IAMGOLD is pleased to contribute to the development of its closest host community in Burkina Faso with the inauguration of new drinking water supply infrastructure in the village adjacent to its Essakane mine.
By providing access to safe water, the new CAD$430K supply system will improve the living conditions of the populations of the village near the mine site and increase their resilience as they face an influx of newcomers, who have been displaced as a result of the conflict in the northern region of the country. The water supply system is comprised of a tower and several pumps.
The unveiling ceremony gathered hundreds of villagers, several IAMGOLD executives among whom Tidiane Barry, General Manager of the Essakane mine, and Gilles Ferlatte, Vice-President of Operations, as well as representatives from the Government of Burkina Faso, including Jean-Baptiste Kaboré, representing the Minister in Charge of Mines, Amadou Dicko, Minister Delegate for Animal Resources, and Rodolphe Sorgho, Governor of the Sahel Region.
The government officials expressed their gratitude to IAMGOLD for the project: “We are thankful to IAMGOLD because this is a company whose social commitment goes above and beyond. For many years, IAMGOLD has been investing and continues to invest in the improvement of the living conditions of the populations surrounding the mine,” said Jean-Baptiste Kaboré, representing the Minister in Charge of Mines. As for the Governor of Sahel, he saluted IAMGOLD’s efforts to alleviate the pressures of the nearby village, whose population is growing at a rapid rate.
Essakane, an integral part of the local community’s fabric
Reflecting on Essakane’s role in the local community, Tidiane Barry, General Manager of the Mine, had these wise words to share: “Our commitment as a key player in Burkina’s economy and a major private employer is to leave a legacy wherever we operate. We do so by contributing to the lives of our host communities directly through our mining activities or indirectly through our community development projects such as this one. We are incredibly proud of this project.”
IAMGOLD’s commitment to improving access to drinking water is not new as illustrated by its past and present involvement in “Triangle d’eau,” a separate program whose goal is to improve people’s lives in rural Burkina Faso by providing safe and reliable water access.