Environment
CAML has robust and comprehensive environmental management systems which aim to substantially reduce the risk of any potential negative environmental impacts from our operations.
CO2e 2024 Group Carbon Emissions
We monitor water use and aim to minimise surface water withdrawal, whilst managing discharge water quality.
We are committed to effectively and responsibly managing tailings storage facilities and are proactively working to reduce and recycle non-mineral, hazardous and non-hazardous material waste and preventing or reducing pollution.
We aim to protect and promote biodiversity and will ensure a responsible approach to rehabilitation and closure planning, to ensure a sustainable legacy, recognising the potential for an operation to impact on the environment and local society after the end life of the asset.
We recognise our responsibility, as a contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, to identify and implement programmes to minimise energy usage where possible, as well as to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change throughout the value chain.
MATERIAL TOPICS
Environmental compliance and management
By implementing robust and comprehensive environmental management systems, which focus on both best practice and compliance with regulations, we aim to substantially reduce the risk of any potential negative environmental impacts from our operations on the surroundings and local communities. Such negative impacts could result in potential interruptions or stoppages of operations as well as the payment of fines as a result of failure to comply with environmental laws, regulations and permits.
Responsible waste and tailings management
The mining industry has the capacity to produce significant volumes of waste, posing a potential risk to operations, a threat to the environment and surrounding communities, and constituting a substantial cost, particularly in the event of a tailings facility failure. We are therefore mindful of our duty to ensure responsible waste management and minimisation as well as increasing recycling and reuse wherever possible. More information on our Tailings Management can be found here.
Responsible water management
Water is a valuable and shared resource, with access to fresh water being essential for human life and wellbeing, as well as one of the most important inputs in CAML’s production processes. At our operations, water is used for processing, dust management and domestic water services. CAML has water management strategies in place to steward water as a shared resource (as prescribed within our operating permits), including reducing the freshwater withdrawal and using closed water circuits where possible, and to mitigate against any risks for local communities or environmental degradation.
Air quality and emissions including GHG / energy consumption
Tackling climate change is one of the most important challenges of our time and we believe that every government, community, company and individual has a vital role to play in reducing carbon emissions and safeguarding the future of the planet.
Our most significant air emissions are greenhouse gases and dust. Poor emissions, dust and energy management could not only adversely impact our operations but would further contribute to accelerating climate change. As a Group, we have always operated a firm policy of strict cost control. Energy efficiency is a key component in cost minimisation, given its significant contributions to operating expenditure. We continue to look for energy efficiency improvements and substituting current energy sources with renewable ones.
Biodiversity
Kounrad provides a good example of CAML’s ability to positively impact environmental parameters through our operations when it comes to rehabilitation. However, we are acutely aware of the adverse effects that mining can have on biodiversity both within and beyond the boundaries of the operation, with its subsequent potential impacts on local communities, and have programmes in place to avoid or mitigate such issues.
UN SDG
By producing the metals which play a key role in transmitting renewable power, and therefore contribute positively to the energy transition, we aim to play our part to global decarbonisation. Improving energy efficiency is a key focus of the Company.
We contribute to the economic growth and sustainable development of our countries of operation by providing fair wages and meaningful employment, prioritising local procurement to support regional economies, paying taxes transparently, and upholding human rights. We strictly prohibit modern slavery, child labour and human trafficking across our operations and supply chains. We believe that ethical stewardship and responsible sourcing are not only essential to effective risk management but also fundamental to delivering long-term value for all our stakeholders.
We have implemented a number of resource-use efficiency initiatives. In addition to this, we are focused on renewable energy acquisition or generation and fuel improvements. At Kounrad, we are constructing a solar farm to replace 16% of the project’s energy consumption with renewables.
Our operations in Kazakhstan are based on the concept of circularity by producing copper from historical waste dumps. We are committed to proactively working to reduce and recycle non-mineral, hazardous and non-hazardous material waste and preventing or reducing pollution.
We recognise our responsibility, as a contributor of greenhouse gas emissions, to identify and implement programmes to minimise energy usage and increase use of renewable energy where possible, as well as to mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change throughout the value chain.
