The incoming chief of Anglo American mining company, Mark Cutifani (pictured), has sought divine help in addressing the social complexities of Africa's mining industry, reports The Australian.
The Australian-born executive revealed that he had recently visited the Vatican as part of his efforts to better engage with communities affected by mining operations.
Mr Cutifani, who will move from his current role as chief executive of AngloGold Ashanti to mining giant Anglo American in the coming months, told a conference in Cape Town that he had travelled to the Vatican two weeks ago for a meeting with Ghana-born Cardinal Peter Tuckson.
The Catholic Church is a supporter of many of the non-government organisations that regularly advocate on behalf of local communities across Africa, and which regularly find themselves in conflict with mining companies.
Mr Cutifani – who said he hadn’t set foot in a church for 47 years – said the visit was part of an effort to better engage with all stakeholders at a time of tension between Africa’s miners, governments and communities.
“What we wanted to do was listen to Cardinal Turkson’s view of the world and what we were missing as miners,” Mr Cutifani said.
“I said to him, ‘we don’t know how to engage those NGOs, can you help us understand where we might start the conversation. We’re not asking you to be a partner, we know that’s a difficult conversation, what we’re coming here to do is to listen, and try to understand how we can engage in a different conversation as an industry’.”
FULL STORY Mining chief seeks Vatican advice on community relations at company (Australian)