Our Biodiversity Standard requires that we neither explore nor initiate mining within World Heritage sites. We also pledge to respect the requirements of legally protected areas.
Where we do work land, our mission is to protect, manage and reclaim.
- We manage around 15,550 hectares of land but less than 16.6% has been disturbed for mining activities
- Of the disturbed area, 82.7 hectares have been reclaimed to agreed post-mining uses
- We carry out annual surveys of fauna and flora at all our sites
- We remove and stockpile topsoil from the areas disturbed by mining activities.
Every site has an eventual closure plan, focused on leaving behind reclaimed lands that will support a productive future. Reclamation occurs throughout the mine life.
The Jatropha Biofuel Project
Our Community Relations department at the Bulyanhulu site is managing a project to produce biofuel for use at the mine. This is employing 92 members of the neighbouring community and sources local materials. Since 2007, 121 hectares have been planted with more than 200,000 Jatropha curcas plants.
By the end of 2016, the plantation will cover some 1,246 hectares containing over 5.5 million Jatropha plants within the Bulyanhulu lease area. The first batch of oil-bearing seeds is expected to be harvested in 2011.