Africa

Stakeholder Engagement and Remedy panel at Mining Indaba 2025Stakeholder Engagement and Remedy panel at Mining Indaba 2025Africa

Mining Indaba 2025: Advancing Stakeholder Engagement and Remedy

21 March 2025By

On February 6th of 2025, IRMA had the privilege of hosting an interactive workshop on “Advancing Stakeholder Engagement and Remedy in the Mining Sector” as a side session of Investing in African Mining Indaba and Alternative Mining Indaba. The workshop reunited stakeholders in mining and responsible sourcing, as well as representatives of NGOs, workers, and local communities for an engaging discussion on the future of responsible mining.

The keynote

Estelle Levin at IRMA's Mining Indaba eventThe workshop was opened with a keynote by Estelle Levin-Nally, a human rights expert and Founder of Levin Sources, who shared her experience with remedy and its significance. She highlighted that remediation is one of the three core pillars of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and as these principles are increasingly being incorporated into national and international law, companies must demonstrate compliance, not only to meet legal requirements but also to align with business partner expectations.

She emphasized that unremediated past harms can leave individuals aggrieved, which undermines trust, discourages participation in company or regulatory initiatives, increases the likelihood of resistance and conflict, and hinders cooperative efforts that could maximize positive impacts for both business and society. Therefore, remedy serves as a pathway to healing for victims and their families, as the consequences of unremediated harms often persist across generations.

Estelle also shared insights into the challenges of implementing effective remedy in the mining sector. These include weak rule of law in many jurisdictions, which limits access to justice; autocratic regimes, which can lead to deregulation; the exclusion of remedy as a sixth step in due diligence under the OECD Minerals Guidance; and the complexity of different remedy pathways, which can create confusion for rightsholders regarding their entitlements and the mechanisms available to them. She concluded by stressing that business partners and civil society can do more to support affected rightsholders in understanding and accessing remedy when harms occur. While companies must be prepared for remediation, they should always prioritize prevention.

The workshop

Cecilia Mattea, IRMA’s Europe Regional Lead, continued the discussion by introducing the draft IRMA Remedy Framework and its purpose to respond to communities and workers who have been harmed by mineral exploration, development, and processing. Because the absence of remediation often leads to conflict and mistrust, the remedy framework could provide meaningful solutions for past and ongoing harms and a pathway for mining companies to regain trust. 

She also outlined and explained IRMA’s accountability mechanisms that support remediation efforts, including IRMA-Standard requirements for operational-level grievance mechanism; IRMA Membership Principles and Policy of Association and its policy of disassociation; the IRMA Feedback and Complaints Mechanism; and, finally, the IRMA Remedy Framework, which is currently under development.

Participants were then invited to reflect on and engage with key questions regarding the Remedy Framework. For example:

  • What should the IRMA Remedy Framework include? What would you like to see?
  • How far past should remediation go? How to ensure that communities are aware of their rights, and whose role is that?
  • Should the IRMA remedy framework be limited to assessed sites? 

Cecilia shared some of the suggestions IRMA received from previous engagements with stakeholders, NGOs, and remediation experts. These recommendations include ensuring that the framework is inclusive in its design, reflects the complexities on the ground, aligns with regulatory requirements such as the EU’s Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and does not impose an additional burden on Indigenous Peoples but rather complements existing tools.

As participants engaged in the discussion, interesting points were raised regarding how governments can engage in this process and how to ensure it doesn’t restrict access to remedy through the judicial system but rather establishes a positive link to it; which other institutions could play a role in the remediation process; how traditional leaderships structures could contribute to the process; and whether it would be better for IRMA to support access to remedy rather than create a new framework.

At the end of the session, Johannes Danz, sustainability expert at Mercedes Benz, shared the business perspective on supporting the project and standards, highlighting their benefits in fostering interaction across the supply chain, resolving conflicts, building trust, strengthening relationships, and improving access to remedy.

The workshop provided an invaluable learning experience across sectors through dialogue and engagement, fostering a deeper understanding of the role of the IRMA Remedy Framework and stakeholders’ expectations.

IRMA thanks all the participants for their contributions in the workshop.

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Anglo American MogalakwenaAnglo American MogalakwenaAudits

Anglo American’s Mogalakwena PGM mine completes IRMA audit

13 March 2025By

South African complex achieves IRMA 50 when audited against the world’s only equally governed mining standard

13 March 2025 – Today the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) released the audits of Anglo American’s Mogalakwena PGM complex against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. Independent audit firm ERM-CVS assessed Mogalakwena at IRMA 50 when measuring its performance against the Standard’s best practice social and environmental criteria.

IRMA 50 means that ERM-CVS verified that the operations at least substantially met all 40 critical requirements of the IRMA Standard, as well as at least 50% of the Standard’s criteria in each of the four principle areas: social responsibility, environmental responsibility, business integrity and planning for positive legacies. The full audit reports are available on the Mogalakwena audit page on the IRMA website.

The information stakeholders need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention.

“This report demonstrates that mines can point to transparent, independent evaluations of their environmental and social performance,” said Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA. “Through detailed IRMA audit reports, mining companies, communities and companies that purchase mined materials can gain the information they need, to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention — at specific mines.”

As the IRMA Standard is recognized and adopted around the globe, these audits are steps in a deepening dialogue between mining companies and those affected by their operations. Because the process is still evolving, the results should be reviewed and interpreted accordingly.

“An increasing number of community members and workers are engaging in IRMA audits, and they’re using the audit reports to communicate directly with the mining company about their priorities for improvement,” Ms. Boulanger said. “If readers find results inconsistent with their experience, we encourage them to share their perspectives with IRMA and the company so that we can improve the audit review process and support continuing improvement at the site—as community members and NGOs have already done in this case.”

“We are always looking to improve not only mining practices, but also IRMA’s system. IRMA’s improvements, and being transparent about how we need to improve, is built into our system and a measure of its success,” said Ms. Boulanger.

Craig Miller, CEO of Anglo American Platinum said, “This milestone at Mogalakwena is significant in our overall adoption of IRMA. It enables us to promote transparency and best practice in sustainability, while adding value to our global customers by helping them meet the increasing expectations for responsibly mined materials in an efficient and credible way.  With IRMA 50, we have accomplished our sustainable mining plan target of having all our mining operations assured against a recognised responsible mining standard by 2025.”

Including Mogalakwena, 23 industrial-scale mines worldwide are within the IRMA independent assessment system. After an initial self-assessment, a participating mine engages a third-party audit firm — trained and approved by IRMA — to conduct a detailed independent evaluation, including on-site visits to the mine and nearby communities. Following the release of the initial audit, a shorter surveillance audit checks on the mine’s performance. Three years after the initial audit, the operation is fully audited again. (Note: The first mines audited in the IRMA system have had extensions to this timeline due to Covid delays and launch-phase learning; updated full reviews will be required to maintain or increase achievement scores.)

The independent IRMA system is the only global mining standard that provides equal power to the public sector (communities and Indigenous rights holders, mine workers, and environmental and human rights advocates) alongside the private sector (mining companies, mined materials purchasers and investors).

For More Information:

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Standards

IRMA at Indaba: Mining Sustainability Standards interview

7 February 2025By

From the Mining Indaba website:

In this compelling interview for Mining Indaba TV, J.J. Messner de Latour, Sector Lead for Downstream Purchasers at the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA), delves into the challenges and opportunities of implementing rigorous mining standards in the African mining industry.

J.J. discusses ways to overcome obstacles, improve transparency and accountability, and align with global best practices to ensure sustainable development. He also addresses the complexity of multiple mining standards and explores whether a unified industry standard is the solution. For junior miners, J.J. shares valuable advice on adopting best practices from the outset of their projects. Finally, he offers his perspective on what future-proofing African mining means today.

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Mining Indaba 2025 logoMining Indaba 2025 logoAfrica

IRMA at Mining Indaba 2025

7 January 2025By

This is where you will find IRMA at Indaba 2025:

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Balama Graphite operation in Mozambique. Credit: Syrah ResourcesBalama Graphite operation in Mozambique. Credit: Syrah ResourcesPress Release

Syrah’s Balama is 1st graphite operation to complete IRMA audit

19 December 2024By

[em português]

19 December – Today the Initiative for Responsible Mining (IRMA) released the results of an independent audit of Syrah’s Balama graphite operation (“Balama”) in Mozambique against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. Balama achieved IRMA 50 after the independent audit firm SCS Global Services measured its performance versus the Standard’s 400+ criteria.

Balama is one of 22 industrial-scale mining operations worldwide engaged in independent audits with the IRMA system. After an initial self-assessment, a participating mine engages a third-party audit firm — trained and approved by IRMA — to conduct a detailed independent evaluation, including on-site visits to the mine and nearby communities.

IRMA 50 means SCS Global Services verified Balama met all critical requirements of the IRMA Standard, as well as at least 50% of the Standard’s criteria in each of the four areas: social responsibility, environmental responsibility, business integrity and planning for positive legacies. The full audit report is available on the Balama audit page at responsiblemining.net.

“The information stakeholders need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention.”

“This report demonstrates that mines supplying materials essential to the renewable energy transition can point to transparent, independent evaluations of their environmental and social performance,” said Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA. “Through detailed IRMA audit reports, mining companies, communities and companies that purchase mined materials can gain the information they need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention — at specific mines.”

As the IRMA Standard is recognized and adopted around the globe, these audits are just the first steps in a deepening dialogue between mining companies and those affected by their operations. And because the process is still evolving, IRMA cautions that the initial results should be reviewed and interpreted accordingly.

“If the results don’t fully reflect the experience of communities or other affected groups, we want to hear from them,” Ms. Boulanger said. “We’ll help them communicate with the company to better understand its performance, and with the auditors on any issues they feel were overlooked in the review. This is a cornerstone of our own commitment to transparency. We invite anyone who has criticisms of our work to join us in making it better. Finding ways to improve is built into our system — and a measure of its success.”

“This accomplishment is a first in the global graphite industry and highlights nearly a decade of strengthening our differentiated ESG performance.”

“Achieving IRMA 50 is a significant milestone for Syrah in our commitment to operate in line with international best practice for responsible mining. This accomplishment is a first in the global graphite industry and highlights nearly a decade of strengthening our differentiated ESG performance, particularly Balama’s strong safety record, investment in training and developing a highly skilled workforce, ongoing community development, human rights due diligence, legal governance and compliance, stakeholder engagement and demonstrated commitment to environmental sustainability,” said Syrah Managing Director and CEO, Shaun Verner.

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is (1) a voluntary mining standard describing best practices to protect people and the environment, (2) an assurance process to measure mines against that standard, and (3) an organization equally governed by representatives of six affected stakeholder sectors – communities, organized labor, NGOs, finance, purchasers and mining companies — that oversees the standard and the assurance process. IRMA is globally unique in that its governance provides communities equal power to mining companies, and the non-commercial interests the same power as commercial interests.

For More Information:

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Balama Graphite operation in Mozambique. Credit: Syrah ResourcesBalama Graphite operation in Mozambique. Credit: Syrah ResourcesPress Release

Balama é a primeira operação de grafite a concluir a auditoria da IRMA

19 December 2024By

[in english]

19 de Dezembro – Hoje, a Iniciativa para a Garantia de Mineração Responsável (IRMA) divulgou os resultados de uma auditoria independente da operação de grafite da Syrah em Balama (“Balama”) em função do Padrão para a Mineração Responsável da IRMA. Balama atingiu o nível IRMA 50 depois de a firma de auditoria independente SCS Global Services ter medido o seu desempenho em relação aos mais de quatrocentos critérios do Padrão.

A operação da Syrah em Balama é uma das 22 operações mineiras de escala industrial em todo o mundo envolvidas em auditorias independentes com o sistema IRMA. Após uma auto-avaliação inicial, uma mina participante contrata uma empresa de auditoria externa, com formação e aprovação da IRMA, para efectuar uma avaliação independente pormenorizada, incluindo visitas presencias a operação mineira e às comunidades próximas.

O IRMA 50 significa que a SCS Global Services verificou que Balama cumpria todos os requisitos críticos do Padrão IRMA, bem como pelo menos 50% dos critérios do Padrão em cada uma das quatro áreas: responsabilidade social, responsabilidade ambiental, integridade empresarial e planeamento para legados positivos. O relatório de auditoria completo está disponível na página da auditoria de Balama em responsiblemining.net.

“As informações necessárias para decidir o que está a correr bem e o que pode exigir mais atenção.”

“Este relatório demonstra que as minas que fornecem materiais essenciais com vista à transição para as energias renováveis podem apontar para avaliações transparentes e independentes do seu desempenho ambiental e social”, afirmou Aimee Boulanger, Directora Executiva da IRMA. “Através de relatórios de auditoria da IRMA pormenorizados, as empresas de mineração, as comunidades e as empresas que adquirem os materiais extraídos podem obter as informações necessárias para decidir o que está a correr bem e o que pode exigir mais atenção em minas específicas.”

Dado que o Padrão da IRMA é reconhecido e adoptado em todo o mundo, estas auditorias são apenas os primeiros passos no aprofundamento do diálogo entre as empresas mineiras e as pessoas afectadas pela respectiva actividade. E porque o processo ainda está em evolução, a IRMA adverte que os resultados iniciais devem ser revistos e interpretados em conformidade.

“Se os resultados não reflectem plenamente a experiência das comunidades, dos titulares de direitos indígenas ou de outros grupos afectados, queremos ouvir as respectivas opiniões”, afirmou a Sra. Boulanger. “Ajudá-los-emos a comunicar com a empresa para compreender melhor o seu desempenho e com os auditores sobre quaisquer questões que achem que tenham sido negligenciadas na análise. Esta é uma pedra basilar do nosso compromisso para com a transparência. Convidamos qualquer pessoa que tenha críticas acerca do nosso trabalho a juntar se a nós para o tornarmos melhor. A procura de maneiras de melhorar está incorporada no nosso sistema e é uma medida do seu sucesso.”

“Esta conquista é a primeira na indústria global de grafite e destaca quase uma década de fortalecimento do nosso desempenho diferenciado em ESG”

“Alcançar o IRMA 50 é um marco significativo para a Syrah no seu compromisso de operar em linha com as melhores práticas internacionais de mineração responsável. Esta conquista é a primeira na indústria global de grafite e destaca quase uma década de fortalecimento do nosso desempenho diferenciado em ESG. O sólido registo de segurança de Balama, o investimento em formação e no desenvolvimento de uma força de trabalho altamente qualificada, o contínuo desenvolvimento na comunidade, a devida diligência em matéria de direitos humanos, a governação e conformidade legal, o envolvimento com as partes interessadas e o compromisso demonstrado com a sustentabilidade ambiental foram elementos cruciais no processo com o IRMA”, destacou o Diretor-Executivo e CEO da Syrah, Shaun Verner.

A Iniciativa para a Garantia de Mineração Responsável (IRMA) é: (1) um padrão de mineração voluntário que descreve as melhores práticas para proteger as pessoas e o ambiente, (2) um processo de garantia para mensurar as minas em função desse padrão, e (3) uma organização dirigida em pé de igualdade por representantes de seis sectores de partes interessadas afectadas (comunidades, trabalhadores organizados, ONG, sector financeiro, compradores e empresas mineiras) que supervisiona a norma e o processo de garantia. A IRMA é mundialmente única no sentido em que a sua governação proporciona às comunidades um poder equivalente ao das empresas mineiras e aos interesses não comerciais um poder igual ao dos interesses comerciais.

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Marikana. Credit: Sibanyne-StillwaterMarikana. Credit: Sibanyne-StillwaterAudits

ERM CVS to Conduct On-site Assessment of Marikana

25 October 2024By

ERM CVS to Conduct On-site IRMA Assessment of Sibanye-Stillwater Marikana;
Audit Firm Seeks Input from Local Community and Other Stakeholders

[isiXhosa | Setswana | English]

Today, 25 October 2024, ERM CVS announces that on November 25 – December 6, 2024 it will visit the Sibanye-Stillwater Marikana mining operations in the Rustenburg/Mabineg local municipality, South Africa to conduct the onsite phase of its independent, third-party Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) assessment of the operation. In May Sibanye-Stillwater announced its commitment of the Marikana operation to IRMA independent audit.

When 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 Marikana against each of the 400+ requirements of the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining, and why ERM CVS gave Sibanye-Stillwater Marikana 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 Marikana mining operation 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.

During ERM CVS’s time at Sibanye-Stillwater Marikana, they will collect feedback from local stakeholders – anyone directly or indirectly affected by the mine — including community members, mine workers, and government officials. The ERM CVS team will also inspect the operation and its associated facilities.

November 25 – December 6, 2024

ERM CVS invites you to sign-up for an interview while we are in the area, and/or submit written comments about Sibanye-Stillwater Marikana using the contact details below. You must contact us before 11 November 2024 to be interviewed. Written comments submitted before 4 December 2024 will be considered.

Scan to access ERM CVS contact form
Scan to access ERM CVS contact form

On the web: ermcvs.com/contact-us
Email: post@ermcvs.com

Interviews occur without mine personnel present. Interviews with non-management workers occur without management present and occur offsite on request. Comments will be kept confidential upon request.

Your comments will help ERM CVS assess the impact of Sibanye-Stillwater Marikana on local communities and measure its performance against best mining practices.

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 Marikana audit status: responsiblemining.net/marikana

If you have concerns or complaints about the IRMA mine site assessment process or the IRMA Standard visit responsiblemining.net/complaints

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

ERM CVS to Conduct On-site IRMA Assessment of Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg

5 October 2024By

ERM CVS Seeks Input from Local Community and Other Stakeholders

[isiXhosa | Setswana]

Today, 5 October 2024, ERM CVS announces that on November 4 – November 12, 2024 it will visit the Sibanye-
Stillwater Rustenburg mining operations in the Rustenburg local municipality, South Africa to conduct the onsite
phase of its independent, third-party Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) assessment of the
operation.

When 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 against each of the 400+ requirements of the IRMA
Standard for Responsible Mining, and why ERM CVS gave Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg 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 mining
operation 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.

During ERM CVS’s time at Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg, they will collect feedback from local stakeholders – anyone
directly or indirectly affected by the mine — including community members, mine workers, and government officials.
The ERM CVS team will also inspect the operation and its associated facilities.

November 4 – November 12, 2024

ERM CVS invites you to sign-up for an interview while we are in the area, and/or submit written comments about Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg using the contact details below. You must contact us before 21 October 2024 to be interviewed. Written comments  submitted before 11 November 2024 will be considered.

Scan to access ERM CVS contact form
Scan to access ERM CVS contact form

On the web: ermcvs.com/contact-us
Email: post@ermcvs.com

Interviews occur without mine personnel present. Interviews with non-management workers occur without management present and occur offsite on request. Comments will be kept confidential upon request.

Your comments will help ERM CVS assess the impact of Sibanye-Stillwater Rustenburg on local communities and measure its performance against best mining practices.

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 Rustenburg audit status: responsiblemining.net/rustenburg

If you have concerns or complaints about the IRMA mine site assessment process or the IRMA Standard visit
responsiblemining.net/complaints

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UNSG CETM Panel at the Aug 2024 Nairobi meeting.UNSG CETM Panel at the Aug 2024 Nairobi meeting.Energy Transition

Update: UN Critical Energy Transition Minerals Panel

3 September 2024By

On 20-21 August, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals held its last in-person meeting in Nairobi at the UN Environmental Programme Headquarters.

The meeting focused on developing a short list of actionable recommendations to accompany a set of voluntary principles on issues key to the panel aims of “building trust between governments, communities and industry, enhancing transparency and investment, and ensuring a just and equitable management of sustainable, responsible, and reliable value chains for terrestrial critical energy transition minerals.”

The Nairobi meeting followed a series of virtual discussions with civil society and Indigenous rights holders, industry, and artisanal and small-scale miners, convened by Panel Co-Chairs  Ambassador Nozipho Joyce Mxakato-Diseko of South Africa and Ms. Ditte Juul Jørgensen, Director-General for Energy of the European Commission. These discussions and input received through a July UN-hosted written submissions period informed panel members and their input on the draft principles and recommendations.

The panel began its work in April 2024 and will finalize its report for the Secretary-General in early September for expected publication on the 11th of September 2024.

While we do not have control over the final panel report, we hope that our input has contributed to bringing the experience and insights across all IRMA sectors into the principles and actionable recommendations. We appreciate all who took valuable time to submit comments and recommendations to inform the work of the panel.

Look for the final report to be posted soon in our social media feeds and on the UN Secretary-General’s Panel on Critical Energy Transition Minerals Website.

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

Audits released for first African iron ore mines

5 April 2024By

Two Anglo American mines are first African iron ore operations audited against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining

Kolomela and Sishen achieve IRMA 75

UPDATED 5 April with recording of 4 April webinar

27 March 2024 – Today the Initiative for Responsible Mining (IRMA) released the audits of Kumba Iron Ore’s Kolomela and Sishen iron ore operations against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. Independent audit firm ERM-CVS assessed both operations at IRMA 75 when measuring their performance against the Standard’s best practice social and environmental criteria. Kumba Iron Ore is an Anglo American subsidiary.

The IRMA 75 achievement level means that ERM-CVS verified that the operations at least substantially met all 40 critical requirements of the IRMA Standard, as well as at least 75% of the Standard’s criteria in each of the four principle areas: social responsibility, environmental responsibility, business integrity and planning for positive legacies. The full audit reports are available on the Kolomela and Sishen audit pages on the IRMA website.

“The information stakeholders need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention.”

“This report demonstrates that mines can point to transparent, independent evaluations of their environmental and social performance,” said Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA. “Through detailed IRMA audit reports, mining companies, communities and companies that purchase mined materials can gain the information they need to decide what’s going well — and what may require more attention — at specific mines.”

As the IRMA Standard is recognized and adopted around the globe, these audits are first steps in a deepening dialogue between mining companies and those affected by their operations. Because the process is still evolving, IRMA cautions that the initial results should be reviewed and interpreted accordingly.

“These mines began audits during the early COVID years. The timeline was delayed by travel challenges, and then the company’s decision to use the optional corrective action period to make improvements. The public has long awaited opportunity to review the information included here, and we applaud Anglo American for volunteering these mines for audit against such comprehensive criteria.” Ms. Boulanger went on to say, “That said, the IRMA Standard is relatively new for companies that volunteer to be audited, and even our accredited auditors are still learning. The same is true for community members and workers who are interviewed as part of the process, some of whom may not yet feel comfortable engaging. So, the Amandelbult and Mototolo audits need to be read with this in mind.”

The report also provides an honest accounting of IRMA’s own progress as the Standard and assessment process continue to mature.

“If the results don’t fully reflect the experience of communities, Indigenous rights holders or other affected groups, we want to hear from them,” Ms. Boulanger said. “We’ll help them communicate with the company to better understand its performance, and with the auditors on any issues they feel were overlooked in the review. This is a cornerstone of our own commitment to transparency. We invite anyone who has criticisms of our work to join us in making it better. Finding ways to improve is built into our system — and a measure of its success.”

The IRMA Standard is being updated in 2024; input on how to improve the IRMA Standard is welcomed. Chapters in the IRMA Standard include requirements on protection to human rights, water resources, worker health and safety, biodiversity, Indigenous free, prior, informed consent and more.

“Committing to an IRMA audit reflects our desire to improve and our openness to dialogue”

Mpumi Zikalala, Chief Executive for Kumba Iron Ore said, “Our achievement of IRMA 75 for Kolomela and Sishen mines is testament to the hard work of our teams. The result is informed by evidence from a diverse range of stakeholders including employees, governments, NGOs, and communities alike. This invaluable input will drive our ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability performance. Achieving excellent results in IRMA audits serves as recognition and proof of our commitment to high standards, best practices, transparency and assurance.”

Including Kolomela and Sishen, 19 industrial-scale mines worldwide are within the IRMA independent assessment system. After an initial self-assessment, a participating mine engages a third-party audit firm — trained and approved by IRMA — to conduct a detailed independent evaluation, including on-site visits to the mine and nearby communities. Following the release of the initial audit, a shorter surveillance audit checks on the mine’s performance. Three years after the initial audit, the operation is fully audited again (Note: The first mines audited in the IRMA system have had extensions to this timeline due to Covid delays and launch-phase learning; updated full reviews will be required to maintain or increase achievement scores.)

The independent IRMA system is the only global mining standard that provides equal power to the public sector (communities and Indigenous rights holders, mine workers, and environmental and human rights advocates) alongside the private sector (mining companies, mined materials purchasers and investors).

Apr 4th Webinar Q&A

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