The honour, given to the miner at the Best Practices Awards for Sustainable Development, stems from work it did in collaboration with the Lundin Foundation and Catering Las Peñas, which oversees food preparation supply, cleaning and laundry services to the company's Fruta del Norte gold project in southeastern Ecuador.

Specifically, it said, it was recognised for the work with the CLP relating to sustainable development goal (SDG) 8, Decent Work and Economic Growth.

Lundin will now be up for evaluation for the 2018 Regional SDG Awards, where it will join other companies from Latin America and the Caribbean.

"The alliance between CLP, the Lundin Foundation and Lundin Gold has had a significant positive economic impact in the province of Zamora Chinchipe and local communities that surround Fruta del Norte," president and CEO Ron Hochstein said.

“Local agricultural producers are now integrated into the catering supply chain, which has boosted the economy and has generated important sources of stable and gainful employment. We are very proud of the results achieved.”

The CLP initiative was founded by former Lundin Gold employees; since 2015, it has offered food preparation as well as cleaning and laundry services to Fruta del Norte.

Vancouver-based Lundin Gold’s Fruta del Norte gold project is one of the highest-grade and largest gold projects currently under construction. First production is expected in 2019.