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especially as we start to get bigger with mining camps and employment alongside skillset requirements. The company
we’ll need access to more fruit and vegetables.” itself is also in regular communication with local community
The success of the Mako mine should also provide plenty of groups, including an understanding the site does not always
encouragement for Chesser, particularly given the enthusiasm have vacancies.
from Senegalese locals for jobs in the country’s mining sector. Unlike Mako or Sabodala, Diamba Sud is located in a much
Resolute’s in-country subsidiary Petowal Mining Company more remote region of Senegal which will inevitably present
employs just over 300 workers, of which almost 87% are some upskilling challenges for Chesser prior to the start of
Senegalese. Mako is also host to 940 contractors, comprising mining in the years to come.
just 54 expats. “We want to employ as many locals as we can, but we’re going
In total, 92% of the overall workforce at Mako are Senegalese to need to do some capacity building to get people’s skill levels
nationals who have access to a range of training programmes up so they can perform the jobs that will be available to them,”
in areas such as leadership development and cultural Grove said.
awareness. While Chesser may have a small footprint to explore and
Petowal continues to maintain a “very high” level of interest for develop at Diamba Sud, its impact in Senegal is expected to
new jobs at the mine and has engaged a regional recruitment reach far and wide and remain well beyond the life of the mine.
committee which allows for transparency of available “The thing I really like about this project is we’re going to bring

Salif Diao (centre) with Chesser senior geologist Brenton
McWhirter and senior project geologist Oumar Diop

African people that have made it in Europe or anywhere else companies. Working with the right people is very important
in the world that it’s very important to come back home and in business.”
invest in order to help people who are here in poverty and to Diao suggested a future mining operation at Diamba Sud
be able to create jobs. would be viewed as “symbolic” by the local community given
“I really see it as a duty instead of business.” both his personal history with the project and his quest to
Diao even named Chesser’s subsidiary company “Boya”, one day build a mining operation there.
which he said was an Australian word for rocks, thus “It would mean so much to them to be able to say this mine
fostering an important early connection between his birth was set up by a Senegalese guy who is from the local area,”
country and the land down under. he said. “Everything we do in the community has massive,
“We wanted to be working with Australian companies,” he massive meaning.
said. “Australians show serious professionalism in the job “As you saw yesterday, the population from the local
and have been working around the world on most of the big community walked 2-3km just to come into the camp and
projects in gold or iron ore. say ‘thank you’ for all the great things we’re doing. This
“There’s a reason why we are working today with Australian project is just as important for them as it is for us.”

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