albemarle

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

11 June 2025By

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

11 June 2025By

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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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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Screenshot of webinarScreenshot of webinarBlog

Albemarle Atacama Audit release webinar

22 June 2023By

On 21 June, the day after the release the audit report of Albemarle’s Planta 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. In volunteering its operation for assessment and scoring IRMA 50, Albemarle submitted its practices to unprecedented 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.

English

 

Español

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Albemarle Atacama Audit thumbnailAlbemarle Atacama Audit thumbnailAudits

Albemarle Atacama Audit Report Released

20 June 2023By

Albemarle’s Salar de Atacama became the first lithium mine in the world to complete an independent audit of their performance against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. The audit can be found on the Salar Plant, Salar de Atacama (Albemarle) mine assessment page, the IRMA press release is in english and español, and you can download an audit packet including the audit itself and supporting materials (español).

IRMA’s Executive Director Aimee Boulanger and Assurance Director Michelle Smith will hold a webinar Q&A about IRMA audits on Wednesday 21 June at 11am Chile time (EDT). The webinar will be simultaneously interpreted in Spanish. Register here.

Albemarle’s Salar de Atacama operation scored at the IRMA 50 performance level (español), meaning the independent audit firm ERM-CVS verified that the mine met all critical requirements of the IRMA Standard, as well as at least 50% of the Standard’s criteria in four areas: social responsibility, environmental responsibility, business integrity and planning for positive legacies.

Salar de Atacama joins 12 other industrial-scale mines worldwide that are undergoing independent audits against the IRMA Standard in 2023. 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.

It’s important to note that IRMA audits do not yield “certification,” nor do they declare at what point a site becomes a “responsible mine.” The IRMA system is built to have more transparent conversation on the impacts, at a table where civil society and labor have voice equal to the private sector, and which seeks to create greater value to reduce harm.

In doing this audit, Albemarle has volunteered to be measured against a standard more rigorous, requiring more public engagement, and more transparent sharing of results than any other global mining standard. It is an act of leadership and commitment to increasing dialogue across diverse stakeholder sectors and with Indigenous rights holders to engage in this process.

It’s important to note that the audit report also provide an honest accounting for IRMA’s own progress as the Standard and its 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.” — Aimee Boulanger.

 

For More Information

Webinar Q&A

  • Wednesday, 21 Jun, 11am Chile time (EDT)
  • Speakers: IRMA Executive Director Aimee Boulanger, and Assurance Director Michelle Smith
  • Topics include: The IRMA process, how this independent audit occurred, how stakeholders can use this audit report
  • Register here
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