Xstrata Copper North Queensland.pdf - Mount Isa Mines

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Environmental performance Left: A newly installed pump system at Death Adder Gully helps to reduce stormwater run off from the Mount Isa Mines lease Above: Ryan Francis – Graduate Environmental Advisor consults with Adi Endro – Environmental Advisor over bore sample readings Energy use by source (GJ) – Mount Isa Mines copper operations Consumption 2010 Percentage and total volume (ML) of water recycled and reused – Mount Isa Mines copper operations Total water used (includes potable, raw groundwater and recycled/process water) 2009 2010 19,100 19,833 Total water recycled or reused* 12,600 12,353 Percentage of water recycled and reused* 66 62 * Does not include the use of groundwater, however groundwater is included as part of the total water used. Direct Coal 318,700 Coke 22,800 Diesel 511,000 Natural gas 2,370,500 Other sources (other energy 77,100 sources such as LPG, petrol, and oils and greases) Indirect Electricity 1,840,100 Total 5,140,200 Energy use – Mount Isa Mines copper operations^ ‘000s GJ 7,500 Energy intensity – Mount Isa Mines copper operations^ GJ per tonne contained metal 30 Fresh water use – Mount Isa Mines copper operations GL 6 25 6,250 5,000 4,200 4,400 5,300 5,300 5,100 25 20 17 18 21 24 24 5 4 4.8 4.4 3.9 4.6 4.7 3,750 15 3 2,500 10 2 1,250 5 1 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011* 0 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 *Target ^ 2007–09 figures have been restated to account for a change in the reporting methodology related to the on-site generation of electricity. 88 XSTRATA COPPER NORTH QUEENSLAND
Environmental performance Energy In 2010, the Mount Isa Mines copper operations had a total energy consumption of 5.1 petajoules (PJ) compared to 5.3 PJ in 2009. This decrease was primarily due to reduced consumption of natural gas and coal. Energy intensity remained stable in 2010 at 24 gigajoules (GJ) per tonne of contained metal, the same result we reported in 2009. Water management Fresh water supply and use Fresh water consumed at the Mount Isa Mines copper operations is sourced from Lake Moondarra and Lake Julius. These two dams are used in combination to ensure fresh water supply to Mount Isa Mines as well as the Mount Isa community. Lake Moondarra reached 87% capacity in March 2010 and Lake Julius reached 100% in February 2010. Of the fresh water consumed in 2010, 100% was sourced from Lake Moondarra. In 2010, a total of 4,670 ML of fresh water was consumed by the Mount Isa Mines copper operations, including mining, processing and smelting operations. The water intensity figure for 2010 was 21.75 kilolitres per tonne of contained metal. Surface water Surface water in the Mount Isa Mines region flows into the Leichhardt River and then into Lake Moondarra approximately 15 kilometres downstream of the major site operations. Water discharged off site is sampled and analysed; and results have been provided to the Department of Environment and Resource Management. In 2010, approximately $4 million was spent on installing a new tailings reclamation line, enabling water that would otherwise be lost to evaporation in the tailings dams, to be reused as process water on site. Refer to case study on page 95 for more information. Other improvements to water management systems on site during 2010 have included cleaning out antipollution ponds, relining drains, and increasing stormwater pumping capabilities. Significant improvements have been made across site over the past few years in order to maximise reuse of stormwater in the process water circuits. In particular, we have focused on improving stormwater management in areas associated with potential off-site discharge points. In 2010, the final stage of the Death Adder Gully (DAG) improvements was completed, including installation of a pumping system to enable water at the DAG weir to be pumped back into Barracks Dam, which forms part of the site-wide water management strategy. Biodiversity The Mount Isa Mines copper operations manage approximately 30,000 hectares (ha) of land on mining lease ML8058, for the copper and zinc businesses, within the Mount Isa Inlier bioregion and Australia’s tropical savannas. ML8058 is characterised by rugged, rocky hills and poor shallow soil. Low open woodland with Eucalyptus, Corymbia and Acacia species predominates, with a ground layer of Triodia species (Spinifex) which reflects the complex geology, infertile soil and semi-arid climate. In 2010, 11 ha of land was disturbed by our Mount Isa Mines copper operations (see table below) for the construction of infrastructure and to support mine development. Opportunity for rehabilitation on ML8058 is limited because most areas currently disturbed are considered ‘active’ and are not available for rehabilitation. Numerous rehabilitation studies were progressed in 2010 to develop best practice rehabilitation techniques specifically tailored to the local environment. During the year we continued biodiversity management planning comprising various projects and internal systems updates with outcomes from the ML8058 biodiversity study, which was finalised early in the year. Effects on local environment As part of the biodiversity management planning in 2010, recommendations from the ML8058 biodiversity study were developed and will remain ongoing in 2011. Biodiversity projects targeted key threatening processes for biodiversity on the lease and included development of a fire management plan, and a pest management plan. No known effects were identified on the Red Goshawk, which is listed as ‘vulnerable’ under national legislation and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. During 2010, areas of conservation significance were managed by existing land management systems. No disturbed areas were identified during the biodiversity study as being of conservation significance. Management of sulphur dioxide (SO 2 ) emissions forms part of the biodiversity strategy as SO 2 fallout from the smelters can have a localised impact on vegetation. The introduction of the acid plant in 2000, owned and operated by Incitec Pivot, reduced SO 2 emissions from the copper smelter by 78% during 2010. Habitats protected or restored The conservation significance of ML8058 has been interpreted with respect to the surrounding landscape, the conservation status of the species present and the potential and actual threats operating on the lease. Our copper operations are within a traditionally grazed area and confined to a minimal footprint. However there were some habitats identified during the 2009 biodiversity study which are deemed to be of conservation significance. A Conservation Management Plan was developed in 2009 based on the outcomes of the study in relation to these regional ecosystems, and the plan was finalised and communicated to key stakeholders early in 2010. Following the vegetation survey conducted as part of the biodiversity study, seeds were collected from a community of Eucalyptus nudicaulis trees. The conservation status of this species is being reviewed and may be classified as vulnerable. Seeds were propagated and distributed into the community during various environment events such as World Environment Day and Green Week. During 2010 there were no instances of stormwater discharging off site from copper mining or processing areas at the Mount Isa Mines site. Land disturbed (ha) – Mount Isa Mines copper operations 2009 2010 Rehabilitation during the year 0 0 Total rehabilitation completed to date 0 0 Area disturbed during the year 23 11 Total area disturbed 1,494 1,505 Sustainability Report 2010 89
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