Annual Report 2007 - Antofagasta plc

Corporate Social Responsibility continuedCSR REPORTCommunicationThe Group recognises the importance of timelyand accurate information flows, both within theGroup’s companies and with external stakeholders.Communication channels include websites, intranets,publications, consultation procedures and face-to-facemeetings with internal and external parties. The Groupis committed to maximising transparency within theparameters of good business sense and commercialconfidentiality. The Board expects its Directors,senior management and other staff to behave withintegrity and comply with the ethical standards ofthe Group and their own professions in preparing andpublishing information, for example financial reportsand press updates.External communication is achieved at Group andbusiness unit level through the publication of financial,operational and social and environmental data. Thisincludes production reports, financial reports (includingthe Annual Report, preliminary, interim and quarterlyfigures) and press releases through the RegulatoryNews Service of the London Stock Exchange for anymaterial developments. Spanish language releasesare also published contemporaneously in Santiago.At the business unit level, information aboutoperational activities is also made available tolocal stakeholders through community consultationprogrammes, open meetings and memos. Grievanceprocedures allow interested parties to lodge complaintsand request information. Recently, the Group hasplaced greater emphasis on communications withcommunities in the areas around which its operationsand projects are located; for example in the Esperanzaproject, which was approved during 2007, dialoguewith local communities has been encouraged anddeveloped from the start.As explained in the Introduction to this report,Los Pelambres published a sustainability report in2007 as well as a separate report on its integral healthsystem model; AMSA has also issued a publication toshow different initiatives the mining division has takenon environmental and community issues. This formspart of an overall effort to enhance communicationsincluding the development of a communications planfor each operation and project and the introductionof measureable action plans and training.Internal communication within the Group isachieved through regular staff meetings with seniormanagement. The principal business units publishregular magazines and use intranets to communicateGroup principles and ethics as well as to facilitate theflow of information throughout the Group.Working in Partnership withOther OrganisationsThe Group believes that communication andconsultation with governments, non-governmentalorganisations and labour and financial institutionsis crucial for the development of economies andcommunities. Partnerships facilitate the developmentof sound technologies to improve operationalprocesses, products, and protection of theenvironment. The Group also considers that its owndecision-making processes benefit from consultationwith relevant stakeholders. Accordingly, it seeks towork closely with host countries and communitiesand communicates its views to governmental agencieseither directly or through industry associations andrepresentative bodies at both national andinternational levels.During 2007, AMSA together with other miningcompanies and institutions approached the Ministryof Mining with a proposal: “Education and Mining:the Streak of Development”. This proposal is aimedat enhancing students’ knowledge and understandingof mining activities by including mining education inthe school curriculum in Chile.AMSA was one of the main sponsors of thefirst “Mining Course for Journalists” organisedby SONAMI (the National Mining Society), toencourage the development of closer relationshipsbetween mining companies, SONAMI and themedia. Over 50 journalists participated in thetraining course.Exponor is an international bi-annual event organisedby the Antofagasta Association of Industrialists.It took place most recently in July 2007 in theAntofagasta Region where mining accounts for42Antofagasta plc Annual Report and Financial Statements 2007