The Cypher Green Roads project in Mali, West Africa stands as one of Cypher Environmental’s most impactful ESG and CSR initiatives in mining. The project marked the first Cypher Green Roads initiative outside of Canada. With partner B2Gold Corp., a leading Canadian gold producer with operations in Mali, Philippines and Namibia, we provided environmentally friendly dust control to the village of New Fadougou, drastically improving the quality of life for the village’s residents.
A Partnership for Sustainable Mining and Community Engagement
In 2019, the village of Fadougou was relocated by B2Gold to a new location in preparation for the development of the new Fekola mine. The community was very satisfied with the infrastructure that was provided by B2Gold which included a water distribution system, public lighting, a market and several other community facilities.
However, soon after the relocation, dust became a major concern for the village’s residents. The roads in New Fadougou were unpaved and the constant flow of traffic along the main roads, especially leading to and from the market resulted in significant airborne dust. The dust settled on the items being sold at the market including fruit and other food items, and caused health concerns when residents routinely breathed in large amounts of dust particles.
Bringing Cypher’s Dust Control Technology to New Fadougou
By then, the Fekola mine was already familiar with DUST/BLOKR®, Cypher’s advanced and environmentally friendly dust control solution. The product was first introduced to the site when B2Gold selected DUST/BLOKR® /SB (Sugar Blend) for a road demonstration. The demonstration was overseen by Cypher’s Project Support Manager, Jayme Gladden, who provided crucial training and support on-site to the B2Gold team.
After evaluating multiple dust control solutions, the B2Gold team settled on DUST/BLOKR® /SB as their preferred option due to its superior performance in controlling airborne dust, especially in Mali’s climate and terrain, and its non-toxic, non-corrosive and environmentally friendly nature. Once the product was selected, over 15 kilometres of access roads were treated at the Fekola Mine with DUST/BLOKR® /SB. The amount of product purchased for this project met the requirement for a Cypher Green Roads donation by Cypher Environmental.
When the B2Gold team alerted us to the need for dust control in the village of New Fadougou, we happily shared the details of the Cypher Green Roads program, which would provide the village with DUST/BLOKR, the same dust control product being used at the mine – free of charge.
The Cypher Green Roads program is Cypher Environmental’s CSR initiative. It provides Cypher and our partners a framework to create long-term value by sharing economic benefits and technical know-how with local communities. Cypher Environmental donates up to 5% of a project’s value, in the form of product, to a local community near the project location. To qualify, the project value must exceed USD $250,000.
A Community-Centric Donation for New Fadougou
In January 2022, B2Gold and Cypher’s Green Roads project took shape in the village of New Fadougou. While Cypher Environmental donated the DUST/BLOKR® product, B2Gold covered all transportation and application costs for applying 12,000 litres of DUST/BLOKR® to the village’s main artillery road. Treatment of the road was completed using standard road equipment.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that the benefits of mining extend beyond the life of the mine itself,” says Ken Jones, B2Gold’s Director of Sustainability. B2Gold is known for its strong commitment to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in mining, with numerous other internal initiatives such as Namibia Gold Rhino Bars and the Canadian CSR Fund.
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B2Gold selected DUST/BLOKR® / SB as the preferred solution after testing it against four other dust control products.
The impact of the Cypher Green Roads project on the community of New Fadougou has been profound. Prior to the project dust pollution from the village’s unpaved roads was a significant concern, especially for local markets and residents’ health. After the application of DUST/BLOKR®/SB, the community noticed a remarkable improvement in air quality, road safety, and overall well-being.
Positive Feedback from Residents
A local community leader expressed gratitude, saying “The dust bothered us a lot, especially for our food products at the market. Since the end of the work, we have a better living environment and road users are taking full advantage of the improvements.” He added that “the advantage is first of all, better health for us and for the children. Thanks to these developments, we are free to move around, which was practically impossible before. We thank them for that.”
A local merchant from the market shared similar feedback. “I sell spices at the market. Madam Touré Raki Diallo, a resident of New Fadougou said, “There were very difficult living conditions due to dust, but now things are much better. Because of the dust, we had to change the packaging of our products all the time. Thanks to the layout of the roads, there is little dust in our environment.”
Setting the Standard for CSR and ESG in Mining
Cypher CEO Todd Burns highlights the growing global interest in sustainable mining practices as the Cypher Green Roads program expands. “ESG has become the leading trend in mining,” says Burns. “While health and safety have always been priorities, the focus has shifted from more specific issues like water conservation and fuel efficiency. Now, we are seeing a significant shift toward corporate and environmental responsibility across the industry.”
Burns adds that Cypher’s solutions not only offer mining companies access to green, biodegradable technologies that are certified under the EPA Safer Choice program but also enhance community relations in the areas where they operate. “We’re helping companies integrate sustainability into their operations while fostering positive engagement with local communities.”
Recognition and Expansion of the Cypher Green Roads Program
In 2024, Canada’s Clean50 recognized the success of the Cypher Green Roads project in Mali by awarding it a Top Project award. The award was based on five criteria: impact, innovation, inspiration, information, and replicability. Judges chose the Cypher Green Roads project from hundreds of nominees, highlighting its positive environmental and social impact in the mining sector.
Cypher Green Roads in Mali – 2 Years Later
Today, DUST/BLOKR® continues to be the dust control solution of choice for B2Gold’s operations in Mali. In addition to New Fadougou, two other nearby villages—Medinandi and Timtiba—have benefitted from the Cypher Green Roads program. Medinandi received a donation to treat a 2-kilometer stretch of road while Timtiba received a donation for a 1-kilometer stretch. Both projects involved local community members in the application process, further supporting the local workforce and economy.
The Growing Impact of CSR initiatives in mining
Cypher Environmental is proud to support the growing cleantech movement in Africa and globally. The Cypher Green Roads program highlights the transformative potential of CSR initiatives in mining. It shows how mining companies can positively impact the environment and communities by sharing their knowledge and technology. By supporting these projects, Cypher and our partners set new CSR standards in mining, leaving a lasting and positive legacy.
Originally published in March 2022. Updated with new information January 2025.