loader image

Environment

Environment

At Kamoa Copper we are committed to responsible environmental stewardship throughout our mining lifecycle and across our zone of influence. Our governance approach is rooted in compliance with all applicable environmental laws and regulations in our host country jurisdiction, and further guided by global and industry-leading best practice, taking technology into consideration where reasonably possible. Kamoa Copper implements measures to avoid or prevent negative impacts on the receiving environments in which we operate, and where these cannot be prevented, to mitigate or minimize such impacts

Compliance, Monitoring, and Awareness

In advocating for sustainable development at our projects and within our value- and supply chains, our strategic environmental stewardship approach comprises proactive, integrated and sustained environmental management, which is underpinned by continuous feedback and improvement. We are continuously reviewing and aligning our environmental systems and controls, including impact assessments and management plans, to address risks and opportunities stemming from our impacts by aligning with local laws and international standards.

Follow this link to read a summary of our most recent impact assessment.

During 2023, Kamoa Copper undertook a thorough review of the environmental management systems and processes to determine our alignment to the ISO standards (ISO 14001 and 45001), the recommendations of which are currently being implemented.

Water Stewardship

Kamoa Copper is steadfast in our commitment to the principles of water stewardship, through robust and transparent water governance. Our water stewardship and risk management strategies and systems aim to accurately and efficiently address water-related impacts and to ensure water security for current and future water users in our project affected areas. Our systems and controls seek to integrate a number of contextual issues in this respect, including basin/catchment level water availability, stakeholder conflicts, water-related regulatory frameworks and the status of ecosystems and habitats.
The company ensures the effective management of water resources, prioritising responsible and sustainable water use. Acknowledging the imperative of responsible water stewardship in mining, we implement strategic measures to efficiently secure and utilise water as a precious resource within and beyond our footprint areas. Flooding risk, water recycling, hydropower reductions or disruptions, water consumption, and water pollution, are just some considerations in water management at Kamoa Copper.

Since Kamoa Copper is in a water-positive area, the focus is on managing water discharge to limit impacts on surrounding surface water receptors and ensuring water quality limits are maintained in line with in-country requirements and international standards for drinking water quality. We also strive towards implementation of the IFC guidelines on water stewardship.

Our water-related provisions and community service/development projects are part of our overarching sustainable development plan. Each project seeks to enhance the livelihoods of local communities through the development and implementation of various initiatives which include borehole, reticulation and sanitation projects intended to provide clean potable water to the local communities.

Climate change, Energy, and GHG Emissions

While supplying critical copper to support the just energy transition globally, Kamoa Copper recognises the importance of minimising its environmental impact and carbon footprint.
Our strategy considers the decarbonisation initiatives to support climate change reporting and decarbonisation strategies, plans, and activities, including:

  • Optimisation of transport routes: A reduction in Scope 3 emissions using the Lobito Corridor for the transport of copper concentrate as an alternative to road transport.
  • Process optimisation: Construction of the direct-to-blister copper smelter will result in an improvement in Scope 3 emissions. The most significant impact will be in terms of the transportation of a higher-grade copper anode instead of shipping copper concentrate, as the former has double the contained copper content.
  • Green partnerships: To support the further reduction of downstream (Scope 3) GHG emissions, Ivanhoe Mines and Kamoa Copper is working with our offtake partners. This includes targeting low-emission copper refineries, where commercially feasible, as well as supporting lower carbon-intensive logistics routes.
  • Further investigation for the feasibility of other carbon footprint reducing initiatives for deployment will be undertaken as part of the strategy.

To ensure sustained performance, we have entered a public partnership with DRC’s state-owned power company, La Société Nationale d’Electricité (SNEL), securing clean and renewable hydro-generated electricity at Mwadingusha. The refurbishment of Turbine 5 at Inga II dam is also on-schedule and on-budget to produce 178 MW of green hydroelectric power from Q4 2024.
The fully operational Mwadingusha hydropower plant supplies approximately 78 MW of sustainable electricity to the national grid, meeting the needs of Kamoa Copper’s initial two production phases. In collaboration with Ivanhoe Mines Energy DRC, a partnership addendum was signed to upgrade Turbine 5 at the Inga II hydropower plant along the Congo River, with an estimated 178 MW of renewable hydropower upon completion. These projects collectively generate over 250 MW of clean power for the DRC grid.

This commitment to sustainable energy is crucial for the ongoing development of Kamoa Copper into one of the world’s largest, greenest copper mines.

Ivanhoe Mines works towards a groupwide decarbonisation strategy and roadmap to combat the identified risks associated with climate change and to strive towards net zero.

Biodiversity

Kamoa Copper acknowledges that the environments in which its operations exist are natural systems consisting of valuable biodiversity and ecosystem services, and therefore it is our responsibility to conserve, protect and enhance the natural capital that exists within and around our project. Kamoa Copper is dedicated to positively contributing to the conservation of biodiversity through its responsible mining and land use planning and management practices. The company upholds a profound respect for critical habitats and diligently applies the mitigation hierarchy to avoid, minimise, restore, and offset significant biodiversity impacts.

We actively involve and communicate with local stakeholders to integrate their knowledge, wisdom, and concerns into our environmental stewardship, enabling accurate identification of critical habitat and species relationships. Our sustainability and environmental teams collaborate on initiatives for monitoring, studying, protecting, and supporting ecosystems throughout the mining lifecycle and post-closure, with careful land-use planning incorporating input from local communities and stakeholders.

Kamoa-Kakula has had a Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) in place since commencement of construction. In 2023, a detailed Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was completed to support the conditions recommended in the BMP. The BAP is agile, and tracked monthly, and updated annualy with newly completed specialist reports and feedback from the surrounding communities. In Kamoa Copper’s BMP, several key actions are stipulated to conserve biodiversity in the mining lease area, and all directly and indirectly affected areas. These include preservation of “dilungus”, a type of grassland that is classified as a critical habitat, and a beekeeping program, managing offset challenges arising from unavoidable community deforestation activities, planting trees on Arbor Day, and progressing the establishment of a plant nursery.

In 2023, Kamoa Copper partnered with a female-owned local landscaping company who is passionate about enhancing biodiversity and developing green spaces in our office and residential spaces, as well as imparting knowledge about environmental protection to local communities.

Waste Management

Effective waste management can prevent environmental and human health impacts. Through embracing circular economy models within sustainable development, mining can provide a chance to integrate efficient waste solutions by minimising, recovering, or recycling most waste and exploring ways to reuse it effectively.
We continuously assess the hazards of waste from our activities in accordance with relevant regulatory systems and Good International Industry Practices and managing their reuse, recycling, or disposal in a safe and responsible manner.
Kamoa Copper’s waste management strategies and policies include:

  • A reuse, recycling, and recovery process.
  • A camp recyclable waste collection point, with colour coded recycling bins and initial waste segregation, as well as upgrading the salvage yard to implement waste segregation.
  • Waste management awareness is included in employee and contractor induction training.
  • Routine inspections and annual audits of waste management systems.
  •  Oil is recycled and recyclable waste is removed from site by an external party.

Tailing Management

The mining process creates waste, including tailings, waste rock, and non-processing waste. Effectively and responsibly managing these wastes is a critical element in the design, operation, and closure planning of mines.

We strive to meet or exceed global standards for safe tailings management, by adopting a low-risk approach. We intend to apply the latest ICMM requirements as well as work towards complying with the latest global requirements for tailings management, which are set out in the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).

To minimise the environmental footprint, we plan to store a significant portion of tailings underground within the mined-out workings. Approximately half of the tailings will be mixed with cement and pumped back underground to fill voids, contributing to the support of the underground mining infrastructure, and decreasing risk to the community and the environment. This strategic approach reflects our commitment to responsible and sustainable tailings management.

Mine Closure

Mine closures have lasting and irreversible effects on both the environment and communities that rely on them for economic a livelihood support. Planning for closure necessitates comprehensive planning, management, and rehabilitation efforts that consider related social, economic, environmental and governance issues that may emerge post-closure. Sustainable mine closure planning also considers the sustainable end state of the mining area, and how the mine-dependent host communities can be or become resilient and self-sustaining in a post- mining future.

We develop, maintain, and regularly review our reclamation and closure plan that consider socio- economic and environmental aspects, encouraging progressive reclamation and supporting the provision of adequate financial resources to realise closure and post-closure commitments.