Kazakh miners plan to “go green”

Kazakh miners plan to embark on a journey towards greater sustainability by implementing Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) principles in the mining sector. In order to do so, a cooperation agreement was signed between the AIFC Green Finance Center and Mining Technologies Company LLP – a nickel and cobalt ore mining company. The agreement was signed on January 12 in Astana with Aidar Kazybaev, General Director of the AIFC Green Finance Center and Yerlan Idrisov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mining Technologies Company LLP. The aim of this agreement is to develop a strategy, projects and ESG standards for Kazakhstani mining companies to follow. As mentioned by Yerlan Idrisov at the signing ceremony, Mining Technologies Company is keen to actively collaborate with the Green Finance Center and join the National ESG Club which seeks to promote sustainability principles among enterprises in Kazakhstan since July 2022. In order to effectively reduce negative environmental impacts during ore extraction operations, Mining Technologies Company LLP will implement In–situ recovery or borehole underground leaching technologies instead of traditional open pit or underground mining methods. This process involves pumping various solvents into mineral deposits through wells – as opposed to excavation – which dramatically reduces both costs and harm caused by mining activities.