Traits of projects that survive the social license test

Six lessons from the public record: (1) early, state-run consultation closes; late and judicialized does not — Oxec is the only closed cycle, Escobal reached consultation 5+ years after the conflict and the answer was 'no'; (2) consultation is not a referendum, but it is not a formality either — Fénix shows that running it while excluding the amparo claimants and under a state of siege produces paper, not peace; (3) recognizing the collective subject is step zero — Escobal and Ixquisis both began by denying the indigenous people; (4) do not pay for the social license, earn it — Mining Secrets documented what buying it costs and what it costs more when it comes out (OFAC, loss of shareholder control); (5) the worst-case budget already has Guatemalan figures: 9 years of care and maintenance over 264.5 Moz (Escobal), withdrawal after 8 years (Cambalam), a US$499 M arbitration lost (El Tambor), a transnational public apology (Tahoe); (6) monitor consultation as a country risk, not only a project risk.

The research is written in English; quoted figures, source names and the titles of legal instruments stay in the language their source published them in.