In August, Samarco held collective meetings in the Minas Gerais districts of Camargos (Aug-01), Antônio Pereira (Aug-20), and Santa Rita Durão (Aug-21) to present the results of the Socioeconomic Indicators Monitoring Program (PMISE) surveys. The feedback was also provided in communities in Espírito Santo in March and April of this year. The meetings brought together around 80 people in the three locations and highlighted the demands and suggestions of the communities on topics such as “employment and income,” “public infrastructure,” “tourism, sports, and recreation,” and “Samarco’s activities.”
Since October 2020, the program has been collecting and monitoring data on the main social and economic markers of the municipalities and communities in Samarco’s area of direct influence, in addition to assessing the potential effects of the company’s activities. The goal is to understand opportunities and challenges that can support the planning of actions and investments in the territory. In-depth consultations are also held annually in the localities, seeking to improve understanding of perceptions about positive and negative impacts.
In Camargos, a project was discussed that foresees the expansion of sewage treatment availability from 33% to 100% of the community. Implemented in April of this year, the investment was prioritized based on a needs assessment with the participation of residents and aims to promote access to sanitation and water security.
The Sustainable Fair, which takes place monthly at the Germano (MG) and Ubu (ES) units, is also an action that meets the interests raised in the PMISE consultations and in the dialogue with the communities. The project opens Samarco's doors to local producers to present, promote and sell their products, contributing to economic strengthening and diversification.
Other initiatives that consider the local context, challenges and opportunities include the containment and adaptation works on the banks of the Água Suja stream in Antônio Pereira, which will be fully funded by Samarco, and the company's support for the Santa Rita Durão Futsal Champions League Cup, held in July of this year by the Residents' Association of the Mariana district.
"Samarco sees PMISE as an opportunity to build knowledge together with the communities to strengthen its relationships and commitments to society, qualifying its impact management and contributing to the development of the regions where it operates", highlights Thiago Moreira, Socio-Institutional Development Analyst.