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Mining Business

Overview

Mitsui Kinzoku has started mine operations in Kamioka area, Gifu prefecture in 1874, and ever since, we have been in the mining business for over 140 years. In Republic of Peru, we currently have our own developed mines in operation: the Huanzala Mine and the Pallca Mine operated by Compania Minera Santa Luisa of Mitsui Kinzoku Group. It has been over 50 years since the Huanzala mine started its operation in 1968. The Pallca Mine was developed as a branch of the Huanzala Mine in 2006.

In Japan, most of the mines have already suspended or terminated operation due to resource depletion.

Sustainability Actions in Mining Business(The Sustainability Action Plan)

We recognize that the mining business has a particularly large impact on the surrounding environment and the local communities. Based on this recognition, we identify environmental and social issues related to our mining businessand implement focused measures.

In FY2020, we formulated the Sustainability Action Plan for Mining Business. Based on our materiality, we identified risks related to mining pointed out in the basic principles of ICMM and by SASB for each mining site and consolidated those risks into priority initiatives. In the mining business management, we conduct progress control annually in order to achieve the KPIs stipulated inthe action plan. 

Summary of Progress in FY 2021

While the plans were generally conducted as scheduled at sites in Japan, some plans were carried over to FY2022 at sites in Peru due to Covid-19 and other factors.

Item
Commitment
Related SDGs
Targets (KPIs)
Plans for FY2022
Mining business management
(ESG risk management frameworks)
Reduce ESG risks specific to the mining business through appropriately managing materiality items
G3,G4,G6,G7,G8,G9,
G12,G13,G15,G16
1. Implement the Sustainability Action Plan for Mining Business at mining sites (including closed mines)

2. Survey the operating mines with a capital ratio of >50% about human rights and environmental risk of mining business
1.Start the plan carried over from FY21 early by using a consultant

2. Review FY21 survey results and consider corrective actions

GHG emissions 
1. Afforestation around the tailings dam (Japan)

2. Soil preparation for afforestation at the former open-pit mining site (Japan)
G13,G15
1.
Afforestation of the total area of 1,000 of the Akeshi Mine by 2023
- Afforestation of the total area of 2,000㎡of the Akeshi Mine by 2025

2.Improvement of soil at the former open-pit mining site of the Kamioka Mine for afforestation
1.Carry out  afforestation (280㎡)

2. Add soil and plant grass on a continuous basis 
Energy management  Consideration of introducing renewable energy (Japan)
G7,G13
Completion of investigations for construction of a hydroelectric power plant
Examine the possibility of hydroelectric power generation
Water management
1. Acid Mine Drainage
Acid Mine Drainage (Peru)

2. Water recycling
- Improve water recycling rate (Peru)

- Promotion of mining water recycle (Japan)

3. Suspended and closed mines
Appropriate management of environmental risks of suspended and closed mines (Japan
G6,G15
1. Implementation of measures to prevent surface water from permeating 


- Development of a plan to improve water recycling rate

- 80% solution in industrial water shortage and 27% reduction in wastewater quantity

3.Zero environmental accidents
1.Study the effectiveness of a comprehensive surface survey, and prepare for the survey

2.
- Develop a plan to identify amounts of water consumed and discharged

-Started operation of sedimentation basin

3.
- Continued management of water level in the mine

- Completion of renewal of aging facilities

- Check the water level in the mine and maintain it
Waste and hazardous materials 
1. Waste
Implement a plan to reduce waste (Peru)

2. Tailings dam
Strengthen management of tailings dam and minimize related risks (Peru/Japan)

G6,G12,G15 1. Implementation of a plan to reduce waste based on an analysis of types of waste generated

2.
- Reinforcement and operation of a stability monitoring system
- Completion of accident simulations 

- Completion of compliance with new seismic resistance standards (700 gal)
- Develop a risk minimization plan for tailings dam
1.Develop reduction plans by department and type of waste

2.
- Evaluate the current monitoring system
- Develop a plan to respond to accidents, start simulating accidents
 
Impacts on biodiversity 
Integrated Report Mitsui Kinzoku Group Sustainability Initiatives 08 Impacts on biodiversity
Health and safety 
Strengthen dust control measures (Japan)
G3 Install a dust collector for weld fumes Install humidifying mist equipment
Human rights
Establish a security guard system in accordance with the Human Rights Policy(Peru)
G17 Implement measures to establish a security guard system in accordance with the Human Rights Policy
Examine details of a contract with a security company
Community engagement  Conduct activities based on community engagement and identify impact(Peru)
G3,G4,G7,G8,G9 Identification of impact on local communities 
Identify activity results; Start examining what activities should be focused on

Management of Mines in Operation

The Huanzala Mine is situated in the Andes at an elevation of about 4,000 meters, and it has been producing zinc, lead and copper concentrates, contributing to a stable supply of metal resources.

In Peru, the Environmental Law promulgated in 1993, which prescribes PAMA (the Environmental Adjustment and Management Program) as an obligation to existing mines in operation. The Huanzala Mine was the first mine in Peru to acquire PAMA in 1997. The mine completed environmental measures based on PAMA in 2008, and minimized impact on the environment.

In addition, the mine acquired the certification of ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 in 2008, and completed a transition from the 2004 version to the 2015 version of ISO 14001, and is currently ISO 45001:2018 certified.

Items listed in PAMA

  1. Acid Mine Drainage treatment
  2. Recycling of wastewater
  3. Stability evaluation of tailings dam
  4. Dust collection equipment of crushing process
  5. Treatment of living wastewater and solid waste
  6. Regeneration of Contaycocha lake
  7. Polluted soil treatment

Management of mines in operation

Contaycocha is a lake located downstream of the Huanzala Mine, and it was unable for living things to inhabit because of the acid water discharged from the mine. In addition to water quality improvement through acid water treatment, Minera Santa Luisa worked on environment restoration such as water sealing of acid sediment by raising the embankment and soil covering and tree planting. As the result, trout and waterfowls have returned to the lake as the water quality and the surrounding environment have been restored.

Mine Closure Plan

Since mineral resources are limited, environmental management after mine closure is indispensable for maintaining the surrounding environment. However, quite a few mines had been abandoned and affected the environment in history.

We have drawn up closure plans of mines subject to applicable laws and guarantee or accumulate expenses for closure to minimize the environmental and social risk after closure.


The following items are defined as goals in the closure plan;
・Priority on preserving the environment and compliance with local laws and regulations
・Landform stabilization to prevent pollution and physical and chemical containment of emissions
・Development of a versatile closure plan that allows for introduction of technical innovation and new technologies
・Environmental restoration for utilization and conservation of the land after closure
・Implementation of management measures for the social, economic, and organizational development of the local communities affected by mine operations

In Peru, the Law of Mine closure was promulgated in 2003, which required mines in operation and mine development projects to submit a closure plan and to accumulate the closure costs based on the plan.

The Huanzala Mine conducted voluntary pre-survey in 2004 prior to the law enforcement and started assessing and developing a closure plan. The Pallca Mine also developed a mine closure plan. In 2009, both mines obtained government approvals for the closure plan and guarantee closure costs and have since renewed those approvals multiple times.

We have been conducting works for mine closure in advance at both mines, including removal of acidic waste rock that causes acidic water, closure of surface water intrusion routes, separation of mine drainage into contaminated and clean water, and soil-covering/planting at the waste rock deposition site. In addition, we regularly receive audits of these works by government agencies.

 

Mine closure plan
Mine closure plan

We implement works for mine closure in advance at the Huanzala Mine and the Pallca mine. We work on removal of waste rock generated in the past operation and soil-covering/planting at the Huanzala Mine
left:Before soil-covering/planting(Huanzala, 2007) right:After (Huanzala, 2019)

Management of Suspended and Closed Mines

Mitsui Kinzoku continues environmental management of suspended and closed mines, in accordance with the Mine Safety Act, and applicable laws and regulations. Contact of rainwater with waste rock and metal containing rocks may generate acid water containing heavy metals. In order to manage acid water and to prevent mine pollution, we conduct inspection tours and the checking of managed site, water quality monitoring in neighboring areas, and water purification by acidic water treatment equipment.

Management of suspended and closed mines

We patrol suspended and closed mines on a regular basis to confirm that there is no hazardous spots, such as new caved-in hole in which people may fall.

Water Management

In the underground of the Huanzala Mine, acid water generates due to an abundance of sulfide of iron in ore. Applying mine pollution prevention technology in Japan, Compania Minera Santa Luisa built a mine-attached neutralization plant in 1998 that was the first one in Peru. The mine continued to improve the plant by increase of settling tanks, betterment of lime addition pumps and enlarging air agitation blowers, and keep processing stable acid water treatment.

A 24-hour monitoring system of mine drainage water is put into place, thus it is consistently ascertained that the pH level of the water released into the river is within the range of effluent standards.

Furthermore, we voluntarily conduct survey every three days in order to check the concentration of heavy metals within the drained water. In addition, water samples are collected from locations around the Huanzala Mine once every month to check the water quality in accordance with related laws. The flotation plant at the Huanzala mine is also advancing efforts to recycle water and striving to reduce water consumption.

Water management

The neutralization plant of Huanzala. After neutralization, the supernatant water is discharged into the river with pH level within the range of effluent standards and the sediment is stored in the tailings dam. The processing capacity of the plant is 18 m3 / min.

Tailings Dams Management

In the flotation process, slurry type wastes called tailings are generated. The facility to storage “tailings” is called “tailings dam”. In recent years, a series of dam collapses occurred in Brazil and Canada and they have been considered as significant environmental and social issues. Mitsui Kinzoku Group regards the management of tailings dams as one of the major risks in the mining business and manages them in accordance with applicable technical guidelines and manuals.

Japan

In Japan, there were leakage incidents at a number of tailings dams caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. Then in 2012, the ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry revised the Technical Policies of the ministerial decree defining technical standards of mining facilities (called "Technical Policies" hereafter). We recognize that the Technical Policies is an important guideline for ensuring the safety of tailings dams in Japan, which have relatively high risks of earthquakes, and we manage tailings dams in accordance with these Technical Policies.

In 1995, we conducted voluntary stability evaluations of the top three tailings dams out of 13 dams managed by Mitsui Kinzoku after the Han-Shin Awaji Earthquake disaster in 1995. As a result, we confirmed these three dams would remain stable even in the event of a massive-scale earthquake (Level 2 earthquake).

We also evaluated the stabilities of five dams in line with the revision of Technical Policies from 2012 to 2015 that were subject to Technical Policies requirements, and ascertained they have extremely low risks of major collapse in the event of Level 2 earthquake.

Furthermore, we have been evaluating five dams since 2017 that were not subject to the Technical Policies, and have confirmed four of them have the earthquake resistance. The remaining one was found to be non-conforming by an evaluation in FY2019, and seismic reinforcement constructions were completed in FY2021.

Tailings dams management

In stabilization surveys of a tailings dam, we dig observation well and measure the groundwater level to check seepage into dam embankment.

Peru

In Peru,  Compania Minera Santa Luisa designs, manages and conducts stability evaluations of tailings dams in accordance with the technology guidelines and manuals defined by the Ministry of Energy and Mines. Peru is a country with a relatively high risk of earthquake like Japan.

As a result of stability evaluation, it has been confirmed that the tailings dam of the Huanzala mine has no problems and will remain stable, even if the area is hit by a major earthquake of a level that only happens once every 500 years.

In order to ensure the safety, in-house engineers conduct monitoring of the seepage level in the levees every month. External specialists also check the seepage level in the levees and perform tilt measurement every three months.

Tailings dams management

Chuspi, the tailings dam of the Huanzala Mine. We evaluated the stabilities again in 2017 and confirmed that it would remain stable, even if a major earthquake hit the area.

The list of tailing dams managed by Mitsui Kinzoku Group

Name Raising method Mine Stability evaluations Status
1. Wasabo Downstream Kamioka Conducted in 1998 (voluntary) Active
2. Shikamadani Downstream Conducted in 1998 (voluntary) Active
3. Masutani Downstream Conducted in 1998 (voluntary) Active
4. Omokusa Upstream Nakatatsu Conducted from 2017 to 2019 (voluntary) Inactive
5. Todorokidani Upstream Conducted from 2012 to 2015 (required by the Technical Policies) Inactive
6. Kurotani Upstream Conducted from 2012 to 2015 (required by the Technical Policies) Inactive
7. Noda Upstream Iwami Conducted from 2012 to 2015 (required by the Technical Policies) Abolished
8. Hatai Upstream Conducted from 2012 to 2015 (required by the Technical Policies) Abolished
9. Kushikino No.1 Upstream Kushikino Conducted from 2012 to 2015 (required by the Technical Policies) Inactive
10. Kushikino No.2 Upstream Conducted from 2017 to 2019 (voluntary) Inactive
11. Kushikino No.3 Upstream Conducted from 2017 to 2019 (voluntary) Inactive
12. Arakawa Upstream Conducted from 2017 to 2019 (voluntary) Inactive
13. Ohnoyama Upstream Ohnoyama Conducted in 2019(voluntary)
Seismic reinforcement constructions were completed in FY2021.
Inactive
14. Chuspic Downstream Huanzala Conducted in 2017 (based on the Mining Act) Active

In June 2019, Mitsui Kinzoku disclosed information about abandoned tailings dams based on requests from the British Church Pension Committee and the Swedish National Pension Fund Moral Committee.
Information Concerning Tailings Dam management

Use of Security Companies

At some of our sites, we use security companies to protect the safety of employees. We are aware of the inherent risk to human rights related to the use of weapons for security. Regarding the use of security personnel, we will comply with local laws and regulations and respect international principles such as the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights, and establish a security system based on the Human Rights Policy of Mitsui Kinzoku Group.

In addition, we are currently preparing to introduce a new security company in Peru for 2023, and are in the process of selecting and contracting based on the Voluntary Principles on Safety and Human Rights.

Relationships with the Local Communities

Compania Minera Santa Luisa strives to establish relationships of co-existence and mutual prosperity with the local communities.

The Huanzala mine and the Pallca mine have concluded regional assistance agreements with local governments in order to support local governments and residents.Compania Minera Santa Luisa has provided various community supports such as direct support for local communities and indirect support through infrastructure investment.

Local community support

Free supply of electricity from company-owned hydroelectric power stations.

Education support
  • Donation of school supplies, PC and books
  • Job training and employment supports
  • Constriction of schools and children's parks
Medical support
  • Construction of clinics
  • Donation of medical implements
  • Free examinations and vaccinations
  • Donation of an ambulance, an oxygen plant, disinfectant, masks, etc. to counter COVID-19
Livestock industry support
  • Improvement of the breed of domestic animals
  • Distribution of seedlings
  • Instructions on livestock industry
  • Construction of irrigation canals
Investment in infrastructure
Construction of roads
  • Catac road(from Pacific coast to Huanzala mine)
  • Pallca-Chiquian road(from Chiquian town to Pallca mine)
Development of local communities’ infrastructure
  • Construction of bridges, water and sewage facilities, and administrative offices, etc.
Improving housing for local residents
  • Support for the relocation of residence in landslide area
Relationships with the local communities

Construction of a bridge in a neighboring village. Infrastructure investments create jobs in local communities and revitalize the local economy.

Relationships with the local communities

The supports for the agriculture and livestock industry are important measures to revitalize the local communities; We provide technical supports by specialists and veterinarians. Domestic animals such as sheep, llamas and cattle propagated in our own farm are given to the local farmers.

Providing an ambulance to Huallanca Village; providing medical assistance including support for COVID-19 measures.

Biodiversity

Integrated Report  Mining business [PDF:242KB]

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