Oyu Tolgoi mine awarded the Copper Mark for its responsible production

Oyu Tolgoi is proud to be awarded the Copper Mark, the copper industry’s new responsible production program.

To
be awarded the Copper Mark, Oyu Tolgoi has demonstrated that it meets
over 30 criteria for responsible environmental, social and governance
operating practices.

Oyu Tolgoi chief executive Armando Torres
said, “We are pleased to be among the first in the copper industry to
be awarded the Copper Mark, demonstrating our commitment to responsible
mining and transparency. We made this achievement together with all our
stakeholders and communities in Mongolia”

“We will continue
upholding the highest social and environmental standards and draw on the
advice of environmental experts and the communities in which we
operate.”

The
Copper Mark is the first and only program for responsible production of
the copper industry. Originally developed by the International Copper
Association with inputs from a broad range of stakeholders including
customers, NGOs and producers, the Copper Mark is now an independent
entity with a multi-stakeholder council.

As part of this
program, Oyu Tolgoi has also made a series of commitments about the way
it operates, how it contributes to Mongolia’s society and economy, and
how it manages environmental impacts. These commitments are underpinned
by a number of policies, procedures and an approach which recognises
that Oyu Tolgoi has a role to play in supporting the long-term
development of Mongolia and sustainable supply chains.

Note to editors:

What does The Copper Mark stand for?

The
Copper Mark stands for responsible production of copper. It is the
first and only comprehensive social and environmental assurance system
for copper, developed to demonstrate the industry’s responsible
production practices and contribution to the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goal 12 of sustainable production and consumption.

Who can participate in The Copper Mark?

The
Copper Mark is a voluntary program. Any copper producing site (mining,
smelting and / or refining) can participate in its assurance process.

What is the process to be awarded the Copper Mark?

Copper
producing sites participating in The Copper Mark are required to
implement and be assessed against a set of responsible production
criteria. The responsible production criteria are those defined in the
Risk Readiness Assessment created by the Responsible Minerals
Initiative.

You say the assessment is independent – who actually audits/certifies ?

Copper
producers’ conformance with the Copper Mark criteria is independently
verified by approved assessors. The entire assessment process is aligned
with ISO19011 Guidelines for Auditing Management Systems requirements.
We have engaged RCS Global Ltd., one of the approved assessor of Copper
Mark, to perform independent assurance audits.