Corporate Social Responsibility
Our approach to sustainability
The lifetime of Kore’s projects expand over decades. As such the company takes a long-term view to sustainability and aims to uphold the highest operational, environmental and ethical standards. Our approach is split into three parts: Safety, Environment and People.
Safety
Kore’s aim is to set up, achieve and maintain a high standard of work environment where the Company strives to achieve a ZERO harm to the workforce, contractors, clients and visitors as well as for the local communities. In order to achieve this objective, there is a Health, Safety and Environmental Committee to review the health and safety policy and risks of the Company and make recommendations to the Board, and a Safety, Health, Environment and Community function in country (SHEC). Kore provides H&S training and support to employees and sets demanding standards for workplace safety.
Further more, in developing projects in the Republic of the Congo, the Company will:
- Engage in visible and felt leadership to promote and maintain a positive safety culture, behaviour and awareness with the international and local workforce.
- Constantly challenge its performance by setting up world class targets.
- Integrate Health and Safety into the business strategies and processes across all functions.
- Actively monitor Health and Safety performance to ensure maintaining optimal performance.
Environment
Kore recognizes environmental and biodiversity management as an integral part of the Company’s business and aims to preserve the natural and physical environment to be affected by the future operation. To achieve this, the Company will:
- Aim to minimize and mitigate adverse environmental impacts in accordance with internationally recognized best practices.
- Strive to develop projects which do not degrade ecosystems, either those on which they depend for operational success or those on which others depend for their wellbeing or livelihood.
- Use natural resources sustainably, reduce the projects’ direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions and work with other organizations, governments and groups to address climate change.
The future Kola and Dougou mine sites are in the close vicinity of the Conkouati-Douli National Park (CDNP). The park is divided into a core zone, in which no development may take place, and an “eco-development” zone in which specifically permitted activities may take place, but only in strict accordance with an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process. We have engaged local and international consultants to conduct three ESIA’s to the highest international standards. These assessments have been approved by the government of the RoC, and the Dougou ESIA will be the object of amendments to adapt to the DX project. As part of the ESIA processes we have actively engaged with the management of the CDNP in preserving biodiversity. We also engage with NGOs working in the area, including the Jane Goodall Institute (JGI) and HELP Congo and Renatura. We have consistently included the perspectives of local stakeholders in the project design which, if implemented properly, can have a net-positive social impact in the area.
People
Employees
Kore is committed to promoting policies which ensure that high calibre employees are attracted, retained and motivated, to ensure the ongoing success for the business. Employees and those who seek to work within Kore are treated equally regardless of gender, age, disability, marital status, creed, colour, political views, race or ethnic origin.
The Company and its contractors shall:
- Provide capacity building and development opportunities.
- Provide a grievance mechanism for workers (and their organizations, where they exist) to raise workplace concerns.
- Employ and promote workers on the basis of ability and accomplishment and in compliance with the Congolese labour regulation.
- Treat people fairly and with respect and not tolerate any form of discrimination, bullying, harassment or violence.
- Promote and maximize direct and indirect employment from the host communities.
- Communicate and consult with the workforce in a timely and culturally appropriate manner.
Communities
Kore understands the importance of contributing to social and economic development in the areas of operations. The Company will:
- Respect the culture, customs, interests of communities, including vulnerable groups.
- Manage cultural heritage in consultation with relevant communities and national cultural heritage specialists.
- Work with partners to make sustainable improvements to the quality of life of the people in the project impact zone.
- Align social development programs with existing Congolese institutional strategies.
- Work towards building a common platform for information, consultation, dialogue and participation with concerned and interested local stakeholders.
- Engage with local authorities, community representatives, inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations and other interested parties to support projects that benefit the communities associated with our operations.
- Consider the inputs, including suggestions and grievances, provided by our local stakeholders and adapting our programmes accordingly.
- Support economic development by working to enhance the economic benefits in the communities where the Company operates by maximizing local employment and local purchases of goods and services.
Kore is engaged with the local community around the Sintoukola licences and supports various initiatives within the RoC, including supporting schools, water collection and working with local farmers to help improve their agricultural practice.