Gold mining takes place on every continent except Antarctica and creates exceptional opportunities for local communities. Our case studies explore the positive effects of mining and elaborate on the transformative effect of responsible gold mining.
Mining and communities in Canada
Opportunities for indigenous communities
Understanding the impact of gold mining on local communities before, during and after the life of a mine is a vital part of responsible mining. This includes dealing not only with national governments, but understanding the needs and aspirations of indigenous communities to ensure positive impacts.
Gold mining and the environment in Chile
Harvesting water from snow
Responsible gold-mining companies are mindful of their impact on the local environment, but some are also using their expertise in water management to assist communities in remote locations.
Social effects of mining in Finland
Supporting local fire fighters
Gold mining companies require a skilled workforce to operate their sites. The infrastructure, equipment and training in use in mining operations often have wider benefits to communities beyond their immediate economic impact.
Mining in Guatemala
Investing in social infrastructure
While responsible gold mining creates jobs and economic opportunities, many companies also choose to invest in social infrastructure outside of their immediate sphere of operations. Often, this takes the form of partnerships with national or regional governments or community organisations, so that investments are targeted to meet the needs of local populations.
Socio-economic impact of mining in Papua New Guinea
Supporting the financial system
Gold is found in developed and developing countries. Some gold-mining companies are working to help overcome challenges faced by low-income and remote communities, such as access to financial products.
Gold and health in Ghana
New national health insurance
Golden Star Resources provides National Health Insurance Scheme coverage for all its Ghanaian employees and their immediate families, as well as providing mine site clinic access for some 5,600 people (employees and their registered family) for 2012.
Social effects of mining in Russia
Developing a skilled workforce
Kinross’ Kupol operations are located in the remote Chukotka region of northeastern Russia, 200 kilometres from the nearest town. While mining has historically been a cornerstone of the region’s economy, most of the previous mining was completed decades ago and did not employ modern technologies.
Mining supply chains in Kyrgyz Republic
Building local purchasing
Centerra’s Kumtor mine is the largest private sector purchaser of goods and services in the country, with over $70 million procured within the Kyrgyz Republic in 2013.
Borden: the ‘goldmine of the future'
Goldcorp’s Borden mine is set to become the world’s first all-electric underground gold mine. The mine will replace current diesel-fuelled mobile equipment with Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).
The investment in electric equipment at Borden will improve safety performance and annually reduce GHG emissions by 70% (6,600t of CO2e). Electric engines are three times more efficient than their diesel equivalents and reduce megawatt hours (MWh) by 33,000 per year due to the huge decrease in ventilation requirements.
Solar power transforms the Esskane mine in Burkina Faso
IAMGOLD’s subsidiary, IAMGOLD Essakane SA, has partnered with Total Eren, AREN ENERGY (PTY) Ltd and Essakane Solar SAS to source electricity from a 15MWp (megawatt peak output) solar power plant to the company’s Essakane mine in Burkina Faso. The agreement is for an initial period of up to 15 years and will help the company reduce its environmental footprint and electricity costs.
Using science-based targets, carbon pricing, and fuel switching to lower emissions
Newmont, in collaboration with the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM), is working to set meaningful science-based emission reduction targets for the industry and determine what must be done to achieve such targets.
Optimised underground ventilation system reduces energy consumption and emissions
Barrick’s goal is to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 30% by 2030 from a 2016 baseline. Currently, 36% of the Barrick’s electricity comes from renewable sources. It is deploying a number of initiatives to reduce overall GHG levels, including the evaluation of moving to a lower emission fuel at its power plant in the Dominican Republic and designing future mines to include electric and automatic equipment.
Reducing GHG by hydro power and optimisation of haulage conditions
Kinross is constantly reviewing its energy supply matrix in order to identify opportunities to reduce both costs and emissions. It has recently acquired two hydroelectric power plants (155MW installed capacity) in Brazil that will ensure sustainability of a renewable energy supply for its Paracatu operation.
Hydropower results in mine’s low GHG footprint
Centerra Gold’s Kumtor mine, a large-scale mining operation in the Kyrgyz Republic, is a significant consumer of fuel and electricity.
Fuel represents over 20% of the mine’s overall commodity and service related purchases. Kumtor’s most energy intensive operation is its mill, representing approximately 75% of the mine’s electricity consumption.
Automatic compressed air control reduces energy consumption
In 2016, AngloGold Ashanti’s Vaal River mine won the ‘Project of the Year’ award from the South African Association for Energy Efficiency for its Vaal River Compressor Real-time Dynamic Control System (REMS-DCS).
