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Annual coal production in the Lusatia region of eastern Germany has averaged 60 000 000 tpa over the past decade and output was 62 000 000 t in 2013. Major projects have included the re-diversion of the Maize river, the reconstruction of the railway to supply coal to the Janschwalde power plant, exploitation of a new lignite sub-field at Welzow-Sud and the installation of a sealing wall at the mine to protect the south western area of the Lusatian lake land from the consequences of groundwater lowering, the installation of a plant for the pressurised fluidised-bed drying of lignite, the diversion of the Weisser Schops river for the development of the Reichwalde open-cast mine and the commissioning of the Boxberg power plant unit R. Community relations challenges and activities are discussed with reference to environmental issues, resettlement and compensation and cooperation with towns and municipalities., Annual coal production in the Lusatia region of eastern Germany has averaged 60 000 000 tpa over the past decade and output was 62 000 000 t in 2013. Major projects have included the re-diversion of the Maize river, the reconstruction of the railway to supply coal to the Janschwalde power plant, exploitation of a new lignite sub-field at Welzow-Sud and the installation of a sealing wall at the mine to protect the south western area of the Lusatian lake land from the consequences of groundwater lowering, the installation of a plant for the pressurised fluidised-bed drying of lignite, the diversion of the Weisser Schops river for the development of the Reichwalde open-cast mine and the commissioning of the Boxberg power plant unit R. Community relations challenges and activities are discussed with reference to environmental issues, resettlement and compensation and cooperation with towns and municipalities.

The country has one of the largest mineral reserves in the region and is an important producer of iron ore, bauxite and coal, with most of the lucrative deposits located across central and eastern India, but continues to struggle to attract investment due to factors including weak investor protection, bureaucracy, increasing taxes for mining projects, endemic corruption in the licensing process and social issues which expose companies to high levels of reputational risk. The most notable risk is bureaucratic delays in gaining project approval, which involves multiple levels of government. The potential for contracts to be sabotaged by political rivals is high, and companies who build up relationships with ministers may find that they have to deal with a new minister and bureaucrats midway through negotiations. The complexity is compounded by regulatory inefficiency and conflicts of interest. State policy sometimes imposes further limits on allowances provided by central government, an example being western Gujarat which in 2009 reserved bauxite extraction for state-owned institutions. Community displacement for mining projects has created anti-investor sentiment, an example being efforts to establish a bauxite mine which would have led to the relocation of 8 000 members of the Dongria Kondh tribe in the Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi., The country has one of the largest mineral reserves in the region and is an important producer of iron ore, bauxite and coal, with most of the lucrative deposits located across central and eastern India, but continues to struggle to attract investment due to factors including weak investor protection, bureaucracy, increasing taxes for mining projects, endemic corruption in the licensing process and social issues which expose companies to high levels of reputational risk. The most notable risk is bureaucratic delays in gaining project approval, which involves multiple levels of government. The potential for contracts to be sabotaged by political rivals is high, and companies who build up relationships with ministers may find that they have to deal with a new minister and bureaucrats midway through negotiations. The complexity is compounded by regulatory inefficiency and conflicts of interest. State policy sometimes imposes further limits on allowances provided by central government, an example being western Gujarat which in 2009 reserved bauxite extraction for state-owned institutions. Community displacement for mining projects has created anti-investor sentiment, an example being efforts to establish a bauxite mine which would have led to the relocation of 8 000 members of the Dongria Kondh tribe in the Niyamgiri hills in Kalahandi.

Current and future guidance for mining companies is discussed against the background of the development of the Equator Principles (EPs), a voluntary standard to help project-finance banks assess and manage the environmental and social impact of large infrastructure projects including greenfield mining developments and expansion schemes. The EPs are based on the policies and guidelines of the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corp (IFC) and have been adopted by 70 financial institutions. They are currently under review with the final revised performance standards to be presented to the IFC board in May 2011. Practices have developed during the eight years of implementing the EPs that can help to streamline the approval process for financing. EP compliance should be viewed as a partnership between lenders and the project sponsor, and sponsors and lenders should communicate early on in relation to environmental and social requirements. Social considerations should be given particular attention, including public consultation, disclosure and grievance mechanisms, indigenous peoples’ rights, land acquisition and resettlement and security and human rights. The impact on biodiversity should be identified at an early stage and project sponsors should select an EP adopter as a financial advisor to avoid project delays and syndication risks., Current and future guidance for mining companies is discussed against the background of the development of the Equator Principles (EPs), a voluntary standard to help project-finance banks assess and manage the environmental and social impact of large infrastructure projects including greenfield mining developments and expansion schemes. The EPs are based on the policies and guidelines of the World Bank Group’s International Finance Corp (IFC) and have been adopted by 70 financial institutions. They are currently under review with the final revised performance standards to be presented to the IFC board in May 2011. Practices have developed during the eight years of implementing the EPs that can help to streamline the approval process for financing. EP compliance should be viewed as a partnership between lenders and the project sponsor, and sponsors and lenders should communicate early on in relation to environmental and social requirements. Social considerations should be given particular attention, including public consultation, disclosure and grievance mechanisms, indigenous peoples’ rights, land acquisition and resettlement and security and human rights. The impact on biodiversity should be identified at an early stage and project sponsors should select an EP adopter as a financial advisor to avoid project delays and syndication risks.

Following its development in 1984 the Bergheim mine in Germany produced 238 000 000 t lignite up to 2003. Revegetation of areas of the mine was first carried out in 1998 and most of the site will have been reclaimed by 2010. The planning and state approval processes involved in the development of the mine are described with reference to resettlement and relocation measures and alterations to the road system in the area of the mine. Details are given of the mining methods and equipment employed and pollution prevention measures, including the use of protective dams, the positioning of belt conveyors in cuts and dust control using water spray systems. Reclamation activities include the development of agricultural and forest areas and ecological sites, the construction of two new roads and the development of sites commemorating particular buildings and events from the time before mining commenced., Following its development in 1984 the Bergheim mine in Germany produced 238 000 000 t lignite up to 2003. Revegetation of areas of the mine was first carried out in 1998 and most of the site will have been reclaimed by 2010. The planning and state approval processes involved in the development of the mine are described with reference to resettlement and relocation measures and alterations to the road system in the area of the mine. Details are given of the mining methods and equipment employed and pollution prevention measures, including the use of protective dams, the positioning of belt conveyors in cuts and dust control using water spray systems. Reclamation activities include the development of agricultural and forest areas and ecological sites, the construction of two new roads and the development of sites commemorating particular buildings and events from the time before mining commenced.

Riversdale Mining is developing the coal resources in the Benga Mineral Title Area where resources and reserves are 4.0 billion t. The project has a mine life of 25 years with production of up to 6 000 000 tpa of coking and 5 000 000 tpa of thermal coal to be used in domestic power plants. The country has well-developed environmental legislation which requires a complete application and approval process, but the socio-economic context of the process is typical of a developing nation that has not long recovered from a civil war. The company proceeded with two environmental impact assessments (EIA), one for the proposed mine and one for a power plant, with both complying with international standards such as the Equator Principles, World Bank and International Finance Corporation. A social impact assessment was also undertaken which took into account a relocation action plan for the communities within the BMTA area. A macro-economic assessment was carried out to determine the employment and economic benefits that the project would bring to the country. The feasibility study is committed to achieving sustainable development at the Benga operations. Issues occurring during the EIA process and monitoring plans and schedules are discussed., Riversdale Mining is developing the coal resources in the Benga Mineral Title Area where resources and reserves are 4.0 billion t. The project has a mine life of 25 years with production of up to 6 000 000 tpa of coking and 5 000 000 tpa of thermal coal to be used in domestic power plants. The country has well-developed environmental legislation which requires a complete application and approval process, but the socio-economic context of the process is typical of a developing nation that has not long recovered from a civil war. The company proceeded with two environmental impact assessments (EIA), one for the proposed mine and one for a power plant, with both complying with international standards such as the Equator Principles, World Bank and International Finance Corporation. A social impact assessment was also undertaken which took into account a relocation action plan for the communities within the BMTA area. A macro-economic assessment was carried out to determine the employment and economic benefits that the project would bring to the country. The feasibility study is committed to achieving sustainable development at the Benga operations. Issues occurring during the EIA process and monitoring plans and schedules are discussed.

Les marges urbaines non réglementaires des villes du sud supposent une maîtrise et des solutions par des procédures de régularisation – restructuration et de relogement des familles concernées. L’exemple présenté dans ce travail est déroutant dans la mesure où les solutions préconisées par les pouvoirs publics ne font qu’amplifier la marginalité des plus pauvres en les déplaçant de la ville intramuros vers un site marécageux à l’écart de la ville. Un retour sur la production et les traitements des marginalités urbaines durant la période coloniale permet de mieux situer ce qui s’est passé plus de deux décennies après l’indépendance, de comprendre les mécanismes et les modalités de production de ce recasement dénommé « Nedjma », implanté à quelque huit kilomètres d’Oran, deuxième métropole algérienne. Comment les pouvoirs publics ont pu initier ce programme et le « vendre » comme une mesure de lutte contre la marginalité, une opération dont les vertus publiquement affichées étaient celles de soulager les familles en difficulté ?, When public powers produce new urban marginalities. The case of the rehoused people of Nedjma in Oran (Algeria) The informal urban margins within towns and cities of the South imply the need for a command of the situation and solutions involving regularization procedures – reorganization, then rehousing for the families concerned. The example set out in this work is disconcerting in that the prescribed solutions emanating from the public authorities only aggravate the marginal situation of the poorest by moving them from within the city to a marshland site far from the centre. A review of the production and treatment of urban margin situations during the colonial period puts what has happened more than two decades since independence into perspective, helps understand the mechanisms and modes of production of this rehousing called “Nedjma”, implanted eight kilometres from Oran, Algeria’s second largest city. How could the public authorities have initiated this programme and “sell” it as a measure for combating marginality, an operation whose publicly announced virtues were to relieve families in difficulty ?