Colleen Parkins, head of ESG at Caledonia Mining Corporation PLC (AIM:CMCL, NYSE-A:CMCL), the operator of the Blanket gold mine in Zimbabwe, explains the key points of the gold producer’s 2023 ESG report.
Proactive: What were the company's ESG achievements in 2023?
Colleen Parkins: Some of the things that have improved from our previous report are it's very much a data-driven report, whereas previously our reports were more descriptive.
We've really put a lot of focus on improving our ESG metrics. We've also aligned our report with the Global Reporting Initiative.
Colleen Parkins: The solar plant was another achievement. Our solar plant was commissioned at the end of 2022, so 2023 was our first year of full use of the solar plant.
Twenty per cent of Blanket Mine's power came from the solar plant, reducing our diesel consumption in our generators by 62% and giving us a 14% reduction in our Scope 1 and Scope 2 greenhouse gas emissions.
Additionally, at the Mining Indaba this year, we were awarded the Responsible Resourcing Award for climate for our solar plant.
Another achievement is the commissioning of the first phase of our new tailings storage facility at Blanket Mine, aligning with global industry standards and improving water recycling.
Proactive: Kathleen, what are the plans for improving ESG in 2024?
Colleen Parkins: The company is focusing on implementing an electronic safety, health, and environment management system, as well as a climate change risk assessment and water balance, which will be included in our 2024 reports.
Proactive: Is there anything else you'd like to highlight?
Colleen Parkins: Yes, I'd like to highlight the contribution that Blanket makes to our local communities.
Ten per cent of the mine is owned by our employees, and another 10% is owned by the local community through our community share ownership trust.
This trust operates independently and conducts community projects in and around Gwanda (in Zimbabwe) and this year, they received $450,000 in dividends from the mine.