Social and reputational risk for mining and metals operations in Mexico
For a mining or metals operation in Mexico, Riskop identifies who has a say in the project across federal, state, municipal and agrarian authorities and local communities; assesses the social impact of an expansion before negotiations start; and separates media and social coverage aimed at the company from noise about the whole sector.
Reviewed by: Christian Ehrlich, Partner, Co-CEO and Director of Intelligence. Updated .
Problems we address
Each problem lists the Riskop service or platform that handles it.
Telling coverage aimed at the company apart from noise about mining in general
A story about mining as a whole, about shareholders or about another mine does not weigh the same as criticism of your operation. We separate the two kinds of conversation so your team responds only to what concerns it.
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An expansion that requires sorting out impacts with nearby communities before negotiating
Before sitting down to negotiate, the company needs to know what impacts the new phase will bring, who they affect and what measure fits each one. The assessment is done in the field, with families and local authorities in the nearby towns.
Knowing who decides when federal, state, municipal and agrarian authorities are all involved
A permit, an access road or a negotiating table can hinge on an ejido commissioner, a mayor or a federal agency. The stakeholder map shows who carries weight on each issue, where they stand and who to talk to first.
Responding fast when an incident at the mine reaches the media
An accident, a protest or a complaint can dominate the conversation within hours. With protocols and spokespeople prepared in advance, and media and social listening during the event, the company knows what is being said, who is driving it and when to respond.
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Company statements that never reach nearby communities or local media
Good news about the operation can go unnoticed by nearby communities and local media. We measure which messages actually circulate, through which channels and among whom, and adjust communications based on that.
Riskop’s experience in mining and metals
Since 2021 we have worked with a mining operation in western Mexico. We started with a stakeholder map of the area, then assessed the social impact of an expansion phase, and later ran its reputational intelligence for six months, with biweekly reports and special reports whenever a critical event came up. This is experience with a single mining client, and we describe it without details that could identify it. Our work with urban metals and steel plants is under Industry and manufacturing.
| Project | Region | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Stakeholder map of government, agrarian authorities, communities, academics and environmental groups around the operation | Western Mexico | 2021 |
| Social impact assessment for a mine expansion phase | Western Mexico | 2024 |
| Reputational intelligence across media and social networks, with biweekly reports and reports on critical events | Western Mexico | 2024 |
| A field team in the communities around a mining and metals operation, gathering information on security, local leaders and social development opportunities | Date not published |
Services for mining and metals
Frequently asked questions
Does Riskop do fieldwork in the communities near a mine?
Yes. Social impact assessments and stakeholder maps are built from interviews and site visits in nearby towns, with municipal and agrarian authorities and with civil society groups. No information that could identify a community or a person is published.
Can LIS track what is said about a mining company?
LIS reviews digital media, social networks and regional press every day, and separates what is said about the company from issues in its area, such as water or permits. It does not cover radio or television.
What if the operation also runs a metals processing plant?
The same studies apply: the plant has neighbors, local authorities and an environmental issue that can become attached to its name. Riskop’s work with urban metals and steel plants is on the Industry and manufacturing page.
Can the stakeholder map be updated after delivery?
Yes. It comes with its databases, so your team can update it when a new mayor or ejido commissioner takes over. If you want to log meetings and commitments with each stakeholder in the same place, SET, currently a pilot program, imports stakeholders from Excel.
Tell us what stage your operation is in and who has a say in it
You can also call us at +52 (81) 8363 0021.