Centerra is committed to managing the different streams of waste that our operations produce. We incorporate reduce, reuse and recycling concepts into our plans and practices related to waste. We are also committed to managing air pollutants released through our operations.
As a signatory to the ICMC, Öksüt successfully completed stage 1 and 2 of its environmental and safety management systems (ISO 14001 & ISO 45001) audit.
In 2022, the amount of waste generated and the total volume of waste landfilled (on- and off-site) at Mount Milligan decreased compared to 2021.
We have strict protocols and standards in place for managing hazardous materials during transportation, use and disposal to ensure that we minimize potential negative impacts to our employees, the environment, and project-affected communities.
At Öksüt, non-hazardous wastes are temporarily stored on site in designated temporary storage areas and then disposed of off-site by a licensed contractor. In December 2020, Öksüt was issued a Zero Waste Certificate by the Ministry of Environment and Urban Planning (MoEU). Turkey’s Zero Waste Regulation requires companies to develop zero waste management systems aimed at proper waste separation and prevention and reduction of waste generation. There are four different zero waste certificates that are prescribed in the regulation.
Mineral Processing Waste
As part of the mining cycle, waste materials are generated. These include mined rock, overburden materials (excluding topsoil), exhausted heap leach piles and tailings.
Our sites have areas designated for storing stockpiled ore (gold bearing rock) and mined rock. At Mount Milligan, non-acid generating (NAG) waste rock is used to construct roads and for part of the outer slopes of the tailings storage facility. Alternatively, at Öksüt, a heap leach pad has been built that will be stacked with ore over the mine life. All facilities and mined materials are routinely monitored for their potential impact on the environment.
To ensure the stability of our rock dumps, we undertake general monitoring activities, which include the installation and monitoring of prisms and piezometers as well as regular visual inspections by site personnel.
Tailings Management
Centerra’s tailings storage facilities (TSFs) are actively managed to maintain structural performance, to protect the environment and to ensure the health and safety of employees and the public.
Centerra’s TSFs have all been designed by professional engineers and are constructed, operated, and monitored under the guidance of an external engineer of record (EoR).
Centerra has developed a five-step TSF management process that is applied and monitored at each site it owns or operates. These systems and procedures are part of Centerra’s proactive approach to tailings management.
Centerra’s formed TSF Steering Committee proposed a new project to implement a comprehensive risk management framework to capture and document key components of how risk is managed at each of our tailing facilities.
Cyanide Management
Centerra is a signatory of the International Cyanide Management Code (the Cyanide Code or ICMI). The Cyanide Code focuses exclusively on the safe management of cyanide that is produced, transported, and used for the recovery of gold and silver. Certification under the Cyanide Code includes requirements related to financial assurance, accident prevention, emergency response, training, public reporting, stakeholder involvement and verification procedures.
As a signatory to the ICMC, Öksüt successfully completed stage 1 and stage 2 of its environmental and safety management systems (ISO 14001 & ISO 45001) audit in 2021. After receiving the related certificates and flags, Öksüt is working towards ICMC certification by the end of 2023.
Air Quality
Our teams continuously monitor for the potential impacts of our operations and activities on air quality. We understand the detrimental impacts that air pollution can have on human health and ecosystems, and work to actively mitigate these risks.
Fugitive dust control and mitigation measures may include road and stockpile watering; ambient air monitoring such as meteorological monitoring, dust fall monitoring and fine particulate monitoring; use of dust control agents; and revegetation of disturbed or exposed areas.
Dust suppression watering is the primary control and mitigation of fugitive dust for on-site roadways. In 2022, water at Mount Milligan Mine was regularly drawn from the tailing storage facility (TSF) and applied to haul roads within the TSF footprint on an as needed basis. At our Öksüt Mine, we have implemented appropriate control measures wherever the potential for fugitive dust generation is significant, including soil stockpiles and highly trafficked roads, and especially for activities near sensitive receptors.