Sustainability Report - Antofagasta PLC

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Antofagasta plc Sustainability Report 2011
Environmental Performance
Guided by the Group’s Sustainable Development Principles and
environment policy, Antofagasta Minerals’ environment strategy is to
use resources efficiently, control negative impacts and provide
environmental benefits such as renewable energy. This helps us to
reduce business costs, ensure compliance with regulations and build
good relationships with local stakeholders.
The mining division has a management system in place to measure
and manage the environmental impact of each mining operation. The
companies’ performance is monitored through the Assessment of
Environmental Performance (AEP) tool that includes key performance
indicators. In 2011 we formalised standards for environmental
performance in line with the AEP tool.
Achieving operational efficiency
Efficient use of water
Efficient use of electricity and fuel
Land use (territory)
Waste management
Controlling environmental impacts
Safeguard of quality and availability of water
Protection of biodiversity and cultural heritage
Safeguard air quality
Reduce risk of environmental incidents
Providing benefits to the environment
Use of renewable energy
Enhancement of biodiversity
Enhancement of cultural heritage
What is the issue?
Climate Change
Climate change is predicted to have a
significant impact on Chile with
associated changes in weather
patterns, rising temperatures and
reduced rainfall. To help address this,
the Chilean government has set a target
to reduce the country’s carbon footprint
by 20% by 2020. Chilean law already
requires that 5% of energy generation
must be from renewable sources and
this will rise to 10% by 2020. The
Group intends to meet this target and
play its part in helping Chile reduce its
carbon emissions through energy
efficiency and the exploration of
alternative energy sources such as
geothermal, wind and solar.
Climate change and energy
Our approach
As our operations grow, energy consumption is likely to increase in line with
production. At the same time, Antofagasta Minerals is committed to playing
its part in helping Chile reach its goal to reduce the nation’s carbon footprint,
for instance, by using renewable energy and supporting the exploration of
new energy sources. We recognise the risks associated with climate change
and the physical impact it could have on our operations and surrounding
communities. In 2011, more than 10% of the Group’s total operational
spending was on energy, making energy use a significant part of our current
operational costs.
See pages 51 and 52.
We are focusing on improving energy efficiency and finding alternative
and renewable sources of energy.