I was pleased to see that two major Chile miners are the latest companies to join the global Copper Mark assurance framework to promote responsible mining.
Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde, both owned by Toronto-listed Capstone Copper, have joined a growing list of miners globally to commit to the assessment process.
In fact when I last checked the list earlier this year the Copper Mark had been awarded to 33 participating sites around the world—6 just this year.
The Copper Mark now covers 2 of the biggest copper mines in the world, 5 producers in the biggest copper producing region in the world, and 6 of the ten biggest companies producing copper. That’s over 20% of global copper for a benchmark that is only two years old!
Getting it is not easy of course. Both Mantos Blancos and Mantoverde will take a year to be independently verified against 32 responsible production criteria. These include environmental management, greenhouse gas emissions, human rights, community health, safety and development, and governance.
I must say it does feel like the tipping point as Copper Mark continues to make wider industry connections. For example Copper Mark is now collaborating with global molybdenum, nickel and zinc organisations, and has just launched a consultation with the Responsible Minerals Initiative.
Here BHP is the first Australian-based miner to get the Copper Mark for the Olympic Dam mine. But of course I’m sure it won’t be the last.
Cheers, John Fennell
Capstone release: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220825005301/en/Capstone-Copper’s-Mantos-Blancos-and-Mantoverde-Mines-Join-the-Copper-Mark
Copper Mark: https://coppermark.org