MEDIA RELEASE

ACCRA, 18 March, 2009 – Newmont Mining Corporation, the parent company of Newmont Ghana Gold Limited, has released the results of an independent, 18-month global review of the Company’s ability to manage relationships with local communities. 

The Community Relationships Review (CRR) was initiated by a group of institutional shareholders and supported by Newmont’s Board of Directors and management.   Shareholders approved the measure in April 2007 by a vote of nearly 92%.  The shareholder resolution called for an independent “global review and evaluation of the company's policies and practices relating to existing and potential opposition from local communities and to our company's operations and the steps taken to reduce such opposition.” 

The CRR was undertaken by independent assessors with direct input from an Advisory Panel comprised of independent sustainability experts and leaders of prominent civil society organizations and advocacy groups.  Intensive studies of Newmont’s community relationships at five mine sites, including the Ahafo Mine, provided the basis for a set of findings and recommendations regarding how Newmont currently manages its engagements with communities.  The entire CRR and supporting documents are publicly available on the company’s web site at www.newmont.com . The Ahafo site review can be found at www.NewmontGhana.com .

 

“For Newmont, this transparent process provides a robust and independent analysis of how we manage our community relationships as a company,” said Richard O’Brien, President and Chief Executive Officer.  “This comprehensive approach offers a valuable and in-depth understanding of the complexities of these relationships, the contexts in which conflicts may occur and recommendations for improvement.”
In its assessment of the Ghana Ahafo Mine, the study found that Newmont has established a “solid base for good community relations over the life of the mine.” The assessors said they had found evidence that the company is “very committed to promoting strong relationships with the local communities,” and that it “engage(s) with community stakeholders on the basis of core values of fairness, transparency and participation.”

Further, the report stated that the Mine has “sought stakeholder input and feedback regarding a wide range of community development programs and initiatives,” and has “incorporated stakeholder concerns into its community development planning.”

The CRR authors complimented the company on the establishment of the innovative Ahafo Social Responsibility Forum as it “provides a unique platform for engagement with the community.”