As part of the Project’s prefeasibility study, a review is being done of the types and numbers of managers, professionals, tradespeople and unskilled workers that the Project would require. With this, SMFG is formulating a plan to recruit, train and develop personnel from local areas.

SMFG has already developed a considerable, skilled workforce to be the core of the Project’s future workforce and working culture. Workforce development is done by on-the-job practical training, online courses and study travel, and assigning senior staff to different roles across the organisation so they learn the broad range of skills required to operate a mining project responsibly and successfully. This will allow them to be senior managers in this and other mining projects in future. The existing staff-development programme will be expanded for future operations.

SMFG supports building skills in surrounding communities. The company has funded the construction and renovation of many schools, and provided books, paper, pens, chalk and other essentials. It has supported students to revise for their end-of-year examinations, dramatically increasing the success rates in Lola Prefecture. SMFG provides free adult literacy and numeracy courses to certain nearby villages to assist adults in their daily lives and to help their children to succeed in school.