Sustainability

Community

We work closely with our host communities to drive socio-economic development, with a strong focus on entrepreneurship and other sustainable initiatives that create lasting benefit.

Our community relationships are as important as our technical and commercial performance. Directors and management regularly engage with stakeholders through public meetings and other forums to share progress and plans, and to ensure community voices are heard.

Investing in the future

Coming together: Stakeholder engagement forums

  • Orion has established Stakeholder Engagement Forums (SEFs) in the Siyathemba and Nama Khoi municipalities to keep communities around the Prieska and Okiep projects informed and involved in our projects.
  • SEFs include community groups, government representatives, employees and management.
  • The goal is to prepare the local communities through training and development to fulfil as many of the future roles required at both the Prieska and Okiep mining operations as possible.

Successfully developing host community businesses

Orion prioritises local supplier development to contribute to their host communities’ economic growth and wellbeing.

Orion received the 2024 Australia-Africa Minerals & Energy Group’s (AAMEG) Emerging ESG Leader Award in recognition for successfully developing host community service provider, Quebar Electrical and Civil Construction (Quebar), as the company progresses with site development and early mining at PCZM.

Through mentorship and expert guidance, Quebar increased the scope and complexity of their work and transitioned to become a core service provider in electrical and civil construction at PCZM, in both the surface infrastructure and underground mining environments.

Quebar serves as a template for other host community enterprises that aspire to develop into sustainable suppliers or service providers within Orion.

Setting targets

  • We consulted with host community representatives and business forums, and committed to a set framework targets for host community participation of 50% of employment, 30% in procurement of goods and services and 40% in sub-contracting opportunities at the Prieska Copper Zinc Mine. In addition, establishing a task team to investigate and set achievable interim targets.
  • Online career and supplier portals where job seekers, including community members, can register and local suppliers can be added to our database for possible opportunities.
  • A permanent Community Liaison Office is open in Springbok. We also stay in touch with our communities through regular community newsletters and news briefs.

Training and development

  • Orion provided a free Introductory Mining Course to 360 residents in towns near our Prieska mine to earn mining-related credits and to assess the skills available in the area.
  • Occupational and operator assessments were carried out with 110 community members to determine suitability for future artisan and operator roles, and to identify candidates for further development and possible employment.
  • Community members who have previously participated in Orion’s Introduction to Mining course and occupational assessments were selected for Competency B training at the Murray and Roberts Training Centre in Carletonville with some of the participants selected for employment by the mine or a contractor.
  • Together with Orion, Murray & Roberts has also offered a 6-month learnership opportunity in entry-level mining to community members.

Our stories