Environmental Management
Yamana’s Goal is to reduce the consumption of all natural resources by as much as 10 percent by 2010 from 2006 to 2010.
At Yamana, business and operational decisions are guided by concern for the natural environments in which we operate. Every project we work on has a direct connection to the environment, and every business decision incorporates and assesses Yamana’s environmental impact in a specific region.
In compliance with the Company’s Safety, Health, Environment & Community (SHEC) standards, mine sites and exploration projects are regularly evaluated by corporate inspections and audits. In 2008, ten inspections and audits were conducted at our Brazilian mining operations and eight at our mining operations in Argentina, Chile and Honduras. A further six inspections were conducted at our exploration projects in Mato Grosso, Goiás and Bahia in Brazil.
Environmental Initiatives Across Operations
At Yamana, we seek to design realistic environmental programs that minimize our impact while maximizing the sustainability of our environment for future generations. Exploring new programs to reduce our carbon footprint is always a priority. Yamana upholds best practices to manage environmental matters in compliance with local and international legislation.
Water & Air Monitoring
We have implemented a number of water saving, air monitoring, and protection initiatives at our operations including the Water Monitoring Program and Air Monitoring Program, which measure the quality of the surface water, groundwater, and air emissions sources at each of Yamana’s operations. Additionally, independent and certified laboratories collect and analyze water and air samples to ensure that quality controls are being met.
Water is an essential part of the mining process. As such, Yamana makes every effort to recycle - a common practice at all mines. In 2008, approximately 60 percent of the water used in the mining process was recycled. Year-over-year water consumption was reduced at, El Penon, San Andrés, São Francisco and Jacobina where consumption was dramatically reduced. The water consumed by the company is generally sourced from rivers groundwater, wells or underground mines and is also accumulated from rainwater in the tailings dams.
Yamana’s Air Monitoring Program measures the amount of particles generated in the mining process and seeks to minimize it. As a result of the implementation of water tank trucks and sprinklers we have successfully reduced the dust at our operations. Yamana remains committed to continuing to reduce water consumption and improving air quality at all operations.
Energy Consumption
Reducing our operational energy consumption continues to be a key goal. As part of SYG, Yamana remains focused on energy efficiency and at a majority of our operations hydroelectric is the main source of energy, which helps to support our effort of reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources.
Currently, 57 percent of the energy used at Yamana’s Brazilian operations comes from renewable sources, such as energy from hydroelectric and biofuel sources. The remaining 43 percent comes from non-renewable sources, such as diesel oil and thermoelectric.
Electric power is typically used to operate equipment in the processing plants. Diesel oil is used to power equipment, machinery and the ore hauling trucks.
This year was marked by the consolidation of the controls for electric power consumption at each mine. Some of the mines, including Fazenda Brasileiro, Jacobina, Chapada and Minera Florida, demonstrated year-over-year improvements in energy consumption rationalization.
Waste Management
Yamana’s Solid Waste Management Program was designed to promote separation, storage and safe transportation and disposal of waste and was introduced at all operations in 2008. Under this program, solid waste is safely separated and stored in a temporary waste warehouse at the mine site before being collected by a qualified company to recycle, process or dispose of it in adequate and licensed waste deposit. Most of the organic waste is transformed into fertilizer through a composting process and helps in the recovery process by fertilizing seedlings.
In 2008, an employee waste awareness campaign helped reduce waste by of approximately seven tonnes and became the model used to guide employee awareness campaigns at all of Yamana’s mining operations.
Protecting Biodiversity
Protecting biodiversity is also an important goal for Yamana. At Minera Florida in Chile, a biodiversity program was developed focusing on reforestation, soil improvement, native tree nurseries and the production of honey. At Chapada in Brazil, mine tailings are being tested to be used as fertilizers to enhance the area’s agricultural system.
Yamana is committed to a public/private sector program called Biodiversity Preservation in Cantillana Chile and is focused on the reforestation of the Chilean Wine Palm which once covered the area. In 2004, 8.7 hectares of Chilean Wine Palm were planted at Minera Florida and a nursery was constructed to house 90,000 seedlings. Of the 90,000 seedlings, 50,000 will be ready for planting over the next three years. Yamana’s goal is to plant an additional 700 hectares over the next 10 years.
Sustainability for the Future: Yamana’s Goals
Yamana knows that protecting the environment requires an ongoing investment. As a result, we are improving the environmental audit program through a collaborative process integrated with the management review. We are also looking at how to reduce the impact and costs of solid waste management. In short, no measure is considered too small. The cumulative effect goes towards reducing our impact on the planet.
Cut 10% by 2010 (based on 2007 results)
• Reduce fossil fuel consumption 10% by 2010
• Reduce solid waste generation 10% by 2010
• Reduce fresh water consumption 10% by 2010
• Reduce power consumption 10% by 2010
Yamana is focused on being a positive steward for finite natural resource management and continues to evolve our sustainability policies, best practices and programs.