Sustainability EDL CEO James Harman, Gold Fields VP Stuart Mathews and WA Mines Minister Bill Johnston.
Sustainability key to community support TWO PIONEERING MINERS, GOLD FIELDS AND ANGLO AMERICAN, ARE WALKING THEIR SUSTAINABILITY TALK. SAFE TO WORK REPORTS.
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eople, technology, culture, lowering energy costs and increasing exploration have been key topics around sustainability discussed at the 2019 International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC). Both Gold Fields Australasia operations executive vice president Stuart Mathews and Anglo American metallurgical coal chief executive Tyler Mitchelson cite sustainability as a vital priority for the industry looking ahead. Gold Fields plans to increase its already strong Australian contribution of 43 per cent, or 886,000 ounces of company gold production, to 50 per cent of its total output. Anglo American, meanwhile, is targeting ethically-sourced minerals across its operations by 2025. Mathews believes shareholders are more socially conscious than past decades, so it is important to highlight the company’s sustainable goals. “If we don’t do anything about climate change and energy security, people won’t want to work with us and investors will choose not to invest in us,” Mathews says.
“Ultimately, we have a responsibility to operate in a responsible and sustainable way, globally and locally. “It’s equally important that we look at ways to positively contribute to community goals as well as meet global aspirations.” Mathews says Gold Fields has a role to play in tackling climate change through introducing renewable energy options. At Gold Fields’ Agnew mine in Western Australia, the company has invested in five wind turbines and 10,000 solar panels, producing 18 megawatts wind generation and four megawatts photovoltaic solar respectively. The $112 million investment has received backing from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency in the form of a $13.5 million funding for its stage two. Gold Fields expects to complete construction by mid-2020, providing the Agnew mine with more than 50 per cent renewable energy over the next 10 years once operational. Mitchelson suggests the rise of environment-social-governance factors needs to be a priority for all investors,
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customers and stakeholders on the journey to sustainability. “In the future, when someone refers to mining, I hope they see a picture of people doing valued work in a cleaner, smarter and more socially responsible way, providing the essential ingredients for modern life,” Mitchelson says. Anglo American has set an ambitious 2030 sustainable mining plan, with targets including a 30 per cent improvement in energy efficiency and an absolute 30 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by 2030. The company’s Unki mine in Zimbabwe will be the world’s first mine to publicly commit to being independently audited against the responsible mining assurance’s standard for responsible mining. Mitchelson says all Anglo American managed mine sites will be independently certified by the end of 2025 to satisfy customers’ objective of sourcing ethical minerals. “Our purpose recognises that where we are going on our sustainability journey not only involves a shift in how we mine, but also why we mine,” Mitchelson concludes.
