The International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) has announced that Sibanye-Stillwater, the Cámara de Minería del Ecuador (CME) and the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC) have been accepted as a member company and member associations respectively.
Following the acquisition of Lonmin, an existing ICMM member, the Sibanye-Stillwater Group went through the ICMM’s rigorous company membership assessment process to ensure that it adheres to ICMM’s membership requirements.
Sibanye-Stillwater is a leading South African and US listed precious metals company, with a diverse portfolio of assets across North America, Southern Africa. It is also the world’s largest primary producer of platinum and rhodium, the second largest producer of palladium and a top tier gold producer. Sibanye-Stillwater has received recognition for its commitment to operating to the highest environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards as one of only 325 companies included in Bloomberg’s 2020 Gender Equality Index. The company is also a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index Series and is the only South African business to have achieved an ‘A’ rating from CDP for climate change disclosure.
ICMM has also welcomed the CME and CMIC as a new association members. The CME was formed in May 1978 to lead the coordination and collective action of the Ecuadorian mining industry and promote best practice within the sector. The CME has more than 100 members, split between mining companies, service providers and affiliated individuals.
The CMIC was created in 2007 and formally incorporated as a Canadian non-profit corporation in December 2008. Since 2013, CMIC facilitated the creation of the Towards Zero Waste Mining (TZWM) strategy with a focus on energy, water and environmental footprint. ICMM’s Council of CEOs approved the membership of both organisations at a meeting in Miami earlier this week.
Tom Butler, ICMM’s Chief Executive Officer said: “I am delighted to be welcoming Sibanye-Stillwater, the Cámara de Minería del Ecuador, and CMIC to ICMM. Following its acquisition of an existing ICMM member in Lonmin, Sibanye-Stillwater went through ICMM’s rigorous company membership assessment process and has received a strongly positive assessment from ICMM’s Independent Expert Review Panel. The Group will bring to the Council its experience of operating in both southern Africa and North America. We are also always glad to welcome new association members who can in turn help with knowledge sharing and learning, both to and from their own memberships.”
Neal Froneman, Sibanye-Stillwater’s Chief Executive Officer said: “It is a proud moment for Sibanye-Stillwater to be accepted as a member of the ICMM. This confirms our ongoing commitment to environmental, social and governance best practices throughout our business. The membership will also provide us an opportunity to learn, define and share best-in-class mining practices through a common set of international standards.”
Ben Mace, President of the CME and Head of Country, Ecuador at BHP said: “With ‘Mirador’ and ‘Fruta del Norte’ going into production in late 2019, Ecuador is now a large-scale mining country. With this milestone and the future potential of this amazing country, it is important that the industry aligns itself with international organisations such as ICMM to ensure that the foundations are built on the basis of responsible mining. The Ecuadorian Chamber of Mines is proud to become a member of ICMM and we look forward to further embedding the principles for sustainable development performance across the mining industry in Ecuador.”
Cark Weatherell, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer at CMIC said: “CMIC’s vision is to transform the mining industry Towards Zero Waste Mining. We are making compelling progress on how the industry collaborates and what platform technologies are developed and deployed to significantly reduce energy and water consumption and the overall environmental footprint of mining. ICMM, as an international organisation, also serves as a catalyst for change through partnerships and innovation. We are excited to begin working with ICMM as a member association in order to accelerate this transformation across the industry.”
