Tailings Management
In 2019, facilities began reporting on the 2017 version of the Tailings Management Protocol, including a revised Tailings Guide and a detailed Table of Conformance to assess a facility’s alignment with the practices outlined in the Tailings Guide. As expected, given this comprehensive set of revisions to strengthen requirements, the industry experienced declines in performance across all indicators. A dozen facilities reported declines in performance from Level A or higher to Level B across one or more indicators. Additionally, two facilities reporting TSM results for the first time in 2019 were assessed at Level B or lower across the indicators of this protocol. In 2021, further changes in performance are anticipated as facilities report for the first time on the 2019 version of the Tailings Management Protocol and its associated guidance documents.
| Level A | Level AA | Level AAA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tailings management policy and commitment | 46% 2006 | 91% 2018 | 84% 2019 |
| Tailings management system | 40% 2006 | 94% 2018 | 80% 2019 |
| Assigned accountability and responsibility | 60% 2006 | 94% 2018 | 80% 2019 |
| Annual tailings management review | 54% 2006 | 96% 2018 | 78% 2019 |
| Operation, maintenance and surveillance (OMS) manual | 49% 2006 | 98% 2018 | 82% 2019 |
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Biodiversity Conservation Management
Facilities continue to demonstrate good performance on the Biodiversity Conservation Management Protocol. However, performance on indicators 2 and 3 remain relatively stagnant. MAC will be working with members over the next year to consider how to drive performance more effectively in these areas. In 2021, facilities will begin reporting on a slightly revised version of this protocol which includes new requirements related to the mitigation hierarchy and no net loss.
| Level A | Level AA | Level AAA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Commitment, accountability and communications | 58% 2013 | 85% 2018 | 84% 2019 |
| Conservation planning and implementation | 50% 2013 | 74% 2018 | 75% 2019 |
| Reporting | 53% 2013 | 76% 2018 | 75% 2019 |
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Water Stewardship
In 2019, some facilities produced their first internal reports on the new Water Stewardship Protocol. Initial results demonstrate opportunities for improvement in operational water management and water reporting and performance. First facility-level public reporting against this new protocol will begin in 2021.
| Level A | Level AA | Level AAA |
|---|---|---|
| Water governance | 100% 2019 | |
| Operational water management | 57% 2019 | |
| Watershed-scale planning | 100% 2019 | |
| Water reporting and performance | 71% 2019 |
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Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management
Facilities continue to demonstrate good performance on the first two indicators of the Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management Protocol, with opportunities for improvement on Indicator 3 – Performance Targets. A slight decline in performance on Indicator 2, Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management, is due to three facilities reporting declines in performance from Level A or higher to Level B or C. In at least one case, this was due to a lack of public reporting on energy management in the year of assessment. Additionally, two facilities reporting TSM results for the first time in 2019 were assessed below Level A on this indicator. In 2022, facilities will begin producing their first internal reports on the new Climate Change Protocol, which will replace the Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions Management Protocol. First facility-level public reporting on the new protocol is scheduled for 2023. The new protocol takes a more hollistic approach to climate change, looking at mitigation and adaptation measures at both corporate and facility levels.
| Level A | Level AA | Level AAA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management | 58% 2013 | 81% 2018 | 81% 2019 |
| Energy use and greenhouse gas emissions reporting systems | 84% 2013 | 90% 2018 | 83% 2019 |
| Energy and greenhouse gas emissions performance targets | 34% 2013 | 56% 2018 | 54% 2019 |
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