainability. The case studies include: a greenfields project in Ghana; a long-term mine in Australia; and an open-pit mine in Vietnam._x000D_
FORMAL CITATION:Blood, A and Tran, H, 2009. Stakeholder engagement and social sustainability in the mining sector, in Proceedings SDIMI 2009 - Sustainable Development Indicators in the Minerals Industry, pp 79-84 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).