Environment and Social Management Plan Training for Simandou Railway Contractors
On 21st August 2021, Winning Consortium Simandou (WCS) organized a training session on the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) for more than 10 railway contractors of the Simandou Project. The training was provided by ERM, the world’s leading consultancy in environment, occupational health and safety, risks, social consultancy services, and sustainable development. The topics during the training included “International Standards for Environmental and Social Management Systems”, “Differences between Guinean and International Compliance Requirements”, and “Environmental and Social Action Plan – On-site Construction Activities and Potential Environmental and Social Impacts”.
This two-day ESMP training for railway contractors was extremely informative. ERM focused on different aspects of the International Finance Corporation (IFC)’s Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability, the Equator Principles, and the laws and regulations of the country where the project is located. These included the “environmental and social risk and impact assessment and management”, “workers and working conditions”, “resource efficiency and pollution prevention”, “community health, safety and security”, “land acquisition and involuntary resettlement” and “biodiversity conservation and sustainable management of biological natural resources”; “indigenous people” and “cultural heritage”.
Winning Consortium Simandou is committed to adhering to high international environment and social standards in the development of the mining project, and contributing to the value of the mining industry whilst ensuring environmental and community harmony and sustainable development. In the future, the Consortium will also organize ESMP training for other subcontractors, including local service providers in Guinea, and ensure a dynamic monitoring and management of the environmental and social impacts of subcontractors and service providers throughout the project construction process.