Surinamese students celebrate winning a school quiz co-organized by Rosebel Gold Mines. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Zijin Mining Group, a multinational mining company headquartered in East China's Fujian province, specializes in the global exploration and development of metals such as copper, gold, zinc and lithium, as well as engineering and technological research.

With large-scale mining projects across 17 countries including China, Serbia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Suriname and Colombia, Zijin Mining has established a notable presence in the global mining sector, with a long-standing focus on local communities and the environment.

Striving to become a green, high-tech leader in the mining sector, Zijin Mining supplies the global market with low-carbon raw mineral materials to aid sustainable development, leveraging innovative technologies and robust environmental, social and governance systems. Championing the philosophy of "creating value and growing together", Zijin Mining has built a network of win-win cooperation across the globe.

As one of the largest enterprises in Suriname, Rosebel Gold Mines, which became a subsidiary of Zijin Mining in 2023, has generated substantial employment, stimulated the development of related industries, and contributed to the local society through infrastructure construction, community welfare initiatives, technology sharing and talent development programs. These efforts have forged a bridge of friendship and cooperation between China and Suriname.

A new chapter

Located in Brokopondo district, about 100 kilometers south of Paramaribo, the capital city of Suriname, Rosebel is one of the largest operational gold mines in South America. Zijin Mining acquired Rosebel on Feb 1, 2023, initially facing multiple challenges such as a drain of technical personnel, outdated equipment and facilities, and increased ore processing difficulties. Leveraging its expertise in mine management and cost control, the company implemented a series of measures to address these challenges, including revamping outdated systems, optimizing key process indicators and promoting comprehensive resource utilization.

Within the first year of the acquisition, Rosebel achieved a more than 20 percent year-on-year reduction in all-in sustaining costs and improved the overall ore-dressing recovery rate to 96 percent, which was the highest level in the mine's 20-year history. The company managed to turn a profit in 2023, producing nearly 9 metric tons of gold — marking a 13.7 percent year-on-year increase.

Rosebel provides modern water purification systems to local residents. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Safety and sustainability

Adhering to Zijin Mining's principles, Rosebel prioritizes occupational health and safety, aiming for "zero workplace fatalities and zero occupational diseases". The company also strives to balance the development of mineral resources with their protection.

Rosebel follows standardized access requirements for contractors and organizes safety training for them. Through management measures such as "STOP" cards for violations and zero-tolerance rules, the mine achieved zero lost-time accidents in 2023-24 since the acquisition.

As an environmentally conscious corporate citizen, Rosebel is implementing several environmental initiatives, such as constructing a photovoltaic power plant and adopting electric mining trucks.

The photovoltaic power plant is of significant importance to both Suriname and Rosebel. Due to the continuous decline in water levels in the Brokopondo Reservoir, which powers the mine, hydropower supply has become increasingly strained. The photovoltaic power plant provides clean electricity directly to the mine during the day, allowing hydropower resources to be redirected to surrounding communities and industries, thereby supporting local economic development and helping Suriname maintain its position as one of the few "carbon-negative" countries.

A new school complex built by Rosebel is unveiled. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Shared prosperity

Rosebel provides more than 1,600 jobs, excluding suppliers. About 97 percent of its employees are from across Suriname. To support local talent development, the company has introduced initiatives such as the Rosebel Scholarship and the Youth Talent Development Program, offering professional training, internships and engineering camps to enhance locals' professional skills.

The company has continually increased the proportion of local procurement, purchasing goods and services worth more than $160 million from Surinamese companies annually, covering various sectors such as transportation, catering, security services and equipment maintenance.

On the community front, since the acquisition, Rosebel has invested $2.88 million through the Rosebel Community Fund, surpassing the total public welfare investment of the previous decade.

Rosebel has undertaken numerous community support projects, including building schools and clinics, providing clean drinking water to the nearby communities of Pikin Saramacca and Marshallkreek, sponsoring community sports activities, and supporting infrastructure projects like road maintenance and bridge construction. It has also initiated a project to support entrepreneurs and startups.

The construction of a new high school in Brokopondo district is hailed as a milestone in the district's educational history. Without a local high school, students had to leave home early in the morning and return late at night, leading to high dropout rates. With the completion of the new school, 400 children can now be educated locally, reducing transport costs and easing family burdens. This will fuel the future development of the region.

Rosebel is committed to fulfilling its promise of building a sustainable future for the communities. According to the 2018 Rosebel Environmental and Social Impact Assessment report, nearly 83 percent of local families did not have access to clean drinking water and the communities relied on generators with limited fuel supply, running less than six hours a day.

After Zijin Mining's acquisition in 2023, Rosebel organized multiple community visits to identify local residents' most urgent needs, leading to rapid renovations of water purification systems, electrical grids, bridges and other infrastructure.

To ensure the durability of these projects, a one-year new bridge maintenance training program was initiated to train local residents in maintenance skills, ensuring the long-term stable operation of the facilities and enhancing community self-management.

These projects have addressed the urgent needs of the communities, solving key livelihood challenges that had plagued the communities for years, improving people's daily lives, educational resources and economic development.

Into the future

Rosebel believes that shared prosperity is key to the long-term harmonious coexistence of the company and the community. With its 2025 technology transformation and capacity enhancement plans, the company aims to create more development opportunities for local residents and businesses.

In the future, leveraging Zijin Mining's technological and management expertise, Rosebel will continue adhering to the principle of "mining for a better society" and strive to create greater value for the local people and the country as a whole, aiming to become a respected mining enterprise in Latin America.