Nickel

Part of the Sorowako complex Credit:PT Vale IndonesiaPart of the Sorowako complex Credit:PT Vale IndonesiaAudits

ERM CVS Akan Melakukan Penilaian Lapangan IRMA di Tambang Sorowako, PT Vale Indonesia Tbk

5 November 2025By

Dari auditor independen yang disetujui oleh IRMA, ERM CVS. Baca pengumuman ini dalam bahasa Inggris.

.

ERM CVS Meminta Masukan dari Masyarakat Setempat dan Pemangku Kepentingan Lainnya untuk melengkapi proses penilaian audit IRMA

5 November 2025, ERM Certification and Verification Services (ERM CVS) mengumumkan bahwa pada 1–5 Desember 2025, tim auditor independen akan mengunjungi operasi pertambangan PT Vale Indonesia di Sorowako, Sulawesi Selatan, untuk melaksanakan tahapan penilaian lapangan sebagai bagian dari proses peninjauan atas standar Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA). Audit independen ini bertujuan untuk mengevaluasi kinerja operasi tambang berdasarkan Standar IRMA untuk Pertambangan yang Bertanggung Jawab. ERM CVS merupakan lembaga audit independen pihak ketiga yang telah disetujui oleh IRMA untuk melakukan audit berdasarkan standar tersebut.

Selama kunjungan lapangan, tim auditor ERM CVS akan meninjau area operasi tambang dan fasilitas terkait, serta mengumpulkan masukan dari para pemangku kepentingan lokal — termasuk anggota masyarakat, pekerja tambang, pejabat pemerintah, dan pihak lain yang secara langsung maupun tidak langsung terdampak oleh kegiatan pertambangan.

Setelah audit selesai, hasil penilaian akan disajikan dalam laporan publik yang akan diterbitkan secara lokal dan di situs resmi IRMA (Inggris). Laporan ini akan menjelaskan penilaian PT Vale Sorowako terhadap lebih dari 400 persyaratan dalam Standar IRMA, beserta alasan penentuan setiap skor yang diberikan. Audit ini juga akan menentukan tingkat capaian keseluruhan: IRMA Transparency, IRMA 50, IRMA 75, atau IRMA 100 (Inggris).

Hasil audit ini akan membantu PT Vale Indonesia dalam meningkatkan praktik pertambangan yang bertanggung jawab. Bagi pemangku kepentingan — terutama masyarakat sekitar dan pekerja — laporan ini menjadi sarana untuk berdialog secara setara dengan perusahaan terkait hal-hal yang paling penting bagi mereka.

1 – 5 Desember 2025

ERM CVS mengundang seluruh pemangku kepentingan untuk berpartisipasi dengan memberikan masukan atau mengikuti wawancara bersama auditor. Masukan Anda akan membantu menilai dampak sosial, lingkungan, dan ekonomi dari kegiatan operasional PT Vale Sorowako serta mengukur sejauh mana praktiknya sejalan dengan prinsip pertambangan yang bertanggung jawab.

Wawancara dapat dilakukan dalam Bahasa Indonesia atau Bahasa Inggris. Permintaan wawancara yang diterima sebelum 21 November 2025 dapat dijadwalkan secara luring (tatap muka) atau daring (online). Permintaan setelah 21 November akan disesuaikan dengan ketersediaan waktu. Masukan tertulis dapat dikirimkan hingga 5 Desember 2025 untuk dimasukkan dalam hasil audit.

Gunakan informasi kontak di bawah ini untuk meminta wawancara atau mengirimkan komentar.
Situs

Surel: post@ermcvs.com

Kode QR untuk mengakses formulir online:

ERM CVS contact QR code
Seluruh masukan dan wawancara bersifat rahasia. Wawancara dilakukan tanpa kehadiran perwakilan perusahaan, dan ERM CVS tidak akan membagikan identitas atau komentar tertulis para pemangku kepentingan kepada PT Vale Indonesia maupun IRMA. Hanya gambaran umum dari masukan yang akan dirangkum dalam laporan akhir audit.

Untuk informasi lebih lanjut tentang

READ MORE
Part of the Sorowako complex Credit:PT Vale IndonesiaPart of the Sorowako complex Credit:PT Vale IndonesiaAudits

ERM CVS to Conduct On-site IRMA Assessment of PT Vale Indonesia Tbk’s Sorowako Mine

5 November 2025By

From IRMA approved independent auditor ERM CVS. View/download the announcement in Bahasa Indonesia.

ERM CVS Seeks Input from Local Community and Other Stakeholders

5 November 2025, ERM Certification and Verification Services (ERM CVS) announces that from 1-5 December 2025, an independent audit team will visit PT Vale Indonesia’s Sorowako mining operations in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, to conduct the on-site phase of its Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) assessment. This independent audit evaluates the operation’s performance against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. ERM CVS is an independent, third-party audit firm approved by IRMA to perform assessments against its standard.

During the on-site visit, ERM CVS auditors will tour the mine and its associated facilities and collect feedback from local stakeholders — including community members, mine workers, government officials, and others directly or indirectly affected by the operation.

Upon completion, the audit will result in a publicly available report, published on the IRMA audit page. The report will outline how PT Vale’s Sorowako operations performed against more than 400 requirements of the IRMA Standard, providing detailed explanations of the scores assigned. The audit will also determine an overall achievement level: IRMA Transparency, IRMA 50, IRMA 75, or IRMA 100.

The audit findings will enable PT Vale Indonesia to enhance its responsible mining practices. For stakeholders —particularly community members and workers — the report provides an opportunity to engage constructively with the company on areas of shared concern and improvement.

1 – 5 December 2025

ERM CVS invites all stakeholders to participate by sharing feedback or requesting an interview with the auditors. Your insights will help assess the social, environmental, and economic impacts of PT Vale’s operations and measure its alignment with responsible mining best practices.

Interviews can be conducted in English or Bahasa Indonesia. Requests submitted by 21 November 2025 can be scheduled in-person or remotely. Requests made after 21 November will be accommodated as time permits. Written comments can be submitted until 5 December 2025 to be included in the audit.
On the web

Email: post@ermcvs.com

QR code to access online form:

ERM CVS contact QR code
Comments and interviews are confidential, and interviews are conducted without mine personnel present. ERM CVS does not share the names of stakeholders or copies of written comments with the mine or IRMA. Only the general nature of comments will be summarized in the final audit report.

For more information

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

Anglo American’s Barro Alto Nickel Mine Completes IRMA Surveillance Audit

31 October 2025By

On 31 October 2025 the Initiative for Responsible Mining (IRMA) released the surveillance audit report of Anglo American’s Barro Alto nickel mine, located in Brazil’s state of Goiás. IRMA-approved audit firm ERM CVS conducted the audit and assessed the progress made on the corrective action plan that the operation committed to in the initial audit report. Throughout the surveillance audit, ERM CVS found Chapter 2.2 – Free, Prior and Informed Consent of the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining as relevant and this chapter will be fully evaluated during the renewal audit.

IRMA’s independent assessment cycle occurs in 3 stages: (1) initial audit, (2) surveillance audit, and (3) reassessment audit. Mines in the IRMA system must undergo a surveillance audit during each 3-year audit cycle, and this audit must occur between 12 and 18 months after an initial audit report has been publicly released. Surveillance audits are not full audits, meaning that conformance with all requirements reviewed in the initial audit does not need to be re-established. Typically, during a surveillance audit the audit team verifies that the mine’s systems and controls are still in place and are functioning effectively, that no major changes have occurred since the initial audit that negatively affect the mine’s performance. The surveillance audit includes confidential interviews with workers and engagement with Indigenous rightsholders and community stakeholders. The initial and surveillance IRMA audit reports for the operation are available on the Barro Alto Mine audit page on the IRMA website.

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 affected 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.

On February 18, 2025, Anglo American announced the sale of the Barro Alto operation to MMG Singapore Resources Pte. Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of MMG Limited. The sale of the operation is subject to a number of conditions, including customary competition and regulatory clearances, with completion of the sale expected by Q3 2025.

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).

NOTE: A Portuguese language version of this report will be published within the next week.

For More Information:

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

Mina de níquel Barro Alto da Anglo American conclui auditoria de vigilância IRMA

31 October 2025By

Em 31 de outubro de 2025, a Iniciativa de Asseguração de Mineração Responsável (IRMA) publicou o relatório de auditoria de vigilância da mina de níquel Barro Alto da Anglo American, localizada no estado de Goiás, Brasil. A empresa de auditoria ERM CVS, aprovada pela IRMA, conduziu a auditoria e avaliou o progresso feito no plano de ação corretiva que a operação se comprometeu a cumprir no relatório de auditoria inicial. Ao longo da auditoria de vigilância, a ERM CVS considerou o Capítulo 2.2 – Consentimento Livre, Prévio e Informado do Padrão IRMA para Mineração Responsável como relevante, e esse capítulo será avaliado integralmente durante a auditoria de renovação.

O ciclo de avaliação independente da IRMA ocorre em três etapas: (1) auditoria inicial, (2) auditoria de vigilância e (3) auditoria de reavaliação. As minas no sistema IRMA devem passar por uma auditoria de vigilância durante cada ciclo de auditoria de três anos, e essa auditoria deve ocorrer entre 12 e 18 meses após a divulgação pública do relatório da auditoria inicial. As auditorias de vigilância não são auditorias completas, o que significa que não é necessário restabelecer a conformidade com todos os requisitos analisados na auditoria inicial. Normalmente, durante uma auditoria de vigilância, a equipe de auditoria verifica se os sistemas e controles da mina ainda estão em vigor e funcionando de forma eficaz, e se não ocorreram mudanças significativas desde a auditoria inicial que afetem negativamente o desempenho da mina. A auditoria de vigilância inclui entrevistas confidenciais com trabalhadores e o envolvimento com detentores de direitos indígenas e partes interessadas da comunidade. Os relatórios da auditoria inicial e de vigilância da IRMA para a operação estão disponíveis na página de auditoria da mina Barro Alto no site da IRMA.

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.

Em 18 de fevereiro de 2025, a Anglo American anunciou a venda da operação Barro Alto para a MMG Singapore Resources Pte. Ltd, uma subsidiária integral da MMG Limited. A venda da operação está sujeita a uma série de condições, incluindo as habituais autorizações regulatórias e de concorrência, com a conclusão da venda prevista para o terceiro trimestre de 2025.

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:

READ MORE
Part of the Sorowako complex Credit:PT Vale IndonesiaPart of the Sorowako complex Credit:PT Vale IndonesiaAudits

PT Vale Indonesia commits Sorowako to IRMA audit

17 December 2024By

PT Vale Indonesia Tbk (PTVI) has committed its Sorowako nickel operation in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi Province to third-party independent assessment against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. PT Vale Indonesia is jointly controlled by Vale Canada Limited and MIND ID, Indonesia’s mining industry holding company.

“By volunteering Sorowako for an independent audit against the world’s most rigorous global mining standard, PT Vale Indonesia is providing unprecedented transparency into the operations of a Sulawesi mine,” said IRMA Executive Director Aimee Boulanger. “They are effectively putting themselves under a microscope and welcoming affected stakeholders to examine their mine and help them make their mine more responsible.”

“To further strengthen our commitment to responsible mining, we are committing our Sorowako Mine Site to IRMA independent audit. This is a significant milestone in our responsible mining journey which will later include the rest of our mining and processing operations. Through this, we aim to increase transparency and accountability, aligning with best practices that resonate with our stakeholders,” said PT Value Chief of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, Bernardus Irmanto. “To help achieve this, the IRMA audit report will provide those affected by our mine the information they need to engage in meaningful dialogue about where Sorowako is achieving best practice, and where there is more work to be done.”

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.

PTVI produced 10% of total nickel production in Indonesia (2023), primarily operating out of Sorowako, South Sulawesi. In Q3 2024, PTVI produced 18,008 metric tons of nickel in matte—class 1 nickel—a critical material in stainless steel and battery production. Founded in 1968 as PT International Nickel Indonesia Tbk (INCO) the company became PT Vale Indonesia in 2011.

ERM CVS, an IRMA-approved independent audit firm, will be carrying out the assessment, which includes a desk review (stage 1, which starts on December 17 for Sorowako) followed by an onsite audit (stage 2). Using the contact information below, members of the affected community, public officials, representatives of the workforce, or other organizations are invited to submit comments starting now regarding how the mine site is managing their impacts to the environment including air, water, waste, greenhouse gasses, 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 also ask to be interviewed by auditors once they are on the mine site.

For More Information

  • To follow the progress of the IRMA assessment, visit the IRMA website for Sorowako’s independent assessment status page
  • If you would like more information on how the audit of the Sorowako operation will be conducted against the IRMA standard — contact IRMA’s Director of Assurance: Michelle Smith, msmith@responsiblemining.net
  • Interested parties may reach out to ERM CVS in advance of the audit to ask to be interviewed by auditors either by phone or video conferencing or in person, once the auditors are on the mine site. 30 days prior to the onsite audit, ERM CVS will make its own announcement and invitation directly to local communities and workers. The audit firm can be reached by email at: post@ermcvs.com
READ MORE
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

 For More Information:

 

 

READ MORE
Blog

IRMA Announcement: Barro Alto Mine Site Assessment Stage 1

5 June 2020By

The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) announces the commencement of a third-party independent assessment of the Barro Alto nickel mine against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining. The Barro Alto mine, located in Brazil, is operated by Anglo American Brasil. For more information on Barro Alto mine check out their profile on the IRMA Engagement Map.

ERM Certification and Verification Services (ERM-CVS), an IRMA-approved certification body, will be carrying out the assessment, which includes a desk review (stage 1) followed by an on-site audit (stage 2).

Stakeholder Engagement in the Assessment

Interested stakeholders and members of the public can visit the Mines Under Assessment page of IRMA’s website to view up-to-date information on the Barro Alto assessment (e.g., the timing of the stage 2 on-site visit, link to pubic summary of audit results).

Mine site stakeholders are invited to submit comments to ERM-CVS on the social and environmental performance of the Barro Alto mine (in particular, how the mine measures against the IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining).

Barro Alto mine stakeholders may also contact ERM-CVS if they are interested in being interviewed as part of the assessment process.

Stakeholder comments and expressions of interest in being interviewed as part of the audit process should be submitted by email or mail to:

ERM Certification and Verification Services

Email: post@ermcvs.com

Mail: Exchequer Court, 33 St Mary Axe, London, EC3A 8A

Please forward this announcement, and feel free to contact ERM-CVS directly to provide names and contact information for other mine site stakeholders who may be interested in knowing about and participating in the mine site assessment process.

For more information on the Barro Alto Mine Site Assessment, contact IRMA’s Director of Standards and Assurance: lsumi@responsiblemining.net

For general information on the IRMA mine site assessment and certification process, visit the IRMA website.

READ MORE