Sustainability

Sinosteel Midwest recognises that as a mining company, we have a responsibility to manage our operations in a sustainable manner – so what does this mean? We look at the resources that we mine as ‘endowment assets’, meaning that if we mine and convert iron ore to steel products, then the benefits that come from that transaction need to be shared between the company, the State and local and Indigenous communities. Importantly, we aim for these benefits to be permanent, so that a positive impact remains well after we complete mining and rehabilitation. We believe this is not just good corporate citizenship, but also good business.

As Sinosteel Midwest’s parent company, Sinosteel Corporation has won respect and trust internationally for its socially responsible approach to operations. Across its global enterprises, Sinosteel Corporation adheres to effective governance systems covering management of safety, health, risks, environmental protection, culture and communities.

Through our Core Principles Sinosteel Midwest reflects this commitment to sustainability principles, stating that we will proactively manage social responsibility by:

• minimising adverse impact by meeting or exceeding environmental obligations
• partnering with our local communities, Indigenous groups and government

To download a copy of Sinosteel Corporation’s Sustainability Report on its Australian enterprises - including Sinosteel Midwest - click here.

Case Study 1: Environmental Offsets

Sinosteel Midwest’s Koolanooka / Blue Hills project has extremely low impact on the environment as it mainly involves working in or expanding open pits previously mined by Western Mining in the 1960s.

As part of the company’s commitment to the preservation of the environment of the Mid West region, the project will also surrender 5170 hectares and a 20km length of environmentally important banded iron formation ridge to the government for use as a fauna and flora reserve. The ratio of area of conservation to that impacted by mining and immediate operations of the project is 75:1, higher than any other exchange ration recorded at a comparable project previously (normally the ration is 3:1 to 5:1).

In addition, Sinosteel Midwest plans to set aside a piece of land in the Koolanooka area for conservation of habitat for important wildlife. These offsets and the subsequent rehabilitation of the mined area will result in a net environmental benefit to the region.

Case Study 2: Protecting native flora & fauna – Shield-back Spiders

In early 2009, Sinosteel Midwest implemented a comprehensive program to survey and protect the habitat of the shield-back spider. The company marked out the distribution area of these spiders with brightly coloured flags so as to remind personnel of the need to take care. A buffer zone of 25 metres is in place around shield-back spider habitats and extensive surveys to document the population and distribution of these creatures is ongoing.

Case Study 3: Local Employment

Even before its acquisition by Sinosteel Corporation in 2008, Sinosteel Midwest has had a strong policy of sourcing employees locally. The company has six Chinese expatriate managers, but directly employs about 75 local employees, with an additional 210 on-site mining and exploration workers. This, in turn, creates opportunities and additional employment in the local communities in which we operate. We expect that as the company’s project move from exploration to operational mining, there will be large scale job creation up to 1500 workers at our Weld Range project alone, and over 3000 jobs overall.

Case Study 4: Engagement with Indigenous groups

Sinosteel Midwest actively supports the Jidi Jidi Aboriginal Community at Robinson Range. The company has provided funds to employ local Aboriginal people who have established an office and a series of programs to support and assist the Jidi Jidi people to be ready for the work opportunities that Sinosteel Midwest hopes to bring to the area. Sinosteel Midwest has donated furniture and equipment to help run this office, and contributes to the salary of an Aboriginal executive who works to represent the interests of her community.