Responsible
mining
PROJECT PARTNER
Responsible
mining
Written by Nell Walker Produced by Richard Deane
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How Dundee Precious Metals ensures its Tsumeb smelting plant serves the Namibian community with the utmost corporate responsibility
D
undee Precious Metals Tsumeb, one of three subsidiaries of the Canadian company Dundee Precious Metals Inc., is the Namibian faction of the business. Its site in Tsumeb is located around 430 kilometres north of Windhoek – Namibia’s capital – and sits close to the nation’s greatest wildlife sanctuary, Etosha National Park. Dundee Precious Metals built a smelter here in the 1960s, drawing on the rich seams of copper found in Tsumeb’s mines. Now, the plant contains two Pierce Smith Converters, a Top-Submerged Lance Ausmelt furnace, a sulphuric acid plant, and slag milling and flotation plant. 700 people are employed at the smelter – a significant portion of its 14,000 population. The company originally began as
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Tsumeb Corporation Limited, putting the Tsumeb plant into production in 1963 using the expertise of Newport Mining Corporation. It was soon producing over 3,500 tons of copper and 6,000 of lead a month (until the lead smelter closed in the 1990s), and the company went through a period of uncertainty as it changed hands several times and suffered a period of inactivity due to labour strikes. The smelting plant was finally sold to Dundee Precious Metals Inc. in 2010, with the TSL Ausmelt furnace quickly converted from a lead smelting vessel to a copper one. An oxygen plant was then added to increase the efficiency of the furnace, and the sulphuric acid plant followed soon after. The latter ensures that no harmful sulphur dioxide enters the atmosphere in the treatment process.
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www.omnia.co.za
Protea Chemicals Namibia: Partnering with DPMT for a be�er future It is with great pride that Protea Chemicals Namibia partners with Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb (DPMT) to add value to the Namibian economy and communi�es. Protea ensures that Sulphuric Acid produced at DPMT is transported safely to end users in Namibia, and our services to DPMT includes, amongst other, the following: Ÿ Ÿ Ÿ
SHEQ management and enforcement along the transporta�on route and on site. Emergency response persons, systems and equipment strategically located along the transporta�on route. Community, fire department and medical centre hazardous chemicals awareness training.
SHEQ and ® Responsible Care
Protea Chemicals Namibia (Pty) Ltd., as a member of the Omnia Group, is a signatory to the Responsible Care program®, maintained by the Chemical Allied Industries Associa�on. We are commi�ed to the safe and responsible handling of chemicals, with the philosophy of “cradle to grave” management. · We are commi�ed to promo�ng safety, health, responsible care, environmental and quality awareness. · SHEQ & Responsible Care management is applied through an Integrated Management System (ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001). · Our dedicated internal SHEQ department focus on internal and external training programmes with a view to con�nual improvement of overall SHEQ standards. · Spillage management and emergency response support. · A comprehensive Hazmat plan for warehousing facili�es. Above is allowing customers to focus on the metallurgy of their process, whilst we manage their chemical supply and/or distribu�on in a safe and responsible way. Corner of 1 Rikumbi Kandanga Road and 3rd Street, Walvis Bay T+264 64 221 540 F+264 64 221 541
4- 6 Newcastle Street, Northern Industrial, Windhoek T+264 61 214 849 F+264 61 214 846
Tsumeb’s smelter is a rare one in that it is able to treat and process complex copper concentrate, something few others are advanced enough for. It produces 98.5 percent pure copper blister, which is refined in Europe and Asia to be turned into metal. The other elements, arsenic trioxide and sulphuric acid, are sold to third party customers and Namibian uranium and copper producers respectively. Dundee Precious Metals, too, is unusual in its unwavering approach
to sustainability, not something that is always a priority in the industry. It claims to follow the highest possible standard of business ethics and social behaviour, and has implemented various continuous improvement strategies to ensure this. DPM’s excellent relationships with shareholders means that the company trusts each of them to abide by the same policies, cementing a positive reputation for everybody involved.
Some of DPM’s policies, as per the company’s website, include: •C ompliance with all applicable laws and regulatory controls. •A n understanding of the environment in which DPM is working, and the responsibilities therein. •B est practice approaches to environmental management, engineering, and protection to be applied evenly across the business. •M aximisation of environmental management opportunities inherent in mineral development projects to minimise environmental risks and effects.
• Outstanding minerals development, production operations, and environmental management are a priority. • Regular auditing and evaluation of DPM’s performance plus open and honest shareholder engagement. •C ompany-wide application of environmental policies at all stages of production, supported with the appropriate level of funding. •E mployee and contractor awareness of both individual and businesswide responsibilities and obligations in line with environmental policy.
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QUALITY AT WORK GI Construction is a 100% Namibian owned and managed company. We are a civil and bulk earth working contractor with a strong focus on delivering high quality works safely and within schedule.
www.giconstruction.net | info@giconstruction.net | Tel: +264 61 23 0443
Global Leader in Refractory Technology
“As a foreign company, we believe in investing part of our proceeds into the community in which we operate”
We constantly add value to the high-temperature processes of our customers. Worldwide
EXCELLENCE IN REFRACTORIES
www.rhi-ag.com
– Zebra Kasete, Vice President and Managing Director
DPM’s recognition of itself as a with Rosalia David many of these huge part of the economy in which aspects, as well as the future of it operates, emphasising the Dundee Precious Metals Tsumeb. importance of financial stability “Any international company and corporate responsibility. operating in a local community The company dedicates itself to needs to be appreciative towards the use of efficient energy, recycling their host community,” he explained. and waste minimisation, outsourcing “Corporate social responsibility is of work to local businesses where crucial to Dundee Precious Metals appropriate, Tsumeb. As ensuring a foreign operations benefit company, we believe locals and minimise in investing part of our The location risks to the community, proceeds into the community of Dundee and that environmental in which we operate. With Precious remediation and the administrative assistance Metals economic improvement from the Namibian Chamber of Tsumeb are always a priority. Commerce and Industry’s local Improvements to branch, the Tsumeb Community infrastructure, public Trust has provided grants to health, and education over 80 small Namibian-owned regarding projectsare businesses that have in turn to be implemented early. employed and trained a significant All business practices will be number of Namibians who might conducted at the highest possible otherwise be unemployed. ethics and transparency standards. “Dundee has contributed In summer 2016, DPMs Vice approximately N$15 million to a President and Managing Director public-private partnership with Zebra Kasete was interviewed the National Housing Enterprise to for Lela Mobile, and discussed build 67 houses for ownership by
Namibia
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our employees, with more in the pipeline. This is also in line with the Harambee Prosperity Plan theme for mining companies to continue providing houses to the communities. We are happy and committed to work together with the government to progress this specific theme.” DPM also awards bursaries to local students, having spent N$5 million on them already, and focuses heavily on utilising local businesses through its preferential procurement policy. The business’s
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dedication to its many continuous improvement causes is incredibly admirable, and Kasete summed up his feelings on the subject succinctly: “Managing expectations on all levels is the biggest challenge for new leaders. I must understand the commitment made by the company, and manage those expectations effectively whilst delivering on them. Despite all of the exciting challenges, I am happy that I am working for a company whose value resonates with my own.”
THE NAMIBIAN TEAM Zebra Kasete Kasete is Vice President and Managing Director, with nearly 30 years of mining and smelting experience behind him. He is a metallurgist and has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration, and has held various senior positions within the industry.
Barcelona Plaatjies Plaatjies is Director of Operations and is working towards her Honours Degree in Technology Management, with several years of experience in mining already under her belt.
Jan Kruger As the Director of Technical Services, Kruger has worked in the base metal smelting sector for several years, and provides operational support throughout the entire smelting process.
Isai Nekundi Nekundi is in charge of liasing with senior management and collaborating to develop effective relationships, with an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration behind him.
Thinus Loftie-Eaton Loftie-Eaton is Director of Finance, Supply Chain, and IT, and is responsible for strategic financial management, commercial, and supply chain management.
Arthur Scholz Scholz is the Utilities Manager, responsible for internal projects and utilities, and an invaluable asset to the sustainability side of the business.
Linus Gwala The Director of Human Resources is responsible for the development and execution of DPMT’s HR strategy, and has over 30 years of experience in the sector.
Tsumeb (Pty) Ltd PO Box 936, Smelter Road Tsumeb, Namibia
+264 6722 34000 info@dundeeprecious.com www.dundeeprecious.com