Article content

Schools and clinics. Soccer fields and bull rings. Even plump guinea pigs — to eat.

From South America to Africa, mining companies are throwing all that and more at communities to quiet growing opposition to controversial projects.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Miners woo communities with soccer fields, bull rings and guinea pigs to unlock US$25 billion in stalled projects Back to video

“There’s something like US$25 billion worth of projects tied up or stopped,” Mark Cutifani, chief executive officer of Anglo American Plc, said in an interview. “We have to get all those relationships right.”

While opposition to mines is nothing new, the issue is a growing concern for miners like Anglo American and executives are increasingly speaking out. Billions of dollars are at stake, they say.

We have to get all those relationships right

Their opponents say the companies despoil the environment and often fail to benefit local economies, or at least not as much as they claim.

Push-back has been growing since the 1980s, when communities were rarely consulted about new mines. Now, local support is critical, according to Thras Moraitis, head of strategy at Xstrata Plc before its 2013 takeover by Glencore Plc.