Introduction | Fines and legal action | Safety and occupational health | Enviroment | Communities and CSR |
Stakeholder engagement | Economic contribution/value add

Metorex is committed to continually monitoring its environmental performance to minimise its impacts on the environment and has integrated environmental management considerations into its overall management practices throughout the Group.

During the year the implementation of the IsoMetrix SHEC management system was initiated and forms the basis of the data on which the Group’s operations can base their performance and measure the success of initiatives. As the incident reporting through the IsoMetrix system increases, we expect to see a medium-term rise in all categories of incident reports, and as lessons are learnt and preventative measures taken, we expect the number of significant incidents and later the minor incidents, to decline over time.

Incidents recorded

The level 3 incidents at Ruashi relate mainly to the detection of low pH water in the tailings dam groundwater monitoring boreholes. Further investigation found that the low pH was probably caused by the disposal of untreated low pH tailings onto the dam at plant start-up, prior to the commissioning of the lime plant, which eventually manifested in the boreholes. While the lime plant is now fully functional, an action plan has been compiled to ensure that the low pH water does not enter aquifers or surrounding surface water.

Monitoring

Each site continues to operate an environmental management plan that forms part of its operating permit. Surface water, groundwater and air quality monitoring form part of this at every site. Data generated from water sampling feeds into recording the mine water balance. This ensures that all controlled effluent discharge remains within discharge permit limits. Water quality monitoring measures pH, conductivity, temperature, total dissolved solids as well as the levels of specific dissolved metals as required by national legislation. Sampling and analysis are done by the on-site laboratories and verified selectively at off-site facilities. Air quality monitoring measures dust fallout other than at Sable where, due to the extraction process, monitoring also includes sulphur dioxide.

Environmental and community management

Going forward we recognise the need to deepen the integration of environmental management into the overall management of the operations and to support this with additional capacity. We have therefore initiated a formal process of experience sharing within the Group by holding the first Group-wide Metorex environmental and community workshop. This is also designed to facilitate the development of a common approach and culture among the Metorex practitioners.

Mine closure provisions

Metorex operations continue to provide funds for the eventual closure and rehabilitation of its mines. In accordance with the relevant national regulatory requirements these calculations are based on different methodologies and are compiled by external consultants. A third-party audit of closure planning suggested that there is room for improvement in respect of planning for the social aspects of closure and this will be considered in future reviews.

The Group holds inactive historical mining properties through its subsidiaries O’Okiep Copper Company (“OCC”) in the Northern Cape province and Maranda Mines (Pty) Limited (comprising Leeuwpoort and Rooiberg tin mines) in the Limpopo province of South Africa. Metorex is in the process of rehabilitating these sites and intends to apply to the Department of Mineral Resources for closure as rehabilitation progresses. Permits to mine aggregate at OCC and the Maranda mines have since been granted to private parties, and prospecting rights have also been awarded over certain of the properties concerned.

Energy

Metorex commissioned a Corporate Carbon Footprint (“CCF”) for the Group to establish a baseline of energy usage and greenhouse gas emissions. The Group CCF, which was compiled according to greenhouse gas protocol guidance, showed total greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions of 39 627 ton CO₂-equivalent for F2010. The highest contributing site is Ruashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”), and the highest contributing energy source is that of the consumption of diesel fuel on mining sites. The use of hydroelectricity from the DRC and Zambian power grids provides a relatively clean source of electricity. In line with global reporting standards, scope 1 emissions (direct on-site emissions) contribute 64,5 percent towards the total emissions, scope 2 emissions (indirect emissions from electricity consumption) contribute 3,0 percent, and scope 3 (other emissions from material transport and business travel) contribute 32,5 percent. This analysis provides the baseline from which Metorex will monitor emissions and develop improvement plans going forward.