COUNTRY IN FOCUS • transitioning to this new standard, as we have already worked extensively with clients across a range of other mining standards and regulatory compliance.”
Focus on ESG
Its granular approach with a three-tier performance structure facilitates an entry at a basic level, with gradual movement towards the higher levels.
Anne Gimonet, principal consultant in ESG and land contamination in SRK China, pointed out the steady movement towards greater transparency in ESG disclosure in many countries, including China. In 2024 alone, for instance, there were two groundbreaking shifts affecting Chinese listed companies. The country’ s three major stock exchanges announced new sustainability reporting guidelines on topics like carbon emissions and pollution control and these will kick in as early as 2026. 5 More recently, China released a new set of reporting standards for general industry, including mining, for compliance by 2030.
“ The major listed mining companies in China are therefore alive to the evolving ESG requirements and standards, and are preparing to comply with these,” said Gimonet.“ It is also clear that these national standards are being aligned to international benchmarks in the mining sector.” themes and linkages to the new unified standard.”
Gimonet said the new standard will be applied at facility level rather than corporate, allowing companies to begin the enrolment process with just one of their facilities. Its granular approach with a threetier performance structure facilitates an entry at a basic level, with gradual movement towards the higher levels.
“ The compliance process is also streamlined by the use of an equivalency assessment for companies who are already certified with the TSM or Copper Mark, for example,” she said.“ This makes it possible to recognise the progress that companies have achieved to date, so they do not have to start from scratch.”
Standards always evolving SRK South Africa chair Vis Reddy – who is also the Africa lead for SRK Global – highlighted that standards in mining were constantly evolving, whether they related to tailings management, ESG or resource and reserve reporting.“ Mining companies therefore have to be regularly revisiting their policies and systems, and growing their capabilities as the bar is raised further,” said Reddy.
It is expected that the broad adoption of the new unified standard would give it the widest coverage of any voluntary mining standard to date. It is likely to be embraced by almost 100 mining companies across about 600 facilities in around 60 countries. Per the ICMM, with around 25 000 mining companies globally – and many more in the mineral and metals value chains – the majority still do not follow any standards.“ The complexity of overlapping standards is a significant barrier, particularly for smaller producers who are unsure which standards to adopt or how to implement them.
While it may be early days for many mining companies’ engagement with the CMSI itself, she emphasised that Chinese clients operating in countries like the DRC were very interested in the new Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee( JORC) 6 Code of 2025 7 – especially with its ESG component. This code regulates how exploration results, mineral resources and ore reserves are publicly reported in the mining industry; a revised version expected to be finalised and implemented this year.
Preparing the way“ In preparation for the new consolidated standard, SRK has been actively engaging in the CMSI consultation process, including the workshops that are being regularly held,” she explained.“ We will therefore be ready when our clients are, to help them make the transition. It is also very useful that we have been involved in all the existing mining standards that are in effect globally, so we understand the
Dominique Sambwa, chair of SRK Congo.
Frank Li, principal geologist in SRK’ s Beijing practice.
“ Simplifying and harmonising standards, while raising requirements, is critical.”
Having moved quite quickly from a state-controlled mining industry to one that encourages private investment, the DRC has been developing its local legislation
Anne Gimonet, principal consultant in ESG and land contamination in SRK China.
SRK South Africa chair Vis Reddy. www. africanmining. co. za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • June 2025 • 13