Xstrata Copper North Queensland.pdf - Mount Isa Mines

Environmental performance
Environmental incidents
and compliance
EHM had no environmental incidents greater
than Category 1 (negligible) in 2010.
In August 2010, EHM was fined $100,000 by
the Department of Environment and Resource
Management (DERM) as a result of an
extreme rainfall event that occurred in 2009
that contributed to the release of stormwater
that did not comply with the water quality
limits in the EHM Environmental Authority
Conditions (electrical conductivity (salinity)
and sulphate levels were slightly above
permitted limits).
There was one non-compliance with the EHM
Environmental Authority licence conditions in
2010. This was related to an adjustment to a
Financial Assurance bond required by DERM.
Climate change
Carbon emissions
In 2010, EHM’s total greenhouse gas
emissions was 246,000 tonnes of carbon
dioxide equivalents (CO 2 -e) up from the 2009
total of 201,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e. Carbon
intensity for the site in 2010 was 0.03 tonnes
of CO 2 -e per tonne of ore processed, the
same intensity as 2009.
Clockwise from top: Lil Howarth – Environmental Advisor, conducts an Environmental Audit
with David Tempany from Hastings Deering in EHM’s heavy vehicle workshop
A water bird at EHM
EHM’s rehabilitated south waste rock dump
EHM’s total greenhouse gas emissions are
comprised of direct and indirect emissions
(refer to the Energy use by source table on
this page). In 2010, EHM’s direct emissions
accounted for 124,500 tonnes of the total
CO 2 -e greenhouse gas emissions, compared
to 89,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e in 2009. Indirect
emissions accounted for 122,000 tonnes of
CO 2 -e of the total greenhouse gas emissions,
compared to 112,000 tonnes of CO 2 -e
in 2009.
As a proportion of total energy used, the
ratio of diesel to power use increased in
2010. As the combustion of diesel produces
less CO 2 -e emissions per unit of energy than
the generation of power, this meant that
while energy intensity increased, carbon
intensity as a proportion of total production
was stable. The increase in the proportion of
diesel consumption was due to the need to
go deeper into the pit (longer haul distance)
to extract ore.
Greenhouse gas emissions – EHM
‘000s tonnes CO 2 -e
450
375
300
225
150
75
0
247
231
224
201
246
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
Carbon intensity – EHM
Tonnes CO 2 -e per tonne ore processed
0.06
0.05
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.01
0
*Target
0.02
0.02
0.02
0.03
0.03
0.02
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011*
Sustainability Report 2010 97