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Environmental Management

At MMG we are committed to minimising our environmental footprint through the efficient use of natural resources, management of waste by products and effective life-cycle management. We closely manage our impacts, aligning our environmental and biodiversity activities with our life-of-asset plans.

For our performance see our Sustainability Reports.

For specific information please browse the links below:

Air Quality Management
Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Land, Biodiversity and Cultural Heritage Management
Mine Closure Planning
Noise and Vibration
Water Management
Waste Management
Updated ESIA and Environmental Management Plan for Kinsevere Mine
Updated ESIA and Environmental Management Plan for Kinsevere Mine (French)
Environmental Management Plan Review 2016-2021 for Rosebery Mine
Annual Monitoring Review and Management Report 2021-22 for Rosebery Mine

 

Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs)

At MMG we treat the management of our TSFs as key material issues and risks that require ongoing, rigorous risk management. Our approach includes mandating minimum requirements for all sites to employ. This covers the life cycle of tailings facilities and dams, spanning all phases of work including strategic planning, design, operations, maintenance, inspections, emergency response and closure. Protecting lives and the environment is mandated in our Tailings Storage Facilities and Water Storage Dam Standard.

Our approach to these minimum requirements has been developed using internal and external subject matter experts, aligning with the requirements of the Global International Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD), Canadian Dam Association (CDA) and the Mining Association of Canada (MAC). Our approach meets or exceeds the regulatory requirements in each of the jurisdictions in which we operate.

MMG applies critical design and execution requirements that are based on a risk assessment process. This is reviewed annually, focusing on operating and non-operating TSFs, seeking to minimise environmental and community impacts with a secondary objective to maximise operational efficiency. The risk management and control execution measures are subject to internal, external and independent audit.

There has been increased scrutiny of TSF integrity from both within the industry and from external stakeholders. Recent failures of large upstream constructed dams have been the primary driver for this concern. The majority of MMG’s TSFs, including Las Bambas, are engineered rock and earth fill structures constructed using downstream construction methods. We have smaller facilities at our Rosebery operation in Australia that incorporates upstream construction methods in a portion of the containment dam.

In 2016, the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) issued a position statement on preventing catastrophic failure of TSFs. MMG’s approach to the governance of TSFs fully aligns with this framework, including the use of an Independent Dam Review Committee and Engineer of Record at each of our TSFs.

MMG has a strong commitment from our Board and Executive Management Team to provide the necessary governance and resources to safeguard our teams and the environment. Continuous improvements are further refining and strengthening our TSF controls, benchmarking them against Independent Tailings expert reviews and audits as defined by GISTM and ANCOLD.

In August 2020, the ICMM, in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), released the new Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), of which MMG contributed to the design through our membership of the ICMM. The standard applies to both existing and new facilities. It is focused on avoiding extreme consequences to people and the environment from catastrophic tailings facility failures. The GISTM comprises six topic areas:

  • Topic Area I: Affected Communities
  • Topic Area II: Integrated Knowledge Base
  • Topic Area III: Design, Construction, Operation and Monitoring of the Tailings Facility
  • Topic Area IV: Management and Governance
  • Topic Area V: Emergency Response and Long-Term Recovery
  • Topic Area VI: Public Disclosure and Access to Information


MMG is well progressed in conforming to the Standard and will continue until we achieve full compliance for all our Tailings Storage facilities.  We have prioritised those requirements with the Standard relating to the integrity of our dams.

Download MMG GISTM conformance summary

Download MMG Tailings Disclosure Table

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