This document discusses lessons learned from stakeholder engagement efforts related to mining projects in Bulgaria between 2012-2013. It describes some of the challenges faced, including lack of trust in the community, fear of speaking out, and an expectation of receiving sponsorships. The engagement process required patience and persistence to overcome initial problems like misinformation, an unreceptive post-communist society, and a lack of understanding of sustainability concepts. The goal was to establish an open dialogue using principles of stakeholder inclusion to obtain support for investment and operation of a gold mine.

1. denkstatt Bulgaria Ltd
115 Arsenalski blvd., apt. 7, BG-1421 Sofia ·
T (+359) 2 470 75 08 M (+359) 88 829 57 67
E office@denkstatt.bg W www.denkstatt.bg
Stakeholder dialogue – lessons
learnt
Examples from Bulgaria, 2012-2013

2. slide 2
“We shape a sustainable
economy, ecology and society”

3. slide 3
denkstatt in Europe
denkstatt
Austria
denkstatt
Hungary
denkstatt
Slovakia
denkstatt
Bulgaria
denkstatt
Romania
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Spain
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Serbia
denkstatt
& enertec

4. slide 4
In Bulgaria
We accelerate the transition to sustainable economy

5. slide 5
Brief overview of Bulgaria

6. slide 6
Mining business VS Sustainability

7. slide 7
Would you like to work for a mine?

8. slide 8
Mining AND Sustainability

9. slide 9
This heap (waste deposit) is in use and at
the same time is recultivatedd

10. slide 10
We combined analytical and human
approach to achieve high participation

11. slide 11

12. denkstatt Bulgaria Ltd
115 Arsenalski blvd., apt. 7, BG-1421 Sofia ·
T (+359) 2 470 75 08 M (+359) 88 829 57 67
E office@denkstatt.bg W www.denkstatt.bg
Stakeholder dialogue – lessons
learnt
Examples from Bulgaria, 2012-2013

13. slide 13
I want to work with the mines
They are real change agent!
 A Bulgarian mining company
wants to invest 60 mln euro
 To operate min 17 years
 To provide 700 000 euro yearly
as local taxes and fees
 To build, operate and re-cultivate
a golden mine
 Law requirement for public
discussion in the procedure of
obtaining the concession right
 A client with whom we work for
years already

14. slide 14
What was denkstatt role
 Environmental and social impact assessment
 AA1000 principle based stakehoder engagement
 Analysis of stakeholders
 Mapping
 Strategy for stakeholder engagement
 Social-economical analysis
 Extensive coaching of our clients team
 IMPLEMENTATION & ONGOING EVALUATION AND
ADAPTATION

15. slide 15
Horror stories
Mine is a bad word!
Horror stories
Mine is a bad word!
• Wrong and ill intended rumours were
scaring people
• There is a ‘business niche’ in Bulgaria for
torturing companies
• Wrong and ill intended rumours were
scaring people
• There is a ‘business niche’ in Bulgaria for
torturing companies
Public authorities
are without opinion
Public authorities
are without opinion
• Municipality administrators are afraid,
not allowed to have a position
• The above is guarantee to keep their job
?!?!
• Municipality administrators are afraid,
not allowed to have a position
• The above is guarantee to keep their job
?!?!
Post communist
society
Post communist
society
• No leaders
• No driver
• No leaders
• No driver
Unstable economy;
Corrupted country
Unstable economy;
Corrupted country
• Transparency and openness could be
pretty dangerous
• Need to work on numerous levels
• Transparency and openness could be
pretty dangerous
• Need to work on numerous levels

16. slide 16
Total lack of
understanding what
“Sustainable
Development” is
Total lack of
understanding what
“Sustainable
Development” is
• Bulgarian society is learning
• Sustainability is perceived as a “dark-
green”, i.e. do not touch the
environment
• Bulgarian society is learning
• Sustainability is perceived as a “dark-
green”, i.e. do not touch the
environment
People don’t want
to change
People don’t want
to change
• It is ok where am I (150 euro salary per
month?!?!)
• It is too late for me to learn (25 years
old boy)
• It is ok where am I (150 euro salary per
month?!?!)
• It is too late for me to learn (25 years
old boy)
Media coverageMedia coverage
• Questionable level of objectivity
• Questionable competence to comment
• Questionable level of objectivity
• Questionable competence to comment
Lack of common
language
Lack of common
language
• Experts, in most of the cases are unable
to speak so that normal people
understands them; cant build trust
• Experts, in most of the cases are unable
to speak so that normal people
understands them; cant build trust

17. slide 17
There were numerous of problems we
faced
No hope
No trust
No hope
No trust
• People consider themselves insignificant,
ignorant, illiterate, unimportant, without
value to anyone
• “My opinion doesn’t matter”
• People consider themselves insignificant,
ignorant, illiterate, unimportant, without
value to anyone
• “My opinion doesn’t matter”
Stakeholders
sometimes are
really mean and
unfair
Stakeholders
sometimes are
really mean and
unfair
• Threats
• Lies
• Mean attacks through media
• Threats
• Lies
• Mean attacks through media
Fear to talk with usFear to talk with us
• Might be dismissed
• Grants might not be given to their
relatives or business
• Might be dismissed
• Grants might not be given to their
relatives or business
Habit to receive –
sponsorships!
Habit to receive –
sponsorships!
• Our clients was immediately asked for
thousands of euro, even there is no
operations
• Our clients was immediately asked for
thousands of euro, even there is no
operations

18. slide 18
Stakeholder dialogues and engagement
was the choice for our client
 It is a necessity
 Law requirement
 Process
 Human relationships
 Patience
 Persistence
 People