Environmental management
We recognise that excellence in managing environmental responsibilities is essential to long-term success.
We aim to minimise our environmental footprint and equip our people with environmental standards to effectively manage the environmental aspects of our operations.
Minimising the impact of our activities on the environment through sound risk management practices is a key objective of our business and our environmental performance standards set the internal benchmark for how we aim to operate.
The key environmental issues that our environmental teams are focusing on across our sites and operations are outlined below.
Environmental management and compliance
We aim to minimise our impact on the environment, ensure compliance with legislation and reduce our legacies through continuous improvement.
Toward these aims the company is developing an integrated SHEC Management System that incorporates ISO14001 environmental management system requirements. The system will include the formal, risk based identification of environmental policies, standards and supporting assurance program to measure the operational performance against the environmental performance standards. We are working to ensure all operations maintain or receive ISO14001 certification and achieve zero non-compliances with operational licence and other legal requirements.
Land and biodiversity management
At all our sites, identifying, monitoring and preserving species, protected areas and areas of high biodiversity value, alongside offset programs are a key focus.
We are currently investigating options for managing biodiversity offsets to enable a future state where we can aim to achieve zero net loss and developing biodiversity management plans for all mining operations during the next three years.
Energy, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
Throughout all our operations, offices and transportation, the efficient use of energy is important in minimising greenhouse gas emissions.
Current programs underway include the preparation of energy management plans for all our Australian mining operations; meeting our Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) commitments; preparing to submit the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS) report on schedule; and commencing a Climate Change Study during 2011.
Water management
The efficient use of water and management of waste water discharges is an evolving issue to which we are developing a robust Water Management Strategy and detailed Water Management Plan.
Recently, we have commenced working to ensure all operations to have a functional Water Balance Model to understand storage, usage and treatment requirements. In addition, functional water meters that enable accurate data collection of water usage, reuse and discharges are being installed at our operations.
Closure planning
Mine closure planning includes landform design and rehabilitation alongside community partnerships, for environmentally, economically and socially sustainable land use and local community activities post operations.
The company is currently developing guidance material for integrated closure planning across our operations, including a review tool to formally quantify closure risks, closure costs and assess the quality of closure plans.
Find out more about Century mine closure planning.
Plants are grown at Sepon as part of the rehabilitation process.