In a mining sector often criticized for its environmental and social impacts, Eramet Grande Côte (GCO) aims to stand out. During a visit organized on July 23, 2025, by the Association of Journalists for Transparency in Extractive Resources (AJTREPE) to its industrial site in Diogo, in the Thiès region, the company unveiled an innovative approach: rehabilitating and restoring land as mining progresses, well before the concession is exhausted.
Since 2014, Eramet Grande Côte has been extracting zircon from a 106 km stretch of dunes between Thiès and Louga. Unlike traditional open-pit mines, GCO operates a mobile mine, advanced by a giant dredger and a floating plant. "In ten years, we have advanced 35 km. This mobility forces us to think about rehabilitation from the outset," explains Frédéric Zanclan, CEO of Eramet Grande Côte (GCO). Once the heavy minerals have been extracted, the sand is immediately replaced, followed by revegetation, sometimes enriched by suggestions from local communities.
To date, 85 hectares have been rehabilitated and returned to the Senegalese government, and another 1,000 hectares are ready to be rehabilitated. "Everything is in place to move forward," says Mr. Zanclan, a rare promise in a sector where rehabilitation often comes late, with no guarantee of follow-up.
GCO emphasizes ongoing dialogue with stakeholders. In 2025, 34 public meetings brought together more than 4,000 people, including activists, mayors, prefects, village chiefs, young people, and women. "Every commitment is recorded in the minutes. These are not empty words," insists the CEO.
In terms of compensation, GCO goes beyond legal requirements. One hectare of affected land is compensated at 3.5 million CFA francs, compared to 750,000 CFA francs according to the national scale. However, the return of land to the population remains governed by law. "This is state-owned land. Without legal reform, we cannot redistribute it directly," explains Mr. Zanclan, while expressing his willingness to support advocacy for such reform.
For displaced populations, GCO advocates "improved relocation." The company rejects accusations of eviction: "We are relocating people to modern villages with schools, health centers, solar electricity, and places of worship," says the CEO. A concrete example: the opening in 2024 of a health center in a resettlement village, where several births have been recorded.
With 3,000 direct and indirect jobs, 98% of which are held by Senegalese nationals, and an annual contribution of 90 to 100 billion CFA francs to the national economy, Eramet Grande Côte (GCO) ranks among the top five mining companies in Senegal. In 2024, 253 billion CFA francs were injected into the local economy through purchases and subcontracting.
The company aims to be exemplary in terms of environmental performance. "We use 9 million cubic meters of water out of the 16 million authorized, and more than 60% is recycled," emphasizes Mr. Zanclan, responding to concerns about the management of this sensitive resource.
The visit organized by AJTREPE gave journalists a better understanding of Eramet Grande Côte's practices. While challenges remain, particularly in terms of communication with local communities, the company's early rehabilitation model and economic commitment could inspire the African extractive sector. In a context where transparency and sustainability are increasingly demanded, GCO is attempting to chart a new course, albeit one fraught with obstacles.