Sustainability Report - Antofagasta PLC

at 36 schools in the Choapa Province, training 95 teachers and involving
more than 6,500 students from primary and secondary schools. Los
Pelambres also granted scholarships to people from the low-income
communities of Los Vilos, Illapel and Salamanca to study at the Pascual
Baburizza Agricultural College of Los Andes. Financial assistance was
provided to a further 80 students with academic merit and limited resources
from the High Student Achievement Centre of Salamanca, to complete their
higher education in La Serena and Coquimbo.
At Esperanza, three apprenticeship programmes for mine operation and
plant maintenance were launched in 2011 for local people from Sierra
Gorda, Mejillones and Antofagasta. A total of 130 individuals took part, of
which 110 were hired by Esperanza at the end of the course. The results of
a study we commissioned from the Adolfo Ibáñez University into the impact
of this programme will be ready in 2012. This will help us to replicate the
programme across our other mining companies.
Michilla continued to sponsor training courses to encourage
entrepreneurship at Caleta Michilla. The company also provided financial
support for the local school and the Mejillones Industrial Institute,
encouraging students to pursue mining sector jobs. The company is also
partnering with Juan José Latorre School to develop joint education plans
and work experience placements.
Generating jobs and supporting local suppliers
Antofagasta Minerals strives to employ a significant proportion of local
workers and contractors. In 2011 the majority of employees and contractors
came from the Antofagasta Region. During construction, all of the mining
companies run training programmes for local people. Most recently, the
construction of Esperanza offered the greatest opportunity for us to train
local people through apprenticeships. Most of the participants that received
training have joined the business in full-time positions. In total in 2011,
almost 700 local people received training in mining and other skills
supported by Antofagasta Minerals.
Improving quality of life for local people
Antofagasta Minerals tries to improve the quality of life for local people near
to our operations. We do this by improving infrastructure and connectivity,
by funding community organisations, creating public spaces, and funding
sports and cultural events. We focus our investment to meet the needs of
local people and authorities.
Examples of programmes include: a funding competition called “Together
we can grow more”, led by Los Pelambres, now in its seventh consecutive
year; and El Tesoro’s project to recover the Ojos de Apache site and convert
it into a recreational area, west of Calama. El Tesoro’s community funding
scheme involves employees in projects to improve the quality of life of local
people.
CASE STUdy
Supporting employee projects
in the community
At El Tesoro an annual community funding
contest promotes greater social interaction
between workers and local communities. The
initiative has grown from three projects in 2007
to 15 in 2011, targeting Calama, Antofagasta
and Sierra Gorda.
In total almost US$30,000 were awarded this
year and more than 170 workers from the
company, and their families, volunteered for a
range of projects and organisations. Employees
and their families choose to contribute to the
projects that mean most to them, including
education, sports and religious groups.
Employees involved in the projects expressed a
sense of pride in company values and said it
improved their understanding of the lives and
needs of local people. Beneficiaries have told us
that the employees’ involvement demonstrates
the company is taking a real interest in
improving quality of life beyond providing
funding.
Percentage of workers resident in the
region where the company operates
(employees only)
Los Pelambres
Esperanza
El Tesoro
Michilla
57%
58%
60%
99%
Antofagasta Minerals 47
Overview
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