Xstrata Copper North Queensland.pdf - Mount Isa Mines

Environmental performance
Phil Abel – Apprentice Electrician, and
Robert Van Ryt – Electrician, recycle fluorescent
light tubes using a Fluro Disposal Machine
Water management
Effective water management and
conservation is critical to the long-term
viability of the Xstrata Copper North
Queensland Division. Our operations
have taken an integrated approach to
water management.
Our key focus is to minimise fresh water
usage and maximise process water recycling
and usage at our operations. Alternative
water sources to fresh water used at our
operations include harvested stormwater,
underground mine dewatering, water
recycled internally within plant areas,
return water from tailings thickeners
and tailings decant water.
Biodiversity
Biodiversity and its management are
of strategic importance to the Xstrata
Copper North Queensland Division. We
are committed to the integration of
biodiversity conservation considerations
into environmental and social decision
making in the search for sustainable
development outcomes.
Emissions
Emissions monitoring, control and impact
reduction strategies are a major component
of environmental management at the Xstrata
Copper North Queensland Division. Each of
our north Queensland operational sites are
complemented with their own comprehensive
network of dust monitoring systems. These
systems are essential to minimise the impact
of our activities on the environment and on
the communities in which we operate.
Water use –
Xstrata Copper North Queensland
GL
15.0
12.5
10.0
7.5
5.0
9.5
9.3
8.9
8.5
8.5
In 2010 Xstrata invested in excess of
$8.7 million at its north Queensland
operations on a range of initiatives to
further improve the management and
reduction of emissions. Further information
on these initiatives can be found throughout
this section.
Our north Queensland operations do not
emit ozone depleting substances.
Waste and tailings
management
Xstrata’s Product Stewardship standard
requires that all operations eliminate,
reduce, reuse, recycle where practicable
or responsibly dispose of waste generated.
In line with this standard, the Xstrata
Copper North Queensland Division has
a waste management system that is
continually evolving to suit the needs of
operational areas.
At its core is a waste management contract
for general waste and scrap metal collection
based on a ‘polluter pays’ principle. Waste
costs are distributed to departments
according to the volume they generate. The
incentive is that any money received through
scrap metal recovery in their area is credited
back to the department responsible for
that area.
Materials
The Xstrata Copper North Queensland
Division is committed to the efficient
use of input materials and actively seeks
opportunities for reducing input consumption.
Material usage is recorded at our operations
to ensure they can be tracked and managed
responsibly. Where practical alternatives
exist, hazardous materials are replaced by
less hazardous products, to ensure the
impact from our operations is reduced and
appropriately managed on an ongoing basis.
Consumption information is also used as part
of the National Pollutant Inventory (NPI) and
other reporting requirements.
2.5
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
82 XSTRATA COPPER NORTH QUEENSLAND