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Credit: Anglo AmericanCredit: Anglo AmericanAudits

Anglo American’s Los Bronces copper operations to be audited

Anglo American’s Los Bronces complex to be independently audited against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining

Anglo American has signed agreements with IRMA, and IRMA approved audit firm ERM CVS, to independently assess its Los Bronces copper operations against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. Los Bronces is located in Chile’s Greater Santiago Metropolitan Region.

ERM CVS will be conducting the assessment, which includes a desk review (stage 1) followed by an onsite audit (stage 2). After the ERM CVS draft audit report is reviewed by IRMA and Anglo American, the company may release the report or can take up to twelve months to implement corrective actions and be re-assessed. When the assessment is complete, IRMA will publish a final report in which ERM CVS assigns an overall IRMA Achievement Level, and explains how and why they scored Los Bronces against each of the 400+ requirements of the IRMA Standard.

Stakeholder Engagement in the Assessment

Interested stakeholders and members of the public can sign up to receive updates about the Los Bronces assessment (e.g., the timing of the stage 2 onsite visit, link to public summary of audit results). The Mines Under Assessment page of IRMA’s website will also provide up-to-date information on all assessments.

Members of the community, public officials, representatives of the workforce, or other organizations are invited to submit comments regarding how the mine site is managing their impacts to the environment including air, water, waste, greenhouse gases, and ecosystems; how the mine supports their workforce; and how the mine interacts with the surrounding community, and how it impacts the community, positively or negatively.

Interested parties may contact the independent audit firm, ERM CVS, to share comments or to ask to be interviewed as part of the audit process. The audit firm can be reached via:

Web form

Email: post@ermcvs.com

QR code to access online form:

ERM CVS IRMA feedback form english QR code

More Information

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Credit: Anglo AmericanCredit: Anglo AmericanAudits

Las operaciones de cobre de Anglo American en Los Bronces serán auditadas

El complejo Los Bronces de Anglo American será auditado de manera independiente según el Estándar IRMA para la Minería Responsable

Anglo American ha firmado acuerdos con IRMA, y con la firma de auditoría ERM CVS, acreditada por IRMA, para evaluar de manera independiente sus operaciones cupríferas en Los Bronces según el Estándar IRMA para la Minería Responsable. Los Bronces se encuentra en la Región Metropolitana de Santiago de Chile.

ERM CVS llevará a cabo la evaluación, que incluye una revisión documental (etapa 1) seguida de una auditoría in situ (etapa 2). Después de que IRMA y Anglo American revisen el borrador del informe de auditoría de ERM CVS, la empresa puede publicar el informe o puede tardar hasta doce meses en implementar acciones correctivas y ser reevaluado. Cuando se complete la evaluación, IRMA publicará un informe final en el que ERM CVS asigna un nivel de logro general de IRMA y explica cómo y por qué calificaron a Los Bronces en comparación con cada uno de los 400+ requisitos del estándar IRMA.

Participación de las partes interesadas en la evaluación

Las partes interesadas y los miembros del público pueden inscribirse para recibir actualizaciones sobre la evaluación de Los Bronces (por ejemplo, el momento de la visita in situ de la etapa 2, enlace al resumen público de los resultados de la auditoría). La página de Minas Bajo Evaluación del sitio web de IRMA también proporcionará información actualizada sobre todas las evaluaciones.

Se invita a los miembros de la comunidad, funcionarios públicos, representantes de la fuerza laboral u otras organizaciones a enviar comentarios sobre cómo el sitio minero está manejando sus impactos al medio ambiente, incluidos el aire, el agua, los desechos, los gases de efecto invernadero y los ecosistemas; cómo la mina apoya a su fuerza laboral; y cómo la mina interactúa con la comunidad circundante y cómo impacta a la comunidad, positiva o negativamente.

Las partes interesadas pueden ponerse en contacto con la firma de auditoría independiente, ERM CVS, para compartir comentarios o solicitar ser entrevistadas como parte del proceso de auditoría. Se puede contactar con la firma de auditoría a través de:

En la web

Correo electrónico: post@ermcvs.com

Código QR para acceder al formulario en línea:

ERMCVS Español feedback form QR code

Por favor, comparta este anuncio y no dude en ponerse en contacto directamente con ERM CVS para proporcionar los nombres y la información de contacto de otras partes interesadas de Los Bronces que puedan estar interesadas en conocer y participar en el proceso de evaluación del sitio minero.

Para más información

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Sishen Mine. Credit: Anglo AmericanSishen Mine. Credit: Anglo AmericanAudits

Sishen, Kolomela Begin IRMA Surveillance Audits

ERM CVS to Conduct “Check-In” Assessments to Verify Performance, Progress Identified in Initial Audit

Yesterday IRMA-approved independent audit firm ERM CVS started IRMA surveillance audit of the Sishen and Kolomela iron ore operations in South Africa’s Northern Cape province. These mines are owned and operated by Kumba Iron Ore, a company of which Anglo American is a primary shareholder.

Sishen and Kolomela both achieved IRMA 75 upon release of their full audit reports in April 2024.

Within the IRMA independent assessment cycle, an IRMA surveillance audit is the midpoint between the initial full audit and the full re-assessment audit. It verifies that the previously awarded IRMA Achievement level is still warranted. It is an abbreviated verification that the operation’s systems and controls are still in place and are functioning effectively, that no major changes have occurred that negatively affect the operation’s performance, and that the operation is progressing on its corrective action plan.

As with a full audit, a surveillance audit consists of a desk audit and an onsite audit, and includes confidential interviews with workers and engagement with community stakeholders. As with a full audit, the onsite component will be announced at least 30 days prior.

Following the completion of the surveillance audits, reports will be published on Sishen’s audit page and Kolomela’s audit page.

Stakeholder Engagement in the Surveillance Audit

Interested stakeholders and members of the public can sign up to receive updates about the surveillance assessments. The Mines Under Assessment page of IRMA’s website will also provide up-to-date information on all assessments.

Members of the community, public officials, representatives of the workforce, or other organizations are invited to submit comments regarding how the operation is managing their impacts to the environment including air, water, waste, greenhouse gases, and ecosystems; how the mine supports their workforce; and how the mine interacts with the surrounding community, and how it impacts the community, positively or negatively.

Interested parties may contact ERM CVS to share comments or to ask to be interviewed as part of the audit process. The audit firm can be reached via:

On the web:

erm.com/ermcvs/services/sector-specific-certification-schemes/irma-stakeholder-feedback-form/

Email: post@ermcvs.com

QR code to access online form:

ERM CVS IRMA feedback form english QR code

More Information

ERM CVS is an independent IRMA-approved and trained audit firm. For more about ERM CVS visit ermcvs.com.

IRMA’s mission is to protect the environment and people directly affected by mining. For more about IRMA including the assessment process, the IRMA Standard, and to see audit reports of other mines visit responsiblemining.net

For more information about the IRMA audit cycle, please visit the Independent Assessment Timeline page. If you have concerns or complaints about the IRMA mine site assessment process or the IRMA Standard visit the IRMA Feedback and Complaints page.

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Rustenburg. Credit: Sibanye-StillwaterRustenburg. Credit: Sibanye-StillwaterAudits

Follow Up Audit at Sibanye-Stillwater’s Rustenburg this August

From IRMA approved independent auditor ERM CVS:

ERM CVS to Conduct a Follow Up IRMA Assessment of Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg Operations

ERM CVS Seeks Input from Local Community and Other Stakeholders

Today, 4 July 2025, ERM CVS announces that on 4-8 August 2025, auditors will visit the Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg operations, located in the Rustenburg local municipality, South Africa. This is an extension of the independent, third-party audit initiated in November 2024 against the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) standard.

During this August 2025 audit extension, ERM CVS will be collecting feedback from local stakeholders – anyone directly or indirectly affected by the mine — including community members, mine workers, and government officials. Feedback can be provided on all of Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg operations, including the Kroondal operations, which will be a special focus. The ERM CVS team will also inspect the operation and its associated facilities.

When the audit is finished, an IRMA assessment results in a public audit report released locally and on the internet. This report will describe how ERM CVS scored Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg Operations against each of the 400+ requirements of the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining, and why ERM CVS gave Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg Operations that score. The report will also assign an overall achievement level: IRMA Transparency, IRMA 50, IRMA 75, or IRMA 100.

Sibanye-Stillwater can use this information about the environmental and social impacts of the Rustenburg operations, inclusive of Kroondal, to improve its practices. Other stakeholders, particularly affected communities, may use this audit report to engage with Sibanye-Stillwater and others on a more equal footing to improve the operation in the ways that matter most to them.

4 – 8 August 2025

Your comments will help ERM CVS assess the impact of Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg Operations, inclusive of Kroondal, on local communities and measure its performance against best mining practices. ERM CVS invites you to sign-up for an interview with auditors during the onsite audit, and/or submit written comments to the auditors about Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg operations using the contact details below.

You must contact us before 28 July 2025 to be interviewed. Written comments submitted before 15 August 2025 will be incorporated into the results of this audit.

On the web:

erm.com/ermcvs/services/sector-specific-certification-schemes/irma-stakeholder-feedback-form/

Email: post@ermcvs.com 

Telephone: +27 10 596 3740

QR code to access online form:

ERM CVS IRMA feedback form english QR code

Interviews with members of the community occur without mine personnel present. Interviews with non-management workers occur without management present and can be scheduled to occur offsite on request. ERM CVS protects the identity of individual commenters although the general nature of comments will be summarized in the report.

ERM CVS is an independent IRMA-approved and trained audit firm. For more about ERM CVS visit ermcvs.com.

IRMA’s mission is to protect the environment and people directly affected by mining. For more about IRMA including the assessment process, the IRMA Standard, and to see audit reports of other mines visit responsiblemining.net

To learn more about the Rustenburg audit and sign up for updates, visit the audit page: https://responsiblemining.net/rustenburg

For more information about the IRMA audit cycle, please visit the Independent Assessment Timeline page.

If you have concerns or complaints about the IRMA mine site assessment process or the IRMA Standard visit the IRMA Feedback and Complaints page.

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Credit: Suki Lee via Pexels.com (free use license)Credit: Suki Lee via Pexels.com (free use license)Chain of Custody

Without a Trace: What’s Missing in Discussions about Supply Chain Traceability

Blockchain is the solution to supply chain traceability, right?

Well, perhaps it might help, one day. But while technology – including blockchain – promises to help amass and process the enormous volume of complex supply chain data, there remains a key, unresolved barrier to progress: people.

Likely every piece of data already exists today for brands to be able to figure out the provenance of the materials in their products. Existence of data is not the problem. Rather, it is its availability and accessibility. Whether intentionally or not, it is people within supply chains that are effectively acting as gatekeepers to critical supply chain information. Creating value for people to share data – even conditionally – is the key to ultimately unlocking the supply chain visibility that downstream brands are increasingly expecting.

An electronics brand recently managed to trace a critical mineral in its device through every step of the supply chain all the way to the specific mine from which the raw material was dug out of the ground. Yet you will not hear that brand make any claim as to this achievement. Why? Because the mine was unwilling to provide the necessary documentation to verify the data. Without that critical validation, the end-to-end tracing of that material – an astonishing feat given the complexity of today’s supply chains – was left unconfirmed.

There are a variety of reasons why suppliers might refuse to share data with customers, particularly those with whom they have an indirect relationship, multiple supply chain tiers apart. For some, perhaps it is yet another customer request for which they are consuming bandwidth and resources to fulfill with no clear benefit or reward. For others, perhaps it is a concern that giving customers information about their own business relationships might provide customers all they need to know to cut that supplier out and go straight to their sub-tier suppliers. For others still, perhaps there is a fear that the information could somehow be triangulated to determine the supplier’s ‘special sauce’ of material composition or manufacturing process. In other words, a trust problem. Whatever the reason, the result is the same: efforts toward supply chain visibility are starved of the data they need.

But does it matter? Brands are increasingly under legal, regulatory, market, investor, and activist pressure to be able to demonstrate the integrity of their supply chains, to prove that they are sourcing their materials and components responsibly and ethically. But even more than that, supply chain traceability is also what makes responsible mining real.

The experience of the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) demonstrates that the overwhelming primary motivator for mines to meet IRMA’s Responsible Mining Standard and to undergo independent third-party audit is customer request. But such requests are most powerful if a customer knows – and can demonstrate – who their suppliers are, by tracing the provenance of the materials in their products to the source. After all, it is important for us not to lose sight as to what traceability ultimately delivers to society. Traceability builds connection between everyday products like cars and phones to the source of their raw materials, providing the opportunity to positively influence the supply chain to reduce harm to real people and their lands from where those raw materials are sourced.

It is an irony therefore that upstream suppliers, including some mining companies, may claim that they do not hear customer demand for responsibly mined materials since, at the same time, upstream suppliers may be denying access to the very information that would allow customers to connect the dots and make those demands known. It is difficult for a customer to make demands to a supplier if they do not know who their supplier is, after all.

So how to fix this? Certainly, technology can help. There are service providers in the market who analyze vast quantities of customs and shipping records, for example, to seek to triangulate data and identify links in the supply chain. But easily the most direct route is to just get it from the source: incentivize upstream suppliers to provide the data necessary for supply chain traceability.

On the one hand, compulsion – either regulatory, contractual, or market – will drive conformance. It is unlikely, perhaps in the short term, that governments the world over will be scrambling to create a regulatory mandate for higher tier suppliers to provide data to their customers. More likely is that customers will require data sharing in their procurement specifications and contracts and in so doing also create a market incentive where data sharing and transparency becomes the price of entry to sell into a market, regardless of customer.

On the other hand, could we assuage the concerns of suppliers who do not trust how their data will be used? Is there context for conditional data sharing, where a limited amount of ‘just enough’ data is shared such that confidentiality is maintained? Or the opportunity to provide for data to be shared with independent third parties (such as auditors)? Or scrubbing and anonymizing data to protect elements of it that may be proprietary in nature while still providing customers with the information they need to meet their requirements? IRMA and some of its members will be exploring these possibilities in the year ahead as we trial the implementation of our own Chain of Custody Standard with a series of pilot initiatives. It may be that complete transparency may not be necessary and perhaps the quest for 100% openness may be impeding greater progress, and that there may be some forms of limited disclosure still worthy of public confidence.

Though the vast amounts of supply chain data and the flashy solutions on offer, (like blockchain) may lead us to believe that the answer is technological, in reality the impediment to meaningful supply chain traceability and transparency is very human. It will only be through meeting suppliers where they’re at – through requirements, incentives, workarounds, and trust building – that we can ever hope to solve the problem and enable those tech solutions to be able to crunch all that data that will hopefully one day magically become available. And in so doing make responsible supply chains more of a reality.

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Minas-Rio iron ore mine. Credit: Anglo AmericanMinas-Rio iron ore mine. Credit: Anglo AmericanAudits

Feedback solicitado durante a auditoria independente no local, de acordo com a norma IRMA para Mineração Responsável da Mina Minas Rio da Anglo American

Feedback solicitado durante a auditoria independente no local, de acordo com a norma IRMA para Mineração Responsável da Mina Minas Rio da Anglo American, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Entre os dias 7 e 10 de julho de 2025, os auditores da SCS Global Services (SCS) realizarão uma auditoria de monitoramento independente e terceirizada no local da Mina Minas Rio da Anglo American para avaliar seu desempenho de acordo com o Padrão de Mineração Responsável da Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).

A auditoria de monitoramento começou em junho de 2025, com uma análise documental dos documentos fornecidos pela mina. Essa próxima fase no local oferece a todas as partes interessadas afetadas a oportunidade de dar feedback sobre o desempenho ambiental, de saúde, segurança e comunitário da mina. O feedback é bem-vindo durante todo o processo de auditoria. Os comentários recebidos entre 6 de junho e 10 de julho de 2025 serão considerados durante essa avaliação.

Durante a etapa da auditoria no local, os auditores solicitarão às partes interessadas locais, incluindo membros da comunidade, organizações, funcionários públicos e trabalhadores da mina que não sejam da gerência, que participem de entrevistas ou reuniões e forneçam informações por outros meios, incluindo WhatsApp, e-mail e on-line. A SCS considerará os comentários das partes interessadas, juntamente com outras evidências, para avaliar o desempenho da mina de ferro Minas Rio em relação ao Padrão IRMA.

7 July – 10 July 2025

Entre em contato com a SCS se quiser dar sua opinião sobre esse processo de auditoria. Você pode fazer isso por entrevista ou por escrito. As entrevistas podem ser realizadas pessoalmente ou virtualmente (telefone ou videoconferência) até 10 de julho. Use os links, o código QR, o número do WhatsApp ou o e-mail abaixo para entrar em contato com a SCS e solicitar uma entrevista, fazer perguntas ou fornecer comentários. As identidades e observações dos comentaristas são mantidas em sigilo.

info.scsglobalservices.com/feedback-das-partes-interessadas-do-irma

 feedback@scsglobalservices.com

+1 (520) 248 4276

Leia o código QR para comentar:

SCS Portuguese IRMA feedback form QR code

A IRMA publicará o relatório completo da auditoria em https://responsiblemining.net. O relatório explicará como a SCS classificou a mina em relação aos requisitos dos 26 capítulos do IRMA Standard e por quê. A SCS atribuirá pontuações para cada capítulo. Após a publicação do relatório, as partes interessadas ainda poderão fazer comentários sobre o desempenho da mina para ajudar a orientar a melhoria da operação à medida que ela avança no ciclo de auditoria de três anos do IRMA.

A SCS é uma empresa de auditoria aprovada pela IRMA com sede em Emeryville, Califórnia, EUA. Para obter mais informações sobre a SCS, acesse www.scsglobalservices.com.

O IRMA Standard é o padrão de mineração mais abrangente do mundo para minas em escala industrial e o único governado igualmente por todas as partes interessadas: empresas de mineração, compradores de minerais, investidores, trabalho organizado, comunidades e ONGs da sociedade civil. A verificação do local da mina de acordo com o IRMA Standard é voluntária. Para obter mais informações sobre os requisitos e a certificação do IRMA Standard, acesse www.responsiblemining.net.

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Minas-Rio iron ore mine. Credit: Anglo AmericanMinas-Rio iron ore mine. Credit: Anglo AmericanAudits

Onsite Surveillance Audit at Anglo American Minas-Rio Mine this July

From IRMA approved independent auditor SCS Global:

SCS Global to Conduct On-site IRMA Surveillance Assessment of Anglo American’s Minas-Rio Mine

SCS Global Seeks Feedback from Local Community and Other Stakeholders

Between July 7 and 10, 2025, SCS Global Services (SCS) auditors will be conducting an on-site third-party, independent, surveillance audit of Anglo American’s Minas Rio Mine to evaluate its performance under the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) Standard for Responsible Mining.

The surveillance audit began in June 2025, with a desktop review of documents provided by the mine. This next on-site phase provides all affected stakeholders the opportunity to give feedback on the mine’s environmental, health, safety, and community performance. Feedback is welcome during the entire audit process. Comments received between June 6 and July 10, 2025, will be considered during this assessment.

During the on-site stage of the audit, auditors will ask local stakeholders, including community members, organizations, public officials, and non-management mine workers to participate in interviews or meetings, and provide information using other means including WhatsApp, email and online. SCS will consider stakeholder comments, along with other evidence, to measure how Minas Rio Mine performs relative to the IRMA Standard.

7 July – 10 July 2025

Please contact SCS if you would like to provide input to this audit process. You can do so by interview or in writing. Interviews can take place in-person, or virtually (telephone or videoconference) until July 10th. Use the links, QR code, WhatsApp number or email below to contact SCS to request an interview, ask questions, or provide comments. Commenters’ identities and remarks are kept confidential.

https://info.scsglobalservices.com/irma-stakeholder-feedback

feedback@scsglobalservices.com

+1 (520) 248 4276

QR code to access online form:

SCS contact QR code

IRMA will publish the completed audit report at https://responsiblemining.net/minas-rio. The report will explain how SCS scored the mine site against the requirements of the 26 chapters of the IRMA Standard, and why. SCS will assign scores for each chapter. After the report is published, stakeholders may still comment on the mine’s performance to help guide the operation’s improvement as it moves through the IRMA 3-year audit cycle.

SCS is an IRMA-approved audit firm with head offices in Emeryville, California, USA. For more information about SCS, please visit www.scsglobalservices.com.

The IRMA Standard is the world’s most comprehensive mining standard for industrial-scale mines and the only one governed equally by all stakeholders: mining companies, mineral purchasers, investors, organized labor, communities, and civil society NGOs. Mine site verification under the IRMA Standard is voluntary. For more information on the IRMA Standard requirements and certification, visit www.responsiblemining.net.

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Lagoon at Albemarle Atacama operation. Credit AlbemarleLagoon at Albemarle Atacama operation. Credit AlbemarleAudits

Auditoría de vigilancia in situ en Planta Salar de Albemarle este mes de julio

De ERM CVS, auditor independiente aprobado por IRMA:

ERM CVS realizará una evaluación IRMA in situ en Planta Salar de Albemarle

ERM CVS solicita la opinión de la comunidad local y otros actores claves

ERM CVS anuncia que del 28 al 31 de julio de 2025 se visitarán las instalaciones de la Planta Salar de Albemarle, ubicada en la Región de Antofagasta en la comuna de San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, para llevar a cabo una evaluación independiente de monitoreo de la operación realizada por terceros en el marco de la Iniciativa para el Aseguramiento de la Minería Responsable (IRMA).

La auditoría inicial de la operación de Albemarle en Planta Salar se publicó el 20 junio de 2023, alcanzando un nivel de cumplimiento IRMA 50 frente a los requisitos evaluados. El informe está disponible en el sitio web de IRMA: https://responsiblemining.net/albemarle-atacama

La auditoría de vigilancia en terreno verificará que las operaciones del sitio continúan cumpliendo con el nivel de desempeño previamente reconocido. El equipo auditor evaluará que los sistemas y controles de la operación siguen funcionando de manera efectiva, que no se han producido cambios significativos que afecten negativamente su desempeño y que se está avanzando en el plan de acciones correctivas. Esta auditoría también incluirá entrevistas confidenciales con trabajadores y encuentros con representantes de las comunidades, pueblos indígenas y actores claves de la comunidad. Una vez finalizada la auditoría de vigilancia, se publicará un informe en el sitio web de IRMA.

El informe resumido de la auditoría de vigilancia proporcionará a Albemarle y a todas las partes interesadas información relevante sobre la continuidad de las operaciones, los cambios y la mejora continua. Se realizará una auditoría de reevaluación completa tres años después de la publicación del informe de auditoría inicial.

28 July – 31 July 2025

Sus comentarios contribuirán a que ERM CVS evalúe el impacto de Planta Salar de Albemarle en las comunidades locales, así como su desempeño frente a las mejores prácticas de la minería responsable. Los invitamos a participar voluntariamente en este proceso, ya sea inscribiéndose para una entrevista con los auditores de seguimiento y/o enviando sus comentarios por escrito a través de los canales de comunicación indicados más abajo.

Para participar en una entrevista, por favor contáctenos antes del 21 de julio de 2025. Los comentarios escritos deberán ser enviados antes del 30 de julio de 2025 para ser considerados en el proceso.

Sitio web:

erm.com/ermcvs/services/sector-specific-certification-schemes/irma-stakeholder-feedback-form/irma-stakeholder-feedback-form-spanish/

Correo: post@ermcvs.com 

Teléfono: +51 1708 0164

Código QR para ingreso al formato:

ERMCVS Español feedback form QR code

Las entrevistas con miembros de la comunidad se realizarán sin la presencia de personal de la empresa. En el caso de trabajadores que no pertenezcan al equipo directivo, las entrevistas también se realizarán sin la presencia de supervisores y, si así se solicita, fuera de las instalaciones. ERM CVS garantiza la confidencialidad de la identidad de los entrevistados, sin embargo, los comentarios recogidos podrán ser resumidos e incluidos en el informe final.

ERM CVS es una empresa de auditoría independiente aprobada y formada por IRMA. Para más información sobre ERM CVS, visite ermcvs.com.

La misión de IRMA es proteger el medio ambiente y a las personas directamente afectadas por la minería. Para más información sobre IRMA, incluido el proceso de evaluación, la Norma IRMA y los informes de auditoría de otras minas, visite: responsiblemining.net.

Para más información sobre el ciclo de auditoría IRMA, visite: https://responsiblemining.net/what-we-do/assessment/independent-assessment-timeline. Si tiene alguna duda o queja sobre el proceso de evaluación de minas IRMA o sobre el Estándar IRMA, visite: responsiblemining.net/complaints.

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Lagoon at Albemarle Atacama operation. Credit AlbemarleLagoon at Albemarle Atacama operation. Credit AlbemarleAudits

Onsite Surveillance Audit at Albemarle Planta Salar this July

From IRMA approved independent auditor ERM CVS:

ERM CVS to Conduct On-site IRMA Assessment of Albemarle Planta Salar

ERM CVS Seeks Input from Local Community and Other Stakeholders

ERM CVS announces that on 28 – 31 July 2025 it will visit the Albemarle Planta Salar lithium mining operations in San Pedro de Atacama, Antofagasta Region, Chile to conduct an independent, third-party Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) surveillance assessment of the operation.

The initial audit report of Albemarle’s Planta Salar de Atacama operations was released on 20 June 2023 with an achievement level of IRMA 50. The report is available on the IRMA website’s audit page for the operation: https://responsiblemining.net/albemarle-atacama

The onsite surveillance audit will verify that the site operations continue to align with the performance previously recognized in the initial audit report. The audit team will verify that the mine’s systems and controls are still in place and are functioning effectively, that no major changes have occurred that negatively affect the mine’s performance, and that the site is progressing on its corrective action plan. The audit will also include confidential interviews with workers and engagement with Indigenous rightsholders and community stakeholders. Following the completion of the surveillance audit, a report will be published on the IRMA website.

The abbreviated surveillance audit summary report will provide SQM and stakeholders insight into continuity of operations, material changes, and evidence of continued improvement.

28 July – 31 July 2025

Your comments will help ERM CVS assess the impact of Albemarle Planta Salar de Atacama on local communities and measure its performance against best mining practices. ERM CVS invites you to sign-up for an interview with auditors during the surveillance audit, and/or submit written comments about Albemarle Planta Salar de Atacama using the contact details below.

You must contact us before 21 July 2025 to be interviewed. Written comments submitted before 30 July 2025 will be incorporated into the results of this audit. Contact info:

On the web:

erm.com/ermcvs/services/sector-specific-certification-schemes/irma-stakeholder-feedback-form/

Email: post@ermcvs.com 

Telephone: +51 1708 0164

QR code to access online form:

ERM CVS contact QR code

Interviews with members of the community occur without mine personnel present. Interviews with non-management workers occur without management present and can be scheduled to occur offsite on request. ERM CVS protects the identity of individual commenters although the general nature of comments will be summarized in the report.

ERM CVS is an independent IRMA-approved and trained audit firm. For more about ERM CVS visit ermcvs.com.

IRMA’s mission is to protect the environment and people directly affected by mining. For more about IRMA including the assessment process, the IRMA Standard, and to see audit reports of other mines visit www.responsiblemining.net

For more information about the IRMA audit cycle, please visit the Independent Assessment Timeline page. If you have concerns or complaints about the IRMA mine site assessment process or the IRMA Standard visit the IRMA Feedback and Complaints page.

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Credit: Gemini.aiCredit: Gemini.aiGovernment

IRMA Launches Law & Policy Forum

On 19th May IRMA hosted the inaugural meeting of its IRMA Law & Policy Forum. Formed in response to requests across IRMA’s six houses, the Forum serves as a regular hub for IRMA Members and Partners to:

  • share updates related to law and policy frameworks relevant to responsible mining, mineral processing, and mineral value chains;
  • develop and implement strategies to integrate the best practices in the IRMA Standard into law and policy frameworks; and
  • inform the IRMA Standards and system, ensuring that IRMA maintains best practice approaches that incorporate relevant international frameworks and standards and reduce duplication in reporting requirements.

IRMA is committed to supporting governments and working across sectors to incorporate the best practices in IRMA Standards into law and policy frameworks. The Forum kicked off with updates on IRMA’s engagement with governments and policymakers across jurisdictions, including an overview of the 10 Key Benefits of IRMA for Governments and Policymakers. We discussed ways that governments around the world, including Indigenous and Tribal Governments, have referenced IRMA, with examples from Australia, British Columbia First Nations and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Chile, the European Union, Germany, the United Kingdom, the United States and beyond. We shared ways that we are working with intergovernmental bodies, including to advance implementation of the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals Guiding Principles and Actionable Recommendations. The IRMA Secretariat also shared updates on IRMA’s first National Level Forum in Indonesia, a multi-stakeholder forum focused on cross-sector engagement and implementation of IRMA in Indonesia.

The remainder of the meeting was a space for IRMA Members & Partners to share their priorities and expertise and participate in a cross-sector discussion of key developments, such as the EU Omnibus package proposing changes to the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

The Forum will continue to meet on a quarterly basis. It is available to anyone in IRMA Member & Partner organizations working on law and policy and seeking to engage across IRMA sectors to advance IRMA’s Mission and Vision.

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