Anchorage Daily News

I had a chance to meet the director of Anglo American's corporate community development group recently, and I was frankly surprised to learn that one of the world's largest mining companies even does something like this.

For more than two decades, Anglo has worked in South Africa to help local people with business development, mostly small business, in areas where it operates mines.

The company puts cash behind its program, and the aim is to help communities that were disenfranchised in past years, the theory being that prosperous neighbors are good neighbors.

I was happy to learn Anglo wants an Alaska version of this program to ensure that communities in the Bristol Bay region reap benefits from Anglo's big Alaska prospect, the proposed Pebble copper and gold mine near Iliamna, southwest of Anchorage.

Nick van Rensburg from Anglo's South Africa office was in Alaska to talk with people in the Bristol Bay region about the program and find out whether they would be interested in something like it. Given the dire economic conditions there, I would imagine there will be some interest.

WORK FOR LOCALS

The South Africa program works in a range of ways, including helping local people get into the mining business themselves. An Alaska version would be largely designed by people here and no doubt would be different from what is done in South Africa. Anglo has also used the idea at its mines in Chile.

I've always supported responsible mining because of the local jobs and other benefits that mines bring, particularly big mines.

I'm even more supportive of mines in rural areas, because we have seen these projects boost formerly depressed regions, the Red Dog zinc mine in Northwest Alaska being the prime example.

But what makes Red Dog really work for local people is that a local Native corporation, NANA Regional Corp., owns the land at Red Dog and is a partner in the project. NANA influences how Teck Cominco, its partner, runs the mine.

It's similar with the big Donlin Creek gold prospect near the Kuskowkim River. Calista Corp., the regional Native corporation for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta region, owns the minerals and is deeply engaged with two mining companies that are developing the mine, Barrick Gold and Novagold Resources.

For those who are skeptical about whether major companies keep their word on jobs and local business opportunities, the proof is at Red Dog and Donlin Creek.

A JOBS MACHINE

Pebble is in a different situation because the mine is on state-owned land. This is good for the state because it will get the mining royalties. But because the local people aren't the landowners, they have less influence on how the mine is developed and how it will operate.

I was worried about this, but my concern will be less if Anglo brings its community program to Alaska, because if the mining company makes the investment, it will ensure success.

Pebble will be a huge economic stimulus no matter what, even more than Red Dog and Donlin Creek, but what Anglo wants is for locals to get the inside track on jobs and opportunities.

The region needs those good-paying jobs desperately. Let's be frank: Without some economic opportunities, the future out there looks pretty bleak.

The big Bristol Bay salmon fishery is an economic foundation for part of the region, but not a strong one. Many communities in the region don't get much of a share in the commercial fishery, although subsistence is important.

Something more is needed. Pebble, if it can be developed safely, could be a jobs machine that would span generations, doing for the region what Red Dog has done for Northwest Alaska and what Donlin Creek could do for the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta.

Tim Bradner writes for an Alaska economic reporting service. He also consults for private clients and writes for business publications. His opinion column appears every fourth Sunday.

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