MAC releases its 2014 TSM Progress Report

Press Release

November 07, 2014

The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) has released its tenth annual Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Progress Report. The 2014 report takes a detailed look at MAC members’ 2013 performance in the initiative’s three focus areas – communities and people, environmental stewardship, and energy efficiency.

“With the development and implementation of the TSM initiative 10 years ago, the mining industry committed to a continuous drive towards better environmental and social performance. Now, a decade later, we can point to results that show significant, meaningful progress in all performance areas at mining facilities across Canada and in other parts of the world,” said Pierre Gratton, MAC’s President and CEO.

The 2014 TSM Progress Report takes a detailed look at MAC members’ efforts to contribute positively to the communities where they operate. The report includes performance results for 62 facilities from 23 mining companies, seven of which had their results externally verified by a third-party. For the first time, facility-level performance data for TSM’s newest protocols, biodiversity conservation management and safety and health, are available in the report.

The 2014 report shows steady improvement in company results, and maintained the overall high performance levels achieved in 2012. Notable highlights include:

• In the area of Aboriginal and community outreach, results for effective community of interest engagement and dialogue remained strong with 82% of facilities reporting a Level A or higher. The percentage of facilities at a Level AAA—the highest ranking possible—for this indicator has increased from 13% in 2006 to 42% in 2012 and 48% in 2013.
• The number of facilities assessed at a Level A or higher for demonstrating commitment and executive-level accountability for managing biodiversity conservation nearly doubled year-over-year, increasing to 60% in 2013 from 33% in 2012.
• A majority of 85% of facilities reported a Level A or higher for implementing comprehensive energy use and GHG emissions tracking and reporting systems for internal and public reporting.

Tailings management results remain strong, with 96% of facilities reporting they have implemented an operation, maintenance and surveillance manual that adheres to industry best practices—an increase of 4% from 2012. Following the Mount Polley tailings breach in August 2014, MAC has committed to reviewing TSM requirements and its tailings management guidance documents, which are considered global best practice, to incorporate any lessons learned from the ongoing investigation into the incident.

Participation in the TSM initiative is mandatory for all MAC members. TSM is a performance-based program that was developed by MAC and its members to help mining companies evaluate and manage their environmental and social responsibilities. The program’s main objective is to enable mining companies to meet society’s needs for minerals, metals and energy products in the most socially, economically and environmentally responsible way. It is the only system in the world that includes public reporting of third-party assured site-level performance for the mining sector. Since TSM launched in 2004, the Mining Association of British Columbia and the Quebec Mining Association have adopted the program for their members.

To download the 2014 TSM Progress Report, or to learn more about the initiative, click here.

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About MAC

The Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry.  Its members account for most of Canada’s production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, mined oil sands and industrial minerals and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Please visit www.mining.ca/tsm-progress-report-2014.

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