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MIM's Commitment to the Environment
MIM has a strong commitment to the environment and as with safety, we believe it is an integral part of the mining and production process. The company is a founding signatory to the Australian Minerals Industry Code for Environmental Management. MIM continues to work to improve its environmental performance and reduce the environmental affects of its operations. Many improvements have been made. The main environmental challenges facing MIM are the management of effluent and stormwater discharges, reduction of air emissions, the minimisation of disturbance, lessening of greenhouse gas emissions and the drive to a more sustainable industry, including strengthening community involvement. At the coal operations, work focussed on options for dealing with increased methane emissions due to expansions in underground mining. At Mount Isa, 72% of copper smelter sulphur dioxide emissions were captured, an 18% increase over the previous year resulting from the WMC Resouces sulphuric acid plant's increased uptake of SO2. When fully operational, the acid plant is expected to take up to 80% of copper smelter SO2 emissions. In the lead smelter, SO2 emissions increased by 12.5% due to increased production. Overall, the Mount Isa site SO2 emissions were reduced by 10% from 2001. MIM is a leader in the rehabilitation of coal mine land. At the three coal mines 320 hectares of spoil was rehabilitated during 2002. Newlands and Collinsville have rehabilitated the backlog of overburden spoil. By 2003 Oaky Creek will have recontoured all available spoil. All MIM's mines are maximising the recycling of process water, conserving often scarce water resources, reducing the cost of bringing it to mines and ensuring that process water does not pollute streams.
In 1999 MIM joined other international mining companies in establishing the Global Mining Initiative to study sustainable development issues facing the industry and independently research how mining and minerals can contribute to sustainable development. The research was carried out within the Mining Minerals and Sustainable Development (MMSD) project culminating in a report "Breaking New Ground" and a major international conference held in Toronto in May 2002 which was attended by MIM's Managing Director. An Australian regional group was also established to provide a regional perspective on sustainable development issues for consideration in the main report. This group produced a supporting report "Facing the Future".
MIM has in place a number of key policies and supporting programmes that apply to all MIM operations around the world which address elements of sustainability. MIM will continue to contribute to the sustainability debate and look for meaningful measures or indicators of our contribution to a sustainable future. For MIM Sustainability Case Studies click here to view the 2002 Environment and Community Report on pages 14 to 16.
As a fundamental policy, MIM group companies are committed to conducting their businesses responsibly and in a manner designed to protect their employees, the community's health and the environment. In implementing the policy, we will:
MIM was one of the first companies to commit to the Australian Minerals Industry Code for Environmental Management, and we recommitted to the revised Code during 1999/2000. The mining industry has developed the Code as the centrepiece of a commitment to respond to community concerns through consultation, demonstrated environmental performance, continuous improvement and public reporting. An essential feature of the Code is the requirement for all signatory companies to publish annual Environment Reports. These reports provide an overview of environmental performance, including the number and nature of environmental incidents, at the same time giving the public an understanding of a company's approach to environmental management. In early 2003, MIM published its fifth Annual Environmental Report. The purpose of this report is to provide information to MIM's stakeholders about the company's environmental performance for the year ending 30 June 2002 and to provide specific targets for the coming year. This report includes improved reporting on our community relations and sustainability efforts. MIM's 2002 Environment and Community Report is now available to download. The next report for the year 2003 will be available in late 2003.
MIM has been a signatory to the voluntary Greenhouse Challenge Program with the Commonwealth and Queensland Governments since 1997. In June 2000 MIM, with other companies, re-committed to the challenge.
Site Environmental Management Systems (EMS) are required by MIM's Environmental Standards. Elements of the Standard and the principles of the Australian Minerals Industry Code for Environmental Management will be included in the sites' EMS's. MIM's operations develop and implement site specific EMS's which incorporate the key components of the international environmental standard ISO 14001. An EMS provides a framework for the systematic implementation of sound environmental management practices and continual improvement. It will assist sites to ensure that environmental management considerations are fully integrated into decision making processes. The EMS is continuously reviewed and updated over the life of a project. During 2003 it is intended to review the MIM Environmental Policy and Environmental Standards.
Each year detailed site specific environmental reviews and audits are undertaken for all of MIM's Australian operations whereby auditors from within the company audit the environmental management of sites. The resulting reports identify and prioritise actions required. Action plans are developed and integrated with the business plan and budget for the following year. Audits are important in identifying progress in implementing components of the EMS's such as compliance with legislation. They also help identify environmental risks, and thus contribute to improvement in environmental performance. Six site EMSs were audited during the 2001/2002 year; the balance will be audited in 2003.
The National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) is an internet database designed to provide the community, industry and government with information on the types and amounts of certain chemicals that are emitted into the environment. At MIM we are committed to conducting our business responsibly and in a manner designed to protect employees, the community's health and the environment. Part of that commitment is the development of strategies to reduce emissions from our operations. By providing information to the NPI database MIM is contributing to a community database of the types of and levels of emissions from Australian industrial facilities. In addition, we are raising awareness of emissions and identifying opportunities to reduce those emissions. The month of June 1999 marked the first period for MIM's mining operations in Australia to report emissions data for the National Pollutant Inventory. NPI emissions data for MIM for the full year ending 30 June 2002 will be available here soon. NPI data is also available by viewing the NPI database by clicking on the link below. At Mount Isa work has now commenced on an emissions reduction strategy in line with the Mount Isa Mines Vision 2005. Recent initiatives include the establishment of an Airborne Emissions Working Group. This group is co-ordinating plans to better manage stockpiles and to optimise current smelting procedures and operations to eliminate fugitive emissions where possible.
Community relations is an integral part of doing business. MIM's community support is focused on the communities where the company operates. The company believes that by working in partnership with these communities it can create positive outcomes for all. Targeted benefits vary from site to site and include quality education for local children, competitive local suppliers or a skilled local workforce. At MIM we strongly support the communities where we mine, a tradition as old as the company which was founded in Australia's remote outback in the 1920s. Most of our employees live in towns near our operations. The company has funded major facilities and infrastructure, and some of the towns have been built completely by the company. We seek to develop mutual respect and support between the company operations and local people. In putting this policy into practice, we aim to match our initiatives to the different local needs. MIM understands that informing and involving the communities near to its activities are important to the continuing operation of its mines and processing plants and exploration activity. From the early stages of exploration, in Australia and in other countries, MIM communicates with local communities about its plans and developments in accordance with MIM Exploration's (MIMEX) community relations policy. A corporate Community Relations Policy is in development. Where it has a continuing presence, as part of the local community, the company provides a range of educational, charitable, sporting, cultural and other community assistance, supporting local events and activities.
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