Sustainability Reporting and the Platinum Group Metals: A Global Mining Industry Leader? | Johnson Matthey Technology Review

1887

Volume 56, Issue 1

ISSN: 0032-1400

oa Sustainability Reporting and the Platinum Group Metals: A Global Mining Industry Leader?
By By Gavin M. Mudd¹
View Affiliations Hide Affiliations

Affiliations: ¹ Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash UniversityClayton, Melbourne, Victoria 3800Australia
Source: Platinum Metals Review, Volume 56, Issue 1, Jan 2012, p. 2 - 19
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1595/147106711X614713
- Published online: 01 Jan 2012

Previous Article
Table of Contents
Next Article

Abstract

Platinum group metals (pgms) are increasingly used in a wide variety of important environmentally-related technologies (for example, catalytic converters), most of which are expected to grow in demand as the world develops. Over the past decade, the global mining industry has embraced the need to incorporate sustainable development into projects and governance, resulting in a major surge in the use of annual sustainability reporting to demonstrate such performance. The majority of global pgms production is in South Africa, and this paper assesses and analyses the sustainability reporting by the pgms sector. The approach to sustainability reporting is discussed, including an assessment of the extent and detail of reporting by pgms companies, as well as examining the data reported and its relationship to key production aspects such as ore grade and project scale. By analysing trends in water and energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, especially in terms of per unit pgms production, critical issues such as life cycle costs can be ascertained. Whilst sustainability includes social, economic and environmental aspects, this paper focuses on environmental aspects only. Overall, the pgms sector certainly appears to be a global leader in the breadth and depth of sustainability reporting, with the continuing evolution providing a valuable basis to understand the major issues facing the industry and allow strategic planning for the future.

© Johnson Matthey

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1595/147106711X614713

2012-01-01

2024-11-22

Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/pmr/56/1/PMR-56-1-Mudd.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1595/147106711X614713&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

References

C. F. Vermaak, “The Platinum-Group Metals: A Global Perspective”, Mintek, Randburg, South Africa, 1995 [Google Scholar]
“The Geology, Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Beneficiation of the Platinum-Group Elements”, ed. L. J. Cabri, Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum, Montreal, 2002, Special Vol. 54 [Google Scholar]
G. M. Mudd, ‘The Platinum Group Metals: Assessing Global Trends in Resources and Production’, Ore Geol. Rev., submitted manuscript [Google Scholar]
B. J. Glaister, G. M. Mudd, Miner. Eng., 2010, 23, (5), 438 [Google Scholar]
“Minerals Commodity Summaries”, US Geological Survey (USGS), Reston, Virginia, USA, Years 1999 to 2011 [Google Scholar]
R. G. Cawthorn, Platinum Metals Rev., 2010, 54, (4), 205 [Google Scholar]
G. M. Mudd, Resources Policy, 2007, 32, (1–2), 42 [Google Scholar]
G. M. Mudd, Mine Water Environ., 2008, 27, (3), 136 [Google Scholar]
G. M. Mudd, ‘Sustainability Reporting and Mining – An Assessment of the State of Play for Environmental Indicators’, SDIMI 2009 – 4th International Conference on Sustainable Development Indicators in the Minerals Industry, 6th–8th July, 2009, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia, Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM), Carlton, Victoria, Australia, 2009, pp. 377–391 [Google Scholar]
G. M. Mudd, ‘Platinum Group Metals: A Unique Case Study in the Sustainability of Mineral Resources’, The 4th International Platinum Conference, Platinum in Transition ‘Boom or Bust’, Sun City, South Africa, 11th–14th October, 2010, The Southern Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Marshalltown, South Africa, 2010 [Google Scholar]
G. M. Mudd, “The Sustainability of Mining in Australia: Key Production Trends and Their Environmental Implications for the Future”, Department of Civil Engineering, Monash University and Mineral Policy Institute: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, October 2007; Revised April 2009, 277 pp [Google Scholar]
World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED),, “Breaking New Ground: Mining, Minerals and Sustainable Development”, ed. L. Starke, Earthscan Publications, London, UK, 2002 [Google Scholar]
The World Commission on Environment and Development,, “Our Common Future”, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 1987 [Google Scholar]
“Sustainability Reporting Guidelines – Third Edition”, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2006, 44 pp [Google Scholar]
“Sustainability Reporting Guidelines & Mining and Metals Sector Supplement”, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2010, 55 pp [Google Scholar]
“Indicator Protocols Set Environment (EN)”, Version 3.0 EUSS Final Version, Global Reporting Initiative, 2000–2009 [Google Scholar]
A. Fonseca, Corp. Soc. Responsibility Environ. Manage., 2010, 17, (6), 355 [Google Scholar]
Anglo American Platinum Ltd,, private communications, 9th August 2011 and 12th September 2011
“Sustainable Development Report 2009”, Anglo Platinum Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa, 8th February, 2010, p. 56 [Google Scholar]
“Sustainable Development Report 2007”, Anglo Platinum Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa, 12th February, 2007, p. 80 [Google Scholar]
“Sustainable Development Report 2009”, Lonmin Plc, London, UK, 2009, p. 61 [Google Scholar]
“About Electricity – Power Stations and Pumped Storage Schemes”, Eskom Ltd, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2010 [Google Scholar]
H. J. Van Niekerk, M. J. Viljoen, Land Degrad. Dev., 2005, 16, (2), 201 [Google Scholar]
Zimplats, private communication
M. Curtis, “Precious Metal: The Impact of Anglo Platinum on Poor Communities in Limpopo, South Africa”, ActionAid, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2008, 57 pp [Google Scholar]
Platinum Metals Rev., 1957, 1, (1), 3 [Google Scholar]
J. S. Lyon, P. M. Hocker, “Golden Dreams, Poisoned Streams: How Reckless Mining Pollutes America’s Waters, and How We Can Stop It”, eds. C. D. Da Rosa, Mineral Policy Center (MPC), Washington, DC, USA, 1997, 279 pp [Google Scholar]
S. Pape, “Managing Acid and Metalliferous Drainage”, eds. J. Taylor, Leading Practice Sustainable Development Program for the Mining Industry, Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia, 2007, 107 pp [Google Scholar]
D. W. Blowes, C. J. Ptacek, J. L. Jambor, C. G. Weisener, K. K. Turekian, ‘The Geochemistry of Acid Mine Drainage’, in “Environmental Geochemistry”, ed. B. S. Lollar, Treatise on Geochemistry, eds. H. D. Holland, Elsevier-Pergamon, Oxford, UK, 2003, Vol. 9, pp. 149–204 [Google Scholar]

/content/journals/10.1595/147106711X614713

Sustainability Reporting and the Platinum Group Metals: A Global Mining Industry Leader?

Platinum Metals Review 56, 2 (2012); https://doi.org/10.1595/147106711X614713

/content/journals/10.1595/147106711X614713

/content/journals/10.1595/147106711X614713

Data & Media loading...

Article Type: Research Article

Most Cited Most Cited RSS feed

This is a required field

Please enter a valid email address

Approval was a Success

Invalid data

An Error Occurred

Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error

Please enter a valid_number test