MINING CONSULTANTS
The mine rehabilitation and closure piece of the ESG market is set to grow , according to RPMGlobal ’ s Ngaire Tranter . Pictured is an open-pit coal mine partially restored in the province of Leon , northwest Spain
next quarter or even what might be happening in 20 years ’ time . For things like groundwater models , we are looking to when these levels may reach a quasi-equilibrium . This involves looking out plus-900 years in some cases .”
Not only is RPMGlobal equipped with the tools and models to take a long-term view that can be trusted by mining customers , it is also able to present the results in a way that everyone can understand , according to Tranter .
“ Miners inherently want to do the right thing , even if the perception in certain quarters does not align with this fact ,” she said . “ We are able to convey ESG considerations effectively to these companies by putting them in financial metrics everyone can understand .
“ We provide a financial trade-off that allows companies to make an informed business decision about the decision to pursue or avoid a particular aspect of a project .”
This is increasingly important in a market where the legislation and regulations governing mining companies changes from region to region , as does the expectations of communities and stakeholders .
Doing the right thing by the law may not always be viewed as ‘ the right thing ’ by stakeholders .
“ Back when I started over 15 years ago , ESG was just about doing the bare minimum to move the project forward ,” Tranter said . “ People now recognise the importance of corporate reputational risk and the implications of not doing the right thing .”
RPMGlobal ’ s ESG practice continues to use baselines such as the Equator Principles and the International Finance Corp ’ s Sustainability Policies and Standards to provide the required transparency miners need to do business in major markets and to access capital , but the company is aware and conscious that the sector is continuing to evolve .
“ In Australia , for example , a company is currently going through the court system for its ‘ net zero ’ claims ’,” Tranter said . “ The way the world has shifted in terms of transparency means there are great examples all over the world for us to advise our clients on .”
It isn ’ t all ‘ defensive ’ ESG work in RPMGlobal ’ s wheelhouse , with the company often providing ESG input for due diligence work related to M & A as well as lenders engineering services for mining and downstream mineral processing projects .
“ ESG is a significant piece in the due diligence phase of M & A ,” Tranter said . “ It ’ s often about a company ’ s appetite for risk . A smaller entity , for instance , might have a greater appetite for risk based on an established reputation they think can be used to approach the same asset in a different way .”
Such a reputation could be used to tackle tailings projects that come with legacy ESG issues – assets that will most likely get a second look in the future when commodities such as copper , nickel , etc become scarcer .
“ In Australia , there are some fantastic opportunities where companies could gain revenue and value by picking up those legacy assets and remedying some of those ESG issues ,” Tranter said . “ As long as people understand the risks associated with what they are buying , then it is fair game .
“ We at RPMGlobal are there to convey those risks clearly to the industry .”
Implementing ESG strategies
Wayne Peel , General Manager Energy & Resources , Australia , recently joined Stantec from Engenium . He recognises the benefits that come with an established ESG reputation given many of the clients he deals with are typically blue-chip organisations with strong corporate governance .
At the same time , he is aware that gaining and retaining this reputation requires constant attention , with the sector currently engaged in transitioning its
sites away from fossil fuels and further investing in mine rehabilitation and mine closure practices .
Renewable energy integration is a consulting area Peel sees a lot of industry interest in .
“ It includes advisory services for carbon reduction strategies , the development of renewable energy transition plans , as well as engineering and project management services for the design and execution of those strategies and plans ,” he told IM .
The company ’ s efforts to tackle this industry brief have been bolstered recently with the acquisition of Engenium , a project delivery consultancy specialising in mining , resources and industrial infrastructure projects .
Based in Australia , Engenium has been involved in some major mine decarbonisation developments in the country , including solar integration projects for BHP Nickel West , and the Alinta Energy Chichester Solar / Gas Hybrid Energy Project in the Pilbara region for Fortescue Metals Group .
Peel said Engenium ’ s “ complementary skillset , size and reputation ” is a great match for Stantec and is already contributing to the sustainability and growth of its existing business in Australia and beyond .
“ One of the things that made acquiring Engenium attractive to Stantec was their experience helping large-scale mining clients implement clean energy into their operations ,” he said . “ This includes solar power , battery energy systems , steam regeneration , wind and other renewable energy sources .”
Such expertise is highly sought after in the mining space , according to Peel , who mentioned that financiers and corporate banks are stipulating ESG requirements as a condition of project funding .
“ This has strongly influenced how miners
An important part of ESG is optimising efficiency on mine sites . Stantec designed this tailings facility ( pictured ) for a limited footprint at a mine in Peru
OCTOBER 2021 | International Mining 57