From May 2012 to August 2013, I served as Vice President of Sustainability at Geita Gold Mine (GGM), operated by AngloGold Ashanti (AGA) in Tanzania. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, I was accountable for Health, Safety, Environment, Community, Security, and Communications across Tanzania and East Africa. The role followed a 9-weeks on, 3-weeks off, Fly-In, Fly-out (FIFO) roster.
The challenges were significant. Geita, AGA’s top producer, faced over 30 fatalities due to illegal mining activities, allegations of human rights violations, theft, and safety breaches. Additionally, illegal mercury use permanently contaminated the town’s water supply. The region’s governance issues added further complexity.
Key responsibilities included leading the development and execution of AGA’s Sustainability Strategy, conducting Human Rights Impact Assessments, and rolling out initiatives under the Voluntary Principle on Security and Human Rights. I ensured compliance with anti-bribery and anti-corruption measures, which were later adopted across the entire AGA Group. I directed various departments, leading a team of over 600 employees and contractors, and managed sustainability programs with a budget exceeding USD $10M.
Despite these challenges, we achieved significant successes. We reduced reportable safety incidents by 30% within a year, and a light vehicle safety campaign led to an 80% decrease in incidents. Our anti-bribery and anti-corruption initiatives were successfully implemented. Additionally, we established a groundbreaking partnership between the World Bank, Tanzanian Government, and the mining sector, leading to a pioneering small-scale mining initiative. These efforts culminated in receiving the Tanzanian President’s Award in 2013 for our community contributions.
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Images via anglogoldashanti.com
