Community Partnership
BYM's cooperative model ensures mining benefits flow directly to local communities — 100% national workforce, shared governance, and progressive skills development.
National Workforce
100%
All staff — DRC nationals
Employees
36+
Across 4 concession sites
Cooperatives
2+
Local mining cooperatives & associations
Lost-Time Incidents
Zero
Since operations start
Shared Value
Local workforce · local mining cooperatives & associations
Cooperative Partnership Model
BYM works with, not against, existing cooperative structures. Community members maintain ownership stakes and governance roles through local mining cooperatives and exploitation associations, ensuring mining benefits are shared equitably. We also work closely with local development committees (comités locaux de développement) to ensure communities participate actively in local development.
Skills Development
Comprehensive training programs covering equipment operation, safety protocols, environmental management, and professional skills development for all 36+ operational personnel.
Infrastructure Investment
BYM contributes to local infrastructure improvements — access roads, water access, and community facilities — as part of its social license to operate across Ituri, Tshopo, and Nord Kivu.
Health & Safety
Professional health and safety standards including personal protective equipment, safety training, first aid capabilities, and regular audits. Zero lost-time incidents since operations commenced.
Why the cooperative model matters
Artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) employs hundreds of thousands in eastern DRC. Rather than displacing existing miners, BYM consolidates licensed local cooperatives and exploitation associations under a professional management framework. Members receive technical support, equipment access, and a share of production economics — preserving community livelihoods while raising operational and environmental standards. BYM also collaborates with local development committees to ensure communities participate actively in shaping local development priorities.