South America

SQM's Salar de Atacama lithium operation. Credit: SQMSQM's Salar de Atacama lithium operation. Credit: SQMAudits

Auditoría de vigilancia in situ en SQM Salar SpA este mes de julio

5 May 2025By

De ERM CVS, auditor independiente aprobado por IRMA:

ERM CVS realizará una evaluación IRMA in situ de Salar de Atacama (SQM Salar SpA)

ERM CVS solicita la opinión de la comunidad local y otras partes interesadas

El día de hoy 5 de Mayo de 2025, ERM CVS anuncia que del 7 al 11 de Julio de 2025 se visitarán las operaciones de Litio en el Salar de Atacama de SQM Salar SpA, localizada en la Región de Antofagasta en la comuna de San Pedro de Atacama, Chile, para desarrollar una evaluación independiente de vigilancia de la operación por parte de terceros de la Iniciativa para la Garantía de Minería Responsable (IRMA).

El informe de auditoría inicial de SQM Salar SpA Salar de Atacama en su operación fue realizado el 6 Septiembre de 2023 el nivel del logro ante los requisitos fue IRMA 75. El reporte esta disponible en el sitio web de IRMA.

La auditoría de vigilancia in situ verificará que las operaciones del emplazamiento siguen ajustándose al rendimiento reconocido anteriormente. El equipo auditor verificará que los sistemas y controles de la mina siguen vigentes y funcionan eficazmente, que no se han producido cambios importantes que afecten negativamente al rendimiento de la mina y que el sitio avanza en su plan de medidas correctivas. La auditoría también incluirá entrevistas confidenciales con los trabajadores y el compromiso con los titulares de derechos indígenas y las partes interesadas de la comunidad. Una vez concluida la auditoría de vigilancia, se publicará un informe en el sitio web de IRMA.

El informe resumido de la auditoría de vigilancia proporcionará a SQM y a las partes interesadas, información sobre la continuidad de las operaciones, los cambios materiales y la mejora continua.

7 al 11 de Julio de 2025

Sus comentarios ayudarán a ERM CVS a evaluar el impacto de SQM Salar de Atacama en las comunidades locales y a medir su rendimiento con respecto a las mejores prácticas mineras. ERM CVS le invita a inscribirse para una entrevista con auditores de seguimiento y/o escribir comentarios sobre Salar de Atacama SQM utilizando los canales de comunicación que se muestran a continuación. Para ser entrevistado debe ponerse en contacto con nosotros antes del 30 de Junio de 2025. Los comentarios escritos deberán ser enviados antes del 11 de Julio de 2025 para ser considerados.
Sitio web:

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

Correo: post@ermcvs.com

Telefono: +51 1708 0164

Código QR para ingreso al formato

ERM CVS contact QR code
Las entrevistas con personas de la comunidad se realizarán en ausencia de personal de la mina. Las entrevistas con los trabajadores que no pertenezcan a la dirección se realizarán, sin personal de la dirección y si se solicita fuera de las instalaciones. ERM CVS protege la identidad de los entrevistados, sin embargo, los comentarios se resumirán en el informe.

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: www.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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SQM's Salar de Atacama lithium operation. Credit: SQMSQM's Salar de Atacama lithium operation. Credit: SQMAudits

Onsite Surveillance Audit at SQM Salar SpA this July

5 May 2025By

From IRMA approved independent auditor ERM CVS:

ERM CVS to Conduct On-site IRMA Assessment of Salar de Atacama (SQM Salar SpA)

ERM CVS Seeks Input from Local Community and Other Stakeholders

Today, 5 May 2025, ERM CVS announces that on 7 – 11 July 2025 it will visit the SQM Salar SpA’s Salar de Atacama 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 SQM Salar SpA Salar de Atacama operations was released on 6 September 2023 with an achievement level of IRMA 75. The report is available on the operation’s audit page on the IRMA website.

The onsite surveillance audit will verify that the site operations continue to align with the previously recognized performance. 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 operation’s audit page 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.

7 July – 11 July 2025

Your comments will help ERM CVS assess the impact of SQM 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 SQM Salar de Atacama using the contact details below. You must contact us before 30 June 2025 to be interviewed. Written comments submitted before 11 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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Gerdau logoGerdau logoAudits

Mina de minério de ferro Miguel Burnier da Gerdau completa auditoria da IRMA

20 March 2025By

Mina brasileira alcança o IRMA 50 após ser auditada de acordo com o único padrão de mineração do mundo com governança igualitária

20 March 2025 – A Iniciativa de Asseguração de Mineração Responsável (IRMA) publicou hoje o relatório de auditoria da Mina Miguel Burnier, da Gerdau, com base no Padrão IRMA para Mineração Responsável. A Mina Miguel Burnier está localizada no estado brasileiro de Minas Gerais, no município de Ouro Preto. A empresa de auditoria independente SCS Global Services avaliou a Mina Miguel Burnier como IRMA 50 ao medir seu desempenho em relação aos critérios sociais e ambientais de melhores práticas da Padrão.

O IRMA 50 significa que a SCS Global Services verificou que a Mina Miguel Burnier atendeu, pelo menos substancialmente, a todos os 40 requisitos críticos do IRMA Standard, bem como a pelo menos 50% dos critérios do Padrão em cada uma das quatro áreas principais: responsabilidade social, responsabilidade ambiental, integridade comercial e planejamento para legados positivos. O relatório completo da auditoria está disponível na página de auditoria da Mina Miguel Burnier no site do IRMA.

“Este relatório demonstra que as minas podem apontar para avaliações transparentes e independentes de seu desempenho ambiental e social”, disse Aimee Boulanger, Diretora Executiva da IRMA. “Por meio de relatórios detalhados de auditoria da IRMA, as empresas de mineração, as comunidades e as empresas que compram materiais extraídos das minas podem obter as informações necessárias para decidir o que está indo bem – e o que pode exigir mais atenção – em minas específicas.”

Como o Padrão IRMA é reconhecido e adotado em todo o mundo, essas auditorias são etapas importantes em um diálogo mais profundo entre as empresas de mineração e as pessoas afetadas por suas operações. Como o processo IRMA está sempre melhorando com base na experiência da auditoria mais recente, os resultados da auditoria devem ser revisados e interpretados de acordo.

“Se os resultados não refletirem totalmente a experiência das comunidades ou de outros grupos afetados, queremos ouvi-los”, disse a Sra. Boulanger. “Nós os ajudaremos a se comunicar com a empresa para entender melhor seu desempenho e com os auditores sobre quaisquer questões que eles considerem ter sido negligenciadas na análise. Essa é a base de nosso próprio compromisso com a transparência. Convidamos qualquer pessoa que tenha críticas sobre nosso trabalho a se juntar a nós para melhorá-lo. Encontrar maneiras de melhorar está incorporado em nosso sistema e é uma medida de seu sucesso.”

Wendel Gomes da Silva, Diretor de Mineração e Matérias-Primas da Gerdau, disse: “A realização do IRMA 50 por Miguel Burnier e o compartilhamento dos resultados da auditoria que explicam nosso desempenho em relação aos mais de 400 requisitos do IRMA são um sinal do nosso compromisso com a transparência, com práticas de mineração mais responsáveis e com o diálogo aberto com todas as partes interessadas e detentores de direitos. Em seus 124 anos de história, a Gerdau tem o compromisso de ser parte das soluções para os desafios da sociedade e de ter um impacto positivo nas regiões em que opera.”

Incluindo a mina Miguel Burnier, 23 minas de escala industrial em todo o mundo estão dentro do sistema de avaliação independente da IRMA. Após uma autoavaliação inicial, uma mina participante contrata uma empresa de auditoria externa – treinada e aprovada pela IRMA – para realizar uma avaliação independente detalhada, incluindo visitas in loco à mina e às comunidades próximas. Após a liberação da auditoria inicial, uma auditoria de controle verifica o desempenho da mina. Três anos após a auditoria inicial, a operação é submetida novamente a uma auditoria completa.

O sistema independente IRMA é o único padrão global de mineração que oferece poder igual ao setor público (comunidades e detentores de direitos indígenas, trabalhadores de minas e defensores dos direitos humanos e ambientais) e ao setor privado (empresas de mineração, compradores de materiais extraídos e investidores).

Para obter mais informações:

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Gerdau logoGerdau logoAudits

Gerdau’s Miguel Burnier iron ore mine completes IRMA audit

20 March 2025By

Brazilian Mine achieves IRMA 50 when audited against the world’s only equally governed mining standard

20 March 2025 – Today the Initiative for Responsible Mining (IRMA) released the audit report of Gerdau’s Miguel Burnier iron ore mine against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. The Miguel Burnier Mine is located in Brazil’s Minas Gerais state in the municipality of Ouro Preto. Independent audit firm SCS Global Services assessed the Miguel Burnier Mine at IRMA 50 when measuring its performance against the Standard’s best practice social and environmental criteria.

IRMA 50 means that SCS Global Services 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 report is available on the Miguel Burnier audit page on the IRMA website.

“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.

Wendel Gomes da Silva, Mining and Raw Materials Director at Gerdau, said: “Miguel Burnier’s IRMA 50 achievement, and the sharing of the audit results that explain our performance against the 400+ IRMA requirements, is a sign of our commitment to transparency, to more responsible mining practices, and to open dialogue with all affected stakeholders and rightsholders. In its 124-year history, Gerdau is commitment to be part of the solutions to society’s challenges and to have a positive impact on the regions in which it operates.”

Including Miguel Burnier, 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.

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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Fenix lithium mine. Credit: LiventFenix lithium mine. Credit: LiventAudits

Arcadium Lithium’s Fenix Lithium Mine Completes IRMA Audit

26 February 2025By

Becomes first operation in Argentina to be audited against the world’s only equally governed mining standard

26 February 2025 – Today the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) released the audit report of Arcadium Lithium’s Fenix Mine against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. The Fenix Mine is the first operation in Argentina to release an IRMA audit report, measuring performance against the world’s most comprehensive standard describing best practices for mining.

While the audit report is being released today, providing detailed results describing performance on a broad range of issues, Fenix’s overall achievement level is pending final assessment of Chapter 2.2, Free, Prior and Informed Consent.

Apart from pending final assessment of Chapter 2.2, the results of Fenix’s audit meet the requirements for at least IRMA 50.

As noted in the audit report, relevant information related to Chapter 2.2 was gathered and reviewed by the auditors during the assessment period, and Arcadium Lithium was fully collaborative, supportive and transparent throughout the process. However, the independent audit firm SCS Global Services determined that additional testimonies and more in-depth interviews were necessary to fully assess Fenix’s performance against this chapter.  This chapter, along with all critical items, will be evaluated during the IRMA surveillance audit at the Fenix Lithium Mine. The surveillance audit is required within 12–18 months after the initial audit report’s publication.

The Fenix audit occurred over a span of three years, starting on February 15, 2022, with the announcement of the independent, third-party audit, which includes time that the company invested in continuing improvement throughout the review process. Rather than further delay disclosure of valuable information related to other aspects of social responsibility, environmental responsibility, business integrity and planning for positive legacies, Arcadium Lithium, IRMA and SCS Global Services agreed to publish the audit report. The full audit report is available on the Fenix Mine audit page on the IRMA website.

“We began the IRMA process with clear objectives: to help drive transparency in our industry, foster better engagement with community and Indigenous stakeholders, and gain insights to improve every aspect of our operations. The publication of the Fenix audit report is an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to these goals.”

“The report describes the unique profile of our Fenix operation at the Salar del Hombre Muerto in Catamarca, Argentina, where we have been producing lithium for more than 27 years.  It reflects our team’s desire and efforts to build a positive legacy and pursue opportunities for continuous improvement.  We remain as focused as ever on responsible lithium production and would like to thank the team at IRMA, SCS Global Services and all of our stakeholders who contributed to this journey thus far.” — Paul Graves, president and CEO of Arcadium Lithium.

Including Fenix, 22 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 surveillance audit checks on the mine’s performance. Three years after the initial audit, the operation is fully audited again.

“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 where improvements can be made — at specific mines. Independent evaluation against a rigorous standard that is equally governed by the people most affected by mining can reduce negative impacts, improve benefits sharing, and reduce conflict.” — Aimee Boulanger, Executive Director of IRMA.

As the IRMA Standard is recognized and adopted around the globe, these audits are important steps in a deepening dialogue between mining companies and those potentially impacted by their operations. Because the IRMA process is always improving from the experience of the most recent audit, audit results should be reviewed and interpreted accordingly.

“If the results don’t fully reflect the experience of communities, Indigenous rights holders or other stakeholders groups, we want to hear from them. We’ll help them communicate with the company 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.” — Aimee Boulanger.

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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Fenix lithium mine. Credit: LiventFenix lithium mine. Credit: LiventAudits

La mina de litio Fénix de Arcadium Lithium Completa la Auditoría IRMA

26 February 2025By

Se convierte en la primera operación en Argentina en ser auditada contra el único estándar de minería del mundo igualmente gobernado

26 de febrero de 2025 – La Iniciativa para el Aseguramiento de la Minería Responsable (IRMA) publicó hoy el reporte de auditoría de la Mina Fénix de Arcadium Lithium contra el Estándar IRMA para la Minería Responsable. Fénix es la primera operación en Argentina en publicar un reporte de auditoría IRMA, que mide el desempeño en comparación con el estándar más completo del mundo que describe las mejores prácticas para la minería.

Si bien el reporte de auditoría se publica hoy, proporcionando resultados detallados que describen el desempeño en una amplia gama de cuestiones, el nivel de logro de la mina Fénix está pendiente de la evaluación final del capítulo 2.2, Consentimiento libre, previo e informado.

Aparte de la evaluación final pendiente del capítulo 2.2, los resultados de la auditoría de Fénix cumplen los requisitos de IRMA 50 como mínimo.

Como se señala en el informe de auditoría, los auditores recopilaron y revisaron la información relevante relacionada con el Capítulo 2.2 durante el período de evaluación, y Arcadium Lithium colaboró, apoyó y fue transparente durante todo el proceso. Sin embargo, los auditores de SCS Global Services determinaron que eran necesarios testimonios adicionales y entrevistas más exhaustivas para evaluar plenamente el desempeño de Fénix en relación con este capítulo. Este capítulo, junto con todos los puntos críticos, será evaluado durante la auditoría de vigilancia de IRMA en la mina de litio Fénix. La auditoría de vigilancia deberá realizarse entre los 12 y 18 meses siguientes a la publicación del reporte de auditoría inicial.

Esta auditoría se realizó en un lapso de tres años, a partir del 15 de febrero de 2022, con el anuncio de la auditoría independiente de terceros, que incluye el tiempo que la empresa invirtió en el mejoramiento continuo a lo largo del proceso de revisión. Arcadium Lithium, IRMA y SCS Global Services acordaron publicar el reporte de auditoría, con el fin de no retrasar aún más la divulgación de información valiosa relacionada con otros aspectos de la responsabilidad social, la responsabilidad ambiental, la integridad empresarial y la planificación de legados positivos. El reporte completo de la auditoría está disponible en la página de la auditoría de la mina Fénix en el sitio web de IRMA.

«Comenzamos el proceso IRMA con objetivos claros: ayudar a impulsar la transparencia en nuestra industria, fomentar un mejor compromiso con los miembros de las comunidades, los titulares de derechos indígenas y demás partes interesadas y obtener información para mejorar todos los aspectos de nuestras operaciones. La publicación del reporte de auditoría de Fénix es un hito importante en nuestro compromiso continuo con estos objetivos.»

«El reporte describe el perfil único de nuestra operación Fénix en el Salar del Hombre Muerto en Catamarca, Argentina, donde hemos estado produciendo litio durante más de 27 años.  Refleja el deseo y los esfuerzos de nuestro equipo por construir un legado positivo y buscar oportunidades de mejoramiento continuo.  Seguimos tan enfocados como siempre en la producción responsable de litio y nos gustaría agradecer al equipo de IRMA, SCS Global Services y a todas las partes interesadas que han contribuido a este proceso hasta ahora.» — Paul Graves, presidente y CEO de Arcadium Lithium.

Incluida Fénix, 22 minas a escala industrial de todo el mundo están dentro del sistema de evaluación independiente IRMA. Tras una autoevaluación inicial, una mina participante contrata a una empresa auditora externa – formada y aprobada por IRMA – para que lleve a cabo una evaluación independiente detallada, que incluye visitas presenciales a la mina y a las comunidades cercanas. Tras la publicación de la auditoría inicial, una auditoría de vigilancia comprueba el rendimiento de la mina. Tres años después de la auditoría inicial, la operación vuelve a someterse a una auditoría completa.

«Gracias a los detallados reportes de auditoría IRMA, las empresas mineras, las comunidades y las empresas que compran materiales extraídos pueden obtener la información que necesitan para decidir qué va bien – y qué se puede mejorar – en minas específicas. La evaluación independiente con respecto a un estándar riguroso que es gobernado por igual por las personas más afectadas por la minería puede reducir los impactos negativos, mejorar el reparto de beneficios y reducir los conflictos.» — Aimee Boulanger, Directora Ejecutiva de IRMA.

A medida que el Estándar IRMA es reconocido y adoptado en todo el mundo, estas auditorías son pasos importantes en un diálogo cada vez más profundo entre las empresas mineras y las personas potencialmente impactadas por sus operaciones. Dado que el proceso IRMA siempre mejora a partir de la experiencia de la auditoría más reciente, los resultados de las auditorías deben revisarse e interpretarse en consecuencia.

«Si los resultados no reflejan plenamente la experiencia de las comunidades, los titulares de derechos indígenas y otras partes interesadas, queremos oírlos. Les ayudaremos a comunicarse con la empresa y con los auditores sobre cualquier cuestión que consideren que se ha pasado por alto en la revisión. Esto es un pilar de nuestro propio compromiso con la transparencia. Invitamos a cualquiera que tenga críticas sobre nuestro trabajo a que se una a nosotros para mejorarlo. Encontrar formas de mejorar está integrado en nuestro sistema, y es una medida de su éxito.» — Aimee Boulanger

El sistema independiente IRMA es el único estándar minero mundial que otorga el mismo poder al sector público (comunidades y titulares de derechos indígenas, trabajadores mineros y defensores del medio ambiente y los derechos humanos) que al sector privado (empresas mineras, compradores de materiales extraídos e inversores).

Para más información:

  • Aimee Boulanger, Directora Ejecutiva
    Adan Olivares Castro, Líder Regional, Américas y el Caribe
    contact@responsiblemining.net +1.360.217.9080 (WhatsApp)
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Complaints

Complaints and the IRMA System

6 May 2024By

This week IRMA posted the first complaints being processed through the IRMA Issues Resolution System. One (IRMA-2024-001) filed by the SIRGE Coalition (Securing Indigenous Peoples’ Rights In The Green Economy), and another (IRMA-2024-002) by the environmental advocacy NGO (and IRMA Board Member) Earthworks, both complaints question how the audit firm ERM CVS assessed the conformity of Albemarle’s Salar de Atacama lithium operation in northern Chile with IRMA’s Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) requirements, and how evidence was weighed and assessed in reaching audit findings.

Although the larger goal is to make mining more responsible – overall and particularly at IRMA audited mines – the means to do that is by providing unprecedented transparency to all stakeholders so that they can open dialogues that incentivize better operational practices. These complaints are exactly that: stakeholders using the information provided by IRMA audits to examine a mine’s practices and ask why they were measured as they were.

It’s important to note that all actors directly or indirectly associated with these complaints are learning how to do their work better. Although the IRMA Standard has been around since 2018, the Albemarle operation was the first lithium operation audited against the Standard, and just the third mine audited overall. The audit firm, the mining company, and IRMA itself are learning how to the IRMA system works in practice and how we can improve it.

In the near future, IRMA and the audit firm will meet, after which point we will get back to the complainants with next steps. As we process these complaints we will update their pages to keep stakeholders current about how the Issues Resolution System is working, and to allow the opportunity for all concerned to keep IRMA true to our core principles.

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Barro Alto. Credit: Anglo AmericanBarro Alto. Credit: Anglo AmericanAudits

Audits released for Anglo’s Barro Alto, Minas-Rio

7 February 2024By

Anglo American’s Barro Alto, Minas-Rio operations in Brazil audited against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining

First nickel, iron mines to complete IRMA audits, both Barro Alto and Minas-Rio achieve IRMA 75

UPDATE 14 Feb: Webinar recording in English and Português added.

IRMA 75 achievement badge

07 Feb 2024 – Today the Initiative for Responsible Mining (IRMA) released the results of independent audits of Anglo American’s Barro Alto nickel and Minas-Rio iron ore operations against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. The mines achieved IRMA 75 when two independent audit firms measured their performance on concrete social and environmental impact criteria.

IRMA oversees the only independent, comprehensive process for assessing individual mines’ performance against an equally governed, consensus-based standard — and for measuring their subsequent progress in reducing social and environmental harm. The rigorous IRMA process invites all those currently or potentially affected by a mine to share their experiences and perspectives with the auditing team.

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).

Barro Alto and Minas-Rio join 17 other industrial-scale mines worldwide that are independently assessing against the IRMA Standard. 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 75 means the audit firms ERM-CVS (Barro Alto) and SCS Global (Minas-Rio) verified that the operations met all critical requirements of the IRMA Standard, as well as at least 75% 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 reports are available in Results tab of the Barro Alto and Minas-Rio 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 supplying materials essential to the renewable energy transition and the steel supply chain can now 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.

“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 the first iron and nickel 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 Barro Alto and Minas-Rio audit reports 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”

Ana Sanches, CEO of Anglo American in Brazil, said: “Anglo American’s achievement of IRMA 75 is a first for a nickel and an iron ore mine and is a testament to the hard work of our teams at Barro Alto and Minas-Rio. Participating in IRMA audits for our operations serve as recognition and proof of our commitment to high standard best practice, transparency and assurance, while it also provides independently verified next steps for further improvement. This transparent positive-feedback loop ensures we continue to improve our sustainability practices, leads to better ways to do business and creates greater value for employees, governments, NGOs, customers and communities alike.

Feb 8th Webinar Q&A – slides

Português – Webinar IRMA sobre relatórios de auditoria de Barro Alto/Minas-Rio

English – IRMA webinar re Barro Alto/Minas-Rio audit reports

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Audits

ArcelorMittal commits Andrade operation to IRMA audit

25 January 2024By

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) is pleased to announce that ArcelorMittal has committed to the third-party independent assessment of its Andrade iron operation in Brasil’s State of Minas Gerais against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining.

SCS Global, an IRMA-approved independent audit firm, will be carrying out the assessment, which includes a desk review (stage 1) followed by an onsite audit (stage 2). After the SCS draft audit report is reviewed by IRMA and ArcelorMittal, the company may release the report or has the option to take up to twelve months to implement corrective actions and be re-assessed before a final report is published and a Performance Level assigned.

Stakeholder Engagement in the Assessment

Interested stakeholders and members of the public can sign up to receive updates about the Andrade independent 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, SCS Global, to share comments or to ask to be interviewed as part of the audit process. The audit firm can be reached via its webform.

Please share this announcement, and feel free to contact SCS Global directly to provide names and contact information for other Andrade stakeholders who may be interested in knowing about and participating in the mine site assessment process.

For more information

  • For general information on the IRMA mine site assessment process, visit the IRMA website.
  • IRMA: ArcelorMittal Andrade Mine independent assessment status page
  • If you would like more information on how the audit of the Andrade operations are conducted against the IRMA standard — contact IRMA’s Director of Assurance: Michelle Smith, msmith@responsiblemining.net
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SQM Salar de Atacama audit release webinar cover slideSQM Salar de Atacama audit release webinar cover slideBlog

SQM Salar de Atacama audit release webinar

15 September 2023By

On 7 September, the day after the release of the audit report of SQM’s Salar de Atacama lithium operation, IRMA hosted a webinar to discuss the significance of the report, and the IRMA Standard and process through which the operation was independently assessed. Joining the webinar was Javier Silva, SQM’s Sustainability and Community Relations Manager. In volunteering its operation for assessment and scoring IRMA 75, SQM submitted its practices to public transparency, providing information that all stakeholders can use to decide what’s going well, and what may require more attention, at the mine.

The 1 hour webinar, which is about 1/2 presentation and 1/2 Q&A, is available below in English and Español. The slides used in the webinar are available as well.

Español

English

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