Promining

Promining is a concept discussed in the mining and extractive industries to describe an integrated approach that links public promotion with responsible project development in order to enhance a project’s social license to operate. The term fuses "promote" and "mining" and appears in industry analyses, corporate social responsibility discussions, and some academic writings as a shorthand for efforts to communicate performance while engaging stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

Advocates say proming helps align investment decisions, regulatory expectations, and community interests by providing transparent information, clear timelines, and ongoing dialogue. Critics caution that, without strong governance, proming can blur lines between marketing and governance, potentially enabling greenwashing or selective disclosure.

Core elements often associated with promining include transparent impact reporting, stakeholder consultations, commitments to community development, environmental safeguards, independent audits, and accessible grievance mechanisms. It is commonly linked with formal instruments such as community benefit agreements and the adoption of ESG frameworks.

Outcomes depend on credibility and execution. When well implemented, proming can improve trust, reduce delays in permitting, and clarify risk for investors and communities. Poorly implemented promining risks overpromising, masking adverse impacts, or creating unsustainable expectations.

See also: ESG, corporate social responsibility, social license to operate, sustainability reporting, mining industry.