A review of social license to operate in Southeast Asian mining

The United Nations has proposed 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all stakeholders and the community. Either facing poverty, quality education, gender equality, increasing economic growth, innovating industry and infrastructure, environmental protection, or creating sustainable cities and communities, the mining industry is engaged. Southeast Asia consists of countries at various economic development stages that are increasingly integrating into trade, investment, and finance. The mining industry plays a critical role in Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Viet Nam, partly contributing to the increasing growth rates of the Gross Domestic Products in these countries for years. Mining companies are also top taxpayers and the biggest employers, although modern mining is using fewer laborers. However, mining in these countries faces challenges from its social and environmental impacts, misconceptions of the community and media, and the interference of civil societies, etc. Consequently, withdrawals of the mining licenses happen sometimes. The paper reviews how mining companies in Southeast Asia deal with the social acceptance of mining activities. Aspects such as economic development, culture, and social background are characterized.