ENVIRX: The Future of Mining
The public’s growing interest in sustainable development and the conservation of the environment has caused several organisations and industries to adopt an environmentally friendly approach and prove their commitment to maintaining it. This is especially true for mining industries as they are frequently criticised for their damaging impact on the environment when poorly managed. Mining is notorious for its invasive exploitation of natural reserves and contribution to a significant amount of air, soil and water pollution.
Understandably, many mining industries are prepared to adopt an Environmental Management System (EMS) to achieve cleaner production and collaborate with diverse stakeholders. An EMS provides organisations with the tools to be more environmentally efficient and proactive by reducing environmental impacts.
Enter ENVIRX
Integrated Environmental Sustainability System (ENVIRX) enables organisations to manage their risk-based material environment impacts in an integrated manner. It uses a dynamic framework that measures, trends and reports on their impact area. These environmental impact areas are managed from a strategy and policy point.
The structured environmental information flow process from ENVIRX allows for efficient management and informed decision-making that minimises environmental risk, identifies opportunities and improves environmental performance.
ENVIRX enables organisations to manage their risk based material environmental impacts in an integrated manner, enabling GRI G4 en standard management and reporting requirements according to the processes defined in the ISO 14001: 2015 standard. ENVIRX uses the same dynamic framework to measure, trend and report on their impact area, i.e. materials, water, energy, biodiversity, effluents and emissions amongst others.
The Future of Mining
Trevali Mining Corporation received successful pre-feasibility results for its plan to expand Rosh Pinah – its zinc mine in southwestern Namibia. The Rosh Pinah mine has been operating since 1969 and currently produces zinc and lead. Trevali believes that these metals are essential for the world’s transition to a low-carbon environment and must be carefully mined. Thus, the company employs socially and environmentally responsible methods in its mining process that mitigate risks and, overall, protect the organisation’s value for shareholders in the long-term.
Trevali aims to become the mining company of the future through sustainability and innovation as it partners with Africa-based tech companies. The scope of their plan for Rosh Pinah mine includes tackling its mining method, the materials that handle configuration, the sizing of its processing plant and different underground and surface infrastructure.
Part of Trevali’s expansion plan focuses on modernising the underground operation. An example is the installation of WiFi that makes the Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem available at a low cost. This initiates instantaneous data collection and analysis and better communication that allows the appropriate people, equipment and supplies to be deployed to the correct work fronts.
By following in the footsteps of Trevali – developing and adopting innovative practices and using technology – mining industries can achieve net-positive solutions for society and the natural environment while providing value to shareholders.
