Licence to legacy: Life cycle management and social impact in the extractives sector selected findings

Social legacy planning in the extractives sector refers to the role that mining, oil and gas activities can play in supporting the sustainable development aspirations of a particular community or region. It remains a relatively new theme within the extractives sector, and is a multi-stakeholder process requiring the active participation and contribution of government, companies, community and civil society. With the anticipated upswing in the extractives sector following a period of decline in commodity prices, future exploration and production could provide new opportunities for the sector to integrate social legacy planning into all phases of operational activity.

This report acts as a starting point and introduction to some of the broad themes, issues and challenges around social legacy planning, while also reflecting industry experience to the present day. The report explores and discusses the importance that social legacy planning plays in the life cycle of extractives operations, and highlights the ways in which comprehensive planning carried out with the input of communities and other external stakeholders can deliver tangible benefits down the line.

This report provides a discussion of current corporate best practice, an overview of regulatory frameworks in major jurisdictions around the world, and a guide to the potential benefits on offer for companies who incorporate social legacy planning into every stage of the life cycle of operations. It then takes a look at nine case studies of companies who have taken steps to strengthen their legacy planning strategies, with lessons to be learned from the approach these companies adopted and the challenges they overcame.