Page 32 - IB May 2025

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PEOPLE, NOT PROFIT

MINING GIANT SPEAKS TO PACIFIC HEARTS

By Aisha Azeemah families that are farming collectively with fencing, tools—
those sorts of things—helping local fishermen with PFD safety
The Metals Company (TMC) says its presence in the Pacific is training. So we try to target smaller scale initiatives that can
about more than profit — it’s about partnership. have a broader reach.”
Head of Stakeholder Relations Corey McLachlan told Islands McLachlan explained their reasoning for early investment
Business that the company intended to give back to the despite approvals for exploitation still hanging in the balance.
community in Tonga and Nauru, where its operations are “Even though we are not generating any revenue,
centred. TMC also wants to conduct environmental research even though we are not in production, we believe it’s
for the benefit of the people. our responsibility to be contributing, to be a part of the
This is the language which speaks to the heart of Pacific community. And we do the best that we can with the
people—care, sharing, concern—and calculated to win hearts resources that we have,” he said.
and minds. “Under our agreements with both countries, we have also
“We have two Pacific entities; our entity that is sponsored committed to providing a suite of financial benefits that kick
by the Republic of Nauru, and we have an entity that is in once we move into operations. They would also stand to
sponsored by the Kingdom of Tonga as well,” McLachlan said. receive taxation benefits as well.
“Both of those projects have ISA exploration contracts, and “The question and the debate becomes about how much.
they are both active at the moment.” And so, if opponents disagree with the amount or the value
TMC says it has offices and staff in both countries, and that is being received, that’s something that we can discuss.
engages directly with communities. But to suggest that there are no benefits, I mean, that’s
“They are our on-the-ground representatives, and they are incorrect.”
responsible for our in-country investments on community and McLachlan acknowledged criticism about whether the
social training programs,” McLachlan said. Pacific would benefit from mining, given the social and
“The programs were designed in consultation with local environmental concerns voiced by critics.
communities to make sure that we are aligned with the needs “We don’t ever suggest that there will be no environmental
and the desires of local communities. impacts,” he said.
“We tend to focus on smaller scale community initiatives, “All activities, as we all are aware, have an impact. And so,
focusing on the community level or multiple family level. what we are saying is, we believe that we have the ability to
Things such as toilet replacements in schools, assisting collect these metals that we need in a lower impact way than

32 Islands Business, May 2025