PDCA Cycle
Through closed-loop management, we solve various environmental problems in the loop, while elevating our goals. In addition, we learn from past environmental incidents and continuously improve our environmental risk management system for any unexpected emergencies. Guided by our “Emergency Plan for Environmental Emergencies”, we have developed various operating standards to ensure that we can effectively prevent and respond to various environmental emergencies in a timely manner. We organize at least one environmental emergency drill every year to test the effectiveness of the emergency plan, the completeness of emergency preparations, the adaptability of emergency response capabilities and the coordination of emergency personnel.
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Plan
We have an environmental target management system covering all employees, including company executives and contractors. Based on our overall goals, we have set corresponding action and funding to ensure their feasibility. Under our medium-and long-term goals, we are further developing annual short-term environmental protection and ecological goals to break down the goals and responsibilities for each subsidiary, department, and position for implementation at different levels.
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Do
To maintain the efficient operation of the EMS (), we have established an organizational system that is interconnected vertically. Under the leadership of the Production Safety Committee, the Environment and Ecology Department is responsible for managing environmental issues on a full-time basis. There is a daily environmental protection and ecological management department set up within every subsidiary and each factory or section has its own full-time or part-time environmental management personnel to integrate environmental management concepts into specific business processes and decision-making processes. In addition, we have established an information management platform to standardize and digitize system documents, archives and processes.
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Check
We conduct regular internal environmental compliance inspections on every Group subsidiary based on our policies and standards including the “Regulations on Environmental Protection and Ecological Inspection and Management” and the “Basic Standards for Environmental Order Management”. We also entrust authoritative third-party institutions with regular inspections of mines and smelters to help subsidiaries identify and respond to potential environmental risks in a timely manner. In addition, each subsidiary regularly organizes internal environmental audits and rectifications to ensure process compliance.
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Act
By identifying non-compliant items in environmental activities, we require the development of rectification plans and completion within a specific time limit. We also regularly track the completion of corrective measures to continuously improve environmental performance.
Lifecycle Environmental Management
We require the embedding of environmental protection throughout the entire mining lifecycle and strive for international best practices. From mine acquisition to closure, we carry out environmental protection and ecological management of our mines throughout their lifecycles. This ensures consistency in our long-term management. We consider green mining standards and our ultimate blueprint goal right from the mine’s inception, restoring the environment during operations and maintaining a pleasant ecological environment throughout the entire mining lifecycle. By doing this we also reduce post-mine maintenance costs, creating a solid foundation for the local environment and organisms after mine closure.
Zijin’s Environmental Management Throughout the Mine Lifecycle
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We conduct due diligence on mine site to understand basic situation, including:
• Environmental assessment of the site
• Geological prospecting
• Ecological damage caused by past operating activities
• Operational status of environmental protection facilities
• Identification of actual and potential ecological and environmental risks
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We conduct the following environmental impact assessments:
• Investigate the water, soil, vegetation, geological and landscape characteristics where the mine is located
• Predict and evaluate the possible impact or damage on the geological environment during project development, including potential disasters or environmental pollution
• Propose measures for geological environment and ecological protection and management of mine site
• Consider ecological restoration during and after mining operations
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We put risk prevention first and with our method of balancing prevention and control, we:
• Strictly control pollutants, including wastewater, exhaust gas, solid waste and noise
• Advance environmental protection and restoration by careful planning in order to maintain a stable ecological environment
• Encourage subsidiaries to purchase environmental pollution liability insurance to reduce pollution risks
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We adopt responsible mine closure management plans by:
• Prioritizing public health and safety, environmental and social impact, and sustainable economic development after mine closure
• Actively responding to the demands of stakeholders, jointly discussing with them the best methods of mine closure
• Developing a responsible mine closure and funding plan, and taking credible actions to leave a green and sustainable legacy for local communities after mine closure
Goal 6Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Goal 14Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.
Goal 15Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
