Eramet announces that its Eramet Grande Côte (EGC) site, specialising in mineral sands mining in Senegal, has achieved the IRMA 50 performance level, becoming the first site within the group to be audited under the IRMA standard.
This evaluation is part of the Eramet Group’s voluntary approach, initiated in 2022 through its CSR roadmap Act for Positive Mining, and is based on an independent external audit confirming the robustness of the site’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices, it says.
The IRMA Standard for Responsible Mining was developed through a broad public consultation process involving more than 100 organisations and stakeholders: NGOs, unions, communities, mining companies, clients and end-users of mining products. Recognised as one of the most comprehensive and demanding evaluation frameworks in the sector, an IRMA Achievement distinguishes four performance levels: IRMA Transparency, corresponding to third-party evaluation and the publication of results; IRMA 50, 75 and 100, reflecting the progressive compliance with a set of critical requirements and a score of at least 50%, 75% or 100% in each of the four principle area of the standard: social responsibility, environmental responsibility, business integrity and planning for positive legacies.
The audit of Eramet Grande Côte highlights a solid foundation of ESG practices, the company says, with the following performance levels:
- Business integrity (governance, transparency and ethical practices): 74%
- Planning for positive legacies: 67%
- Social responsibility: 74%
- Environmental responsibility: 67%
These results highlight robust practices, while also identifying areas for improvement addressed through dedicated action plans, it added.
The IRMA approach undertaken by Eramet is voluntary and based on an independent external evaluation, accompanied by the full publication of the audit report. This choice reflects a commitment to transparency regarding the site’s practices and to the structuring of a continuous improvement process, according to the company. In accordance with the IRMA standard requirements, the audit will be supplemented by follow-up audits conducted every 18 months to verify the continued maintenance of the level achieved. The results will continue to be made publicly available on the IRMA website and the Eramet Grande Côte website for all stakeholders.
Frédéric Zanklan, Managing Director of Eramet Grande Côte, said: “Eramet Grande Côte is the first mine to obtain IRMA in West Africa. This IRMA 50 result clearly marks an important milestone for EGC, its teams and local communities. It is fully aligned with the directions promoted by the State of Senegal, which seeks to position the mining sector as a lever for economic sovereignty, local value creation and responsible development, based on high standards of transparency and good governance. Through this demanding audit, we reaffirm our commitment to continuously strengthen our practices and anchor our operations in a dynamic of long-term value creation, in close collaboration with local stakeholders and in full alignment with Eramet’s Act for Positive Mining vision.”
Through the IRMA audit, Eramet Grande Côte has identified several improvement levers aimed at further enhancing its performance and impact on local territories, it says. These insights are part of a continuous improvement approach, supported by the definition of dedicated action plans.
The priorities notably focus on consolidating best practices and optimising stakeholder engagement, strengthening the effectiveness of the grievance management mechanism, improving the monitoring of resettlement processes, and improve water quality and quantity monitoring of water, including the analysis of potential exceedances and the implementation of appropriate actions.
