DRC: SICOMINES SA applies the rules established for the Environment
The Sino-Congolese Mining Company (SICOMINES SA) is truly at the forefront of both in terms of mining.
The slayers of the flagship of Sino-Congolese cooperation thought they were hitting hard by looking for the little beast on the side of the Environment. Because in the management of human resources, just like in the techniques of production, they did not find faults.
The latest attacks from a NGO HR declaring itself specialized in the protection of the exploitation of natural resources.
Already, it indicates in a document published under the title “LA SICOMINES SA: more than 69 million USD registered in the protection of the environment and the populations of Lualaba”, it specifies that as a mining company established in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the province of Lualaba, the Sino-Congolaise des Mines (…) has, since its creation, registered approximately 69,079,880 USD for the design of the environmental protection project as well as 9,013,950 USD invested in favor of environmental protection measures. As well as to ensure the protection of the populations located around its installations against in particular diseases, pollution of rivers and the earth “. Figures that should silence all critics of this mining company.
It continues in the same vein that the management of the Environment throughout the mining cycle remains essential and extremely demanding because mining, like any industrial activity, has impacts on the environment, thus requiring precautions for the Man and his environment.
Better, supports the Sino-Congolese joint venture, the life of a mine aims to avoid and/or reduce its impacts to the lowest possible level, and this, at all stages, particularly in terms of management. integrated environment, a key element of sustainable development, and the long-term acceptability of this activity.
To do things properly, SICOMINES SA has among its departments, one in charge of the Environment and Safety, which aims to ensure the daily protection of biodiversity and its mining environment.
SICOMINES SA complies with both law 038/2003 of March 26, 2003 on mining regulations as amended and supplemented by decree 18/024 of June 08, 2018 relating to socio-environmental management and article 477 paragraphs 1 litera b of the mining code, with a view to contributing to the development of the environment and the local community.
As a result, it is aware that the link is often made between mining activities and environmental impacts, even mining pollution and that, by ripple effect.
“Beyond simple compliance with the regulations in force, SICOMINES SA is implementing high technology in order to better anticipate risks and limit the environmental footprint”, we learn. It also oversees the social well-being of local communities.
As a reminder, since its establishment in Lualaba, the firm has worked to identify priorities, in particular water resources, an essential product in the life of both humans and animals and plants.
The peculiarity in the mining industry, in fact, is the intense need for water in the process of extraction, treatment and transport of ores, we learn from this company, which adds that without water and without energy, operating a mine is not possible.
Hence, continues the joint venture, the systematic assessment of the environmental, societal and economic aspects related to water resources remains the responsibility of this company.
In addition to this, there is also the quality of air, soil, fauna and flora, notes the same source, indicating that SICOMINES SA has met these requirements thanks to the assistance ecologists and naturalists who are part of its staff, so that in the end all the parties concerned find their accounts.
ACHIEVING “ZERO DAMAGE” PERFORMANCE
In addition, in the effort to protect the environment, this company has carried out in recent years the development of large green spaces on the model of parks in China with a lawn of nearly 50,000 m2, a garden with nearly 20,000 flowers of fifty species, 1,000 trees of various species, 10,000 nurseries, 2,000 banana trees and 1,000 fruit trees of dozens of species.
SICOMINES SA is committed to the protection of the ecological environment and the construction of ecological mines while ensuring that natural assets continue to provide the resources and environmental services on which the well-being of the population is based by achieving development. green “..
In the meantime, does it allocate a million dollars each year to ensure “the efficient execution of environmental protection works inside its facilities, of which several emergency measures are carried out in with a view to mitigating impacts and immunizing those most at risk, as quickly as possible,” the document reads.
In this context, it has placed, as prevention and regulation for the movement of local communities and its machinery, signs that are clearly visible day and night, signs erected mainly in places known to be dangerous: ovens, circulation of vehicles, electrical power supply cabins, etc. Similarly, it has placed “warning signs near non-potable water reserves such as the settling basin to prevent any domestic use”.
That’s not all. To the fire-fighting equipment, it adds equipment against natural disasters: torrential rains, floods, earthquakes, rockslides or landslides. That’s not all either: the joint venture is meticulously concerned with the protection of workers by equipping them with helmets, masks, mufflers, gloves, boots, goggles, not without taking into account the specific positions occupied.
Thus, SICOMINES SA ensures “a positive influence on all the people with whom the company comes into contact”.
And to top it off, it has implemented procedures indicated for the training and retraining of personnel responsible for security issues, its objective being the achievement of “zero damage” performance for both employees and their dependents and for equipment. .
