There are several main principles for sustainable development in Yazhou Huangjin. These recommendations assist in putting into practice our policies for sustainable development and our top sustainability priorities (i.e., water, shared value, communities, energy, carbon, and mine closure). The United Nations Global Compact principles are among the many good practice principles that were taken into account in the creation of the recommendations. The rules are in conformity with our vision, beliefs, and policies as well as our commitment to being our key stakeholders' most dependable and esteemed mining partner. For each topic covered, the standards outline the essential reporting and governance needs.
Water Management
The following objectives are the main means by which responsible stewardship and water security are attained:
- Incorporating water management into the operational and planning processes of mines;
- Monitoring, reporting, and revealing the way we manage our water resources;
- Aiming for zero harm using information and best management techniques;
- Adding value for all parties and leaving a lasting, constructive impact in the catchments where we work.
Mine Closure
Ultimately, reclamation and restoration will be necessary for all of our sites, regardless of their current state of development. Planning for this scenario must be done in accordance with the guidelines and best practices, which also cover cost calculations and mine closure planning.
The following three stages will be considered in mine closure planning and cost calculations throughout the mining life cycle:
- Conceptual closure planning;
- Detailed closure planning;
- Definitive closure planning.
A mine closure plan and cost estimate are evaluated for all of our operations. All our operations undertake rehabilitation as part of their ongoing operations. Mine closure costs are funded as follows in each of the regions in which we operate:
- Unconditional bank-guaranteed performance bonds to secure the estimated costs;
- Reclamation bonds underwritten by banks to secure estimated costs of rehabilitation;
- Guarantees with annual deposits for proper compliance with the Mine Closure Plan;
- Contributions into environmental trust funds and guarantees.
Based on the net present value of the expected cost of resolving any environmental disruption that has occurred as of the balance sheet date, we make a full provision for environmental rehabilitation.
Community Relations and Stakeholder Engagement
Based on best practices from throughout the world, Yazhou Huangjin has created a guideline for community relations and stakeholder engagement. To fulfill this commitment, it is essential to put into practice the Community Relations Standards, which direct our interactions with communities and other important stakeholders.
The Yazhou Huangjin Society and Community Charter's (our promises to our major stakeholders) four pillars, which are incorporated into the Community Relations Standards, provide further support for effective community relations and stakeholder engagement:
- Create lasting connections with important stakeholders that are founded on mutual respect, candor, and regular communication;
- Work with our stakeholders (investors, employees, host communities, and governments) to support sustainable development and to produce "Shared Value" in order to leave an enduring, positive legacy for host communities;
- Monitoring and evaluating our performance in relation to our commitments;
- Work to get a deeper comprehension of the underlying issues and ambitions of our host communities, as well as to jointly develop and carry out the appropriate obligations to protect and uphold our social authorization to operate.
Energy and Carbon Management
In particular, the following key areas are targeted by the framework: developing an energy and carbon management strategy and plan, identifying opportunities for putting forward energy efficiency initiatives and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, creating shared value, reporting performance, and setting targets.
Successful management of energy and carbon is achieved primarily through:
- Incorporating carbon and energy management within the business;
- Performance measurement and reporting;
- Definitive closure planning.
Biodiversity
Yazhou Huangjin is dedicated to the careful management of ecological systems and natural resources for both current and future generations. The purpose is to offer direction on how to include biodiversity conservation in every stage of mine life, from pre-feasibility until closure. In terms of biodiversity conservation, the operations will be subject to varying degrees of legislative rigor; however, Yazhou Huangjin wants to pursue best practices throughout all of its businesses.
Yazhou Huangjin Sustainability Reporting
The goal of sustainability reporting is to evaluate, disclose, and hold entities accountable to internal and external stakeholders for their progress toward the goal of sustainable development. Reporting businesses' sustainability performance should be fairly represented, including both their positive and negative effects. This policy is based on the Reporting Framework, which is evaluated and improved over time. The recommendations involve criteria for standard disclosures made up of performance indicators and other disclosure items, as well as principles for establishing report content and guaranteeing the quality of reported information. All statistics and information reported across the Yazhou Huangjin Group include descriptions.
Safety Reporting
Based on the recommendations of a health and safety benchmarking evaluation conducted by the International Council on Mining and Metals, we follow our group safety reporting standards. We now use the Total Recordable Injury Frequency Rate (TRIFR) indicator as a result of this.
The TRIFR entails (with regard to both workers and independent contractors):
- Lost-time injuries
- Medically treated injuries
- Restricted work injuries
It is considered a more useful measure of safety performance than the Lost-Time Injury Frequency Rate (LTIFR) alone, which includes only injuries that result in one or more lost shifts. Furthermore, the TRIFR is the most commonly used metric among our peers, assisting the benchmarking of our performance against the wider sector.
Risk Management
Based on the International Guideline on Risk Management, Yazhou Huangjin follows the basis of an Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Guideline. This is made up of operational and strategic risk management, each with a distinct goal. The aim is to guarantee a suitably uniform approach across all of the group's territories by outlining minimum standards and general good practice guidelines that will serve as a roadmap for enterprise risk management.
There are national risk management standards and requirements in the regions where Yazhou Huangjin conducts business, and these should be followed. This recommendation is meant to supplement compliance rather than completely replace existing requirements. The complete mining lifecycle, which consists of eight phases: exploration, pre-feasibility, feasibility, construction, operation, decommissioning, closure, and post-closure, is applicable to this guidance.