Centerra Gold has become the latest miner to join the Coalition of Energy Efficient Comminution (CEEC) as a new sponsor.

Centerra, which follows in the footsteps of Hudbay Minerals in backing the not-for-profit organisation, is a Canada-based gold mining and exploration company with assets in Canada, the Kyrgyz Republic and Turkey. It is one of the largest Western-based gold producers in central Asia, and its Mount Milligan mine (pictured) is the first, large new operation in British Columbia in a generation.

The company’s vision is to build a team-based culture of excellence that responsibly delivers sustainable value and growth, according to CEEC.

CEEC CEO, Alison Keogh, said: “We are thrilled with Centerra’s decision to become a CEEC sponsor. Our sponsors work collaboratively to accelerate energy-efficient, productive mining processes. That’s vital for our industry and communities as we reduce impact, tackle costs and improve shareholder value.

“As a CEEC sponsor, Centerra helps CEEC provide industry with information and tools from experts and grow the network of committed professionals working to accelerate eco-efficient comminution and maximise the potential of their mineral resources and assets.”

Centerra Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Daniel Desjardins, praised CEEC for its contributions towards environmental, social and governance (ESG) actions in the field and welcomed the opportunity to share information to advance business goals.

“Centerra’s financial and operational objectives are underpinned by a fundamental commitment to ethical and sustainable practices,” Desjardins said. “Our values are strongly aligned to CEEC’s mission for eco-efficient comminution; environmental, social and governance factors are our foremost priorities as we strive to continually improve the management of our operations.

“CEEC offers a pathway to share best practice and innovation in the international mining sector. We look forward to collaborating with like-minded organisations on shared challenges such as energy and water use.”

Centerra produced 783,308 oz of gold and 3,220 t of copper in 2019, making it one of the leading gold and copper producers based out of Canada.

The company’s major assets include the Kumtor Mine in the Kyrgyz Republic, which has produced more than 12.6 Moz of gold between 1997 and the end of 2019, and the long life, low-cost gold/copper Mount Milligan Mine, in British Columbia, Canada. The third operating mine, the Öksüt Gold Mine, in central Anatolia, Turkey, poured gold for the first time on January 31, 2020, after just 22 months of construction.