WEST AFRICA – Perseus Mining Limited, a gold producer, developer and explorer, has released its CY20 Sustainable Development Report that details the company’s progress over the past 12 months.

The company has recorded great progress in its 2020 sustainability report as it moves forward in delivering sustainable gold production of 500,000 ounces per annum by financial year 2022.

It reports its delivery on its commitment to responsible mining operations in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana, including an overall economic benefit to host countries totalling about USD$385 million.

The report confirms the work Perseus has been doing over the years, which has led to a solid, social and environmental performance.

As part of its longstanding commitment to the communities in which it operates, Perseus reported increasing community investment by 71% to around US$1.9 million in CY20, funding critical health and education infrastructure projects for local communities.

“Sustainability is deeply rooted in Perseus’s culture and operations and has had a large part to play in our resilience during this challenging year,” Jeff Quartermaine, Managing Director & CEO of Perseus said.

“We believe that responsible gold mining can play a key role in sustainable development, and that investing in our employees and our communities to create enduring social value will remain a guiding force in our growth path and future business operations.

Additionally, Perseus announced it had increased its proportion of local procurement from 66% in CY19 to 78% in CY20, totalling US$287 million, and further expanded its employment of local populations, with 96% of its current workforce local to Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

“I am proud of my team’s effective response to the pandemic which successfully safeguarded our operations as well as our people, enabling us to deliver our Yaouré mine in Côte d’Ivoire this year ahead of schedule,” Jeff added.

“Our approach to sustainability has continued to mature as our business has grown, and in the coming years we look forward to expanding our ESG offering and delivering greater impact across Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.”

In CY20, Perseus has enhanced its disclosure on sustainability-related risks and opportunities by aligning with the key reporting frameworks used by our stakeholders.

These include the World Gold Council Responsible Gold Mining Principles, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Task Force on Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

“Despite the challenges the past year has brought, Perseus’s sustainability agenda has continued to strengthen and evolve alongside its expanding operations,” Jessica Volich, Group Sustainability Manager at Perseus said.

“Our wide-ranging efforts and engagement with our local communities and host governments has enabled us to create shared sustainable value for all our stakeholders. We are committed to strengthening these relationships in the coming years as we endeavour to generate socio-economic value for our people, communities and host countries.”

Highlights of the report include zero fatalities in the history of the company and significant benefits for its host countries, including 96% of its employees coming from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Also in the report, the company highlighted its Economic and Social Contribution, Health & Safety performance, Environmental stewardship, Governance and its Future ambitions.