our role in the global community

Xstrata plays an active role in a number of significant national and international industry associations, through membership, funding, provision of expertise and participation in committees, working groups and research projects. These include:

Australian Minerals Industry Cooperation Initiative (MICI): Xstrata Coal is a founding sponsor of MICI, which was established to provide a set of valuable national industry resources to assist all operations with the management of safety and health risks in the Australian minerals industry.

COAL21: An initiative of the Australian Coal Association, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that arise from the use of coal in power generation in Australia. Xstrata Coal is a participant in the collaborative programme which involves the coal industry, electricity industry, federal and state governments and research organisations. A national action plan has been developed by COAL21 to improve the level of awareness and understanding of key technologies and issues surrounding energy and greenhouse gas.

The Coal Industry Advisory Board (CIAB): Established by the International Energy Agency, the CIAB is a group of high-level executives from coal-related industrial enterprises which provides advice on a wide range of issues relating to coal. Xstrata Coal is one of 39 members from 16 countries accounting for about 75% of world coal production.

CoalTech 2020, South Africa: Xstrata Coal in South Africa is a member of the CoalTech 2020 initiative which allocates funds to research topics relevant to the coal industry. Some of the current research projects include the identification and quantification of greenhouse gas emissions and water treatment processes.

The Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR): COALAR aims to influence corporate Australia to assist in developing government policies to enhance Australia's economic, political and social relations with the Latin American region. Xstrata Copper Chief Executive Charlie Sartain is a council member.

The European Association of Non-ferrous Metals (EUROMETAUX): The Association plans, co-ordinates and conducts activities that will build a sustainable future for non-ferrous metals and for the non-ferrous metals industry.

Ferroalloy Producers Association (FAPA): The FAPA has recently completed a project modelling the air dispersion of hexavalent chromium from ferrochrome smelters. All ferroalloy producers in South Africa are members of FAPA and Xstrata is a major contributor to projects initiated by the body.

Global Business Coalition (GBC): An alliance of over 180 international companies dedicated to combating the human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) epidemic (see HIV/AIDS section in the Health chapter).

HIV/AIDS Powerbelt Initiative: A collaborative effort between coal mining companies and others seeking to implement sustainable long-term initiatives focused on managing and preventing the spread and transmission of HIV/AIDS within the community (see HIV/AIDS section in the Health chapter).

The International Copper Association (ICA): The leading organisation for promoting the use of copper worldwide. ICA increases awareness and usage of copper and is responsible for guiding policy, strategy, and funding international initiatives and promotional activities.

The International Zinc Association (IZA): The IZA plans, coordinates and conducts activities that will build a sustainable future for zinc and for the zinc industry, including exploring and progressing the sustainability of the zinc industry and the contribution of zinc products to sustainable development, raising demand growth from the 40-year (1960-2000) trend of 2% per year to 4% per year, facilitating dialogue with industry stakeholders, and fostering and communicating a full understanding of zinc's role in the environment.

The International Lead Zinc Research Organization (ILZRO): A sister organisation of the IZA which carries out research in a range of fields, including health, the environment and sustainable development.

The International Chromium Development Association (ICDA): An international, not-for-profit organisation established in Paris, France, to promote and support the chromium industry world-wide through communication, industry forums and specific research and development projects. It is internationally renowned for the quality of its data.

Portrait of Xstrata Copper Ernest Henry Mine Engineer Chris Chung

Xstrata Copper Ernest Henry
Mine Engineer Chris Chung

Portrait of Daniel Kekana, Xstrata Alloys training co-ordinator at Thorncliffe mine, South Africa

Daniel Kekana, Xstrata Alloys training
co-ordinator at Thorncliffe mine, South Africa

Portrait of Alaine Callen, safety co-ordinator at United underground coal mine, NSW

Alaine Callen, safety co-ordinator at United
underground coal mine, NSW

Deon du Preez, Managing Director of Xstrata Alloys' chrome division, is the ICDA President and Willie Gericke, Xstrata Alloys General Manager Risk, has represented Xstrata on the ICDA's Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Committee for the past 10 years, including a period as chairman. Major research projects driven by the committee (and sponsored by Xstrata Alloys) include:

  • a human risk assessment of trivalent and metallic chromium in anticipation of the European Commission's registration, evaluation, authorisation of chemicals (REACH) programme, which is being undertaken by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health on behalf of ICDA;
  • an environmental risk assessment of trivalent chromium and compounds conducted by European Centre for Risk Assessment (EURAS) and Environmental Consultancy and Assistance (ECOLAS) in conjunction with the University of Ghent in Belgium; and
  • updating the life cycle inventory and assessment (LCI/LCA) for chromium, which is being undertaken in conjunction with the Nickel Institute and International Molybdenum Association (IMOA) and provides data for a global stainless steel LCI/LCA, which is being conducted by the International Stainless Steel Forum (ISSF).

The Lead Development Association International (LDAI): The LDAI represents companies and associations which are concerned with the safe production, use and disposal of lead and lead products. With 50 years' experience behind the LDAI, it acts as a trade association for those involved in the lead industry, representing its members at UK, European and international levels.

Minerals Council of Australia (MCA): The MCA addresses key issues of sustainability, including environmental stewardship and community engagement. In 2004, the MCA launched its 'Enduring Value' programme which has been developed around the International Council of Mining and Minerals' (ICMM) principles on sustainable development. Xstrata has signed up to 'Enduring Value' and is represented on the Safety and Health and Environment and Social committees which develop initiatives for the industry such as the greenhouse advisory group and the environmental practices task force. As part of this commitment, Xstrata's Australian operations will produce site level sustainability reports. Peter Coates, Chief Executive Xstrata Coal, is Vice Chairman of the MCA and various senior Xstrata executives are represented on the MCA's standing committees.

North West Province Air Pollution Control Forum (NAPCOF): NAPCOF comprises most industries in the north west Province of South Africa and has a vision for the province to be known as 'the clean air province'. NAPCOF shares information through regular meetings, plant visits and lectures by industry experts. Xstrata Alloys is an active member of NAPCOF.

NSW Minerals Council (NSWMC): Within its diverse portfolio, the council addresses sustainability issues. Peter Coates, Xstrata Coal Chief Executive, is a member of the NSWMC Board and Executive Committee, Colin Whyte, GM Sustainable Development and Mick Buffier, Chief Operating Officer Xstrata Coal New South Wales, are representatives of the Executive Committee. Other senior Xstrata Coal managers are members of various NSWMC committees. The NSWMC is the peak organisation for the mining industry in New South Wales. Last year, Xstrata made an active contribution to the development of New South Wales' coal mining legislation through its participation in the NSWMC's Coal Safety Advisory Committee.

The North German Metals Professional Association (Norddeutsche Metall-Berufsgenossenschaft): The association is the responsible body for the mandatory insurance for industrial accidents and occupational diseases. It is focused on preparing general rules for labour safety, providing training courses, organising information exchange and assisting companies in all labour safety-specific matters.

Queensland Resources Council (QRC): The QRC is the peak organisation for the mining industry in Queensland. Xstrata Copper Chief Executive Charlie Sartain is a vice president of the QRC and Xstrata Coal Chief Executive Peter Coates is a director. Xstrata Copper and Xstrata Coal's representatives serve on the environment committee and strategic advisory group. Xstrata Coal Queensland Chief Operating Officer Ian Cribb is a member of the Industry Coal Mining Safety and Health Advisory Council. He also represents the QRC as a member of the government-sponsored steering committee responsible for overseeing a study into the effectiveness of the Queensland Mines Inspectorate.

Safety, Health and Environment Committee of South African Vanadium Producers (SHEVAN): SHEVAN was established four years ago to co-ordinate health, safety and environment projects for South Africa's vanadium producers. Xstrata Alloys plays an important role in SHEVAN, which is chaired by Willie Gericke, GM Risk, with Xstrata's senior environmental manager for the vanadium business, Dewald Steyn, as secretary. One of SHEVAN's major projects has been determining the feasibility of a retrospective epidemiological study on lung carcinogenesis compared with exposure to vanadium pentoxide. The importance of this project was recognised when it was elevated to the international level through its 'adoption' and funding by Vanitec, the Vanadium International Technical Committee.

Vanadium International Technical Committee (Vanitec): Vanitec's objective is to promote the use and applications of vanadium worldwide. Vanitec has recently established a health, safety and environment sub-committee, chaired by Xstrata Alloys GM Risk, Willie Gericke. Major initiatives include the pilot study on carcinogenesis mentioned above.

World Coal Institute (WCI): Based in London, the WCI is a non-profit, non-governmental association of coal producers and coal consumers – the only international body working on a world-wide basis on behalf of the coal industry. The environment is an important issue for the coal industry and WCI plays a key role in education and awareness about clean coal technology, the role of coal and sustainable development. Xstrata Coal is a member of the WCI.

Research

Xstrata also contributes to a range of research projects through funding as well as the provision of technical expertise and trial sites. In Australia, Xstrata contributes five cents per tonne of saleable coal to the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP), along with all black coal producers. ACARP's mission is to research, develop and demonstrate technologies that lead to the safe, sustainable production and utilisation of coal. The programme supports projects on greenhouse gas mitigation, environment, rehabilitation of mined land, community concerns and land access.

Other research projects that Xstrata contributed to in 2004 include:

  • testing vehicle stability of Oaky Creek mine's diesel fleet in Australia (see Safety chapter);
  • an aging workforce study through the Queensland University of Technology in Australia (see Health chapter);
  • the supply of information and data to assist the progress of the voluntary risk assessment for lead in Europe (see Health chapter);
  • real-time dust monitoring in Australia (see Health chapter);
  • the development of an underground diesel operation standard and remote control operational systems in Australia (see Health chapter);
  • water treatment processes and the identification and quantification of greenhouse gas emissions through CoalTech in South Africa (see Environment chapter);
  • carbon capture and storage programme through the Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) for Greenhouse Gas Technologies in Australia (see Environment chapter);
  • clean coal technologies through the CRC for Coal in Sustainable Development in Australia (see Environment chapter);
  • researching the suitability of local plant species for use in tailings dam rehabilitation at the Alumbrera mine in Argentina, in partnership with the University of Tucum…n Botany Institute (see Biodiversity section);
  • the effect of vanadium on the local environment through the University of Pretoria in South Africa.