London-listed Marula Mining has started with a community engagement process at the Nyorinyori and NyoriGreen graphite projects, in Tanzania, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Marula Mining Tanzania (MMT).

MMT has a 75% commercial interest in both projects through agreements with Takela Mining Tanzania and NyoriGreen Mining.

The community engagement forms part of Marula’s commitment to upholding environment, social and governance (ESG) principles and is a significant milestone in the progress of the projects towards sustainable mining.

The directors of Takela and NyoriGreen Mining have also met with the community of the Magadini Village to discuss all aspects of the projects’ exploration and mine development phases of work.

The engagement sessions have included discussions on full-time employment opportunities at the projects and minimum requirements for employment.

Marula says the companies involved have agreed with the community on several priority ESG initiatives including the upgrade of roads, community buildings and other social infrastructure.

“The company’s commitment to sustainable and responsible mining goes beyond our exploration and proposed mining activities.

“With our partners Takela and NyoriGreen Mining, we are looking at building long lasting partnerships with the communities in and around these planned mining operations and through our actions now and the standards we set we look to be able to set the benchmark here in East Africa in the mining sector,” Marula CEO Jason Brewer says.

He concludes that the start of this engagement process demonstrates Marula and its partners’ commitment to positive environmental and social impacts alongside mining developments.

Meanwhile, Marula and its subsidiary continues to do detailed mapping, sampling and trenching work alongside geological consultancy Geofields Tanzania across the 20 mining licences that make up Nyorinyori and NyoriGreen.