What Procedures Matter to Social Acceptance of Mining? A Conjoint Experiment in Peru

A new study using conjoint experiments in Peru identifies which procedural elements most influence public acceptance of mining projects. The research finds that early community involvement, transparent consultation, and fair compensation significantly increase local support, regardless of the project’s size or operator. Conversely, top-down decisions and limited community input sharply reduce acceptability. These findings highlight the need for participatory and transparent processes to secure a genuine Social License to Operate (SLO) in high-stakes extractive contexts.