Yanacocha Receives ISO 14001 Certification

Minera Yanacocha, South America’s largest gold mine, recently became the first major mining project in Peru and one of the largest in the world to receive ISO 14001 certification for its entire operation. Although other mines in Peru and around the globe are ISO 14001 certified for certain functions and processes, Yanacocha is the first large-scale mining operation (more than 12,000 workers) in the country and probably one of the first in the world to have all aspects of the mine certified under the international standard. ISO 14001 is overseen by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), whose purpose is to set the requirements for companies and organizations to ensure continuous improvement in environmental management.

Newmont Mining holds a 51.35% ownership interest, with the Peruvian mining firm, Compania de Minas Buenaventura S.A.A owning 43.65%. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank, holds the remaining 5%. Newmont began exploring in Peru in 1982 and identified the first of many deposits at Yanacocha in 1986. Production began in late 1993.

Bureau Veritas Certificación was in charge of the certification process, which lasted approximately two months, and included audits of each facet of Yanacocha’s operation. Upon verifying compliance with ISO 14001 standard requirements, Yanacocha received three certificates from each of the certifying companies accredited by Bureau Veritas Certificación: UKAS from United Kingdom, ANAB from United States, and TGA from Germany. In order to maintain the certification, Yanacocha will be audited four times over the next two years. In addition, as part of routine environmental performance follow-up, regular environmental inspections scheduled by Osinergmin (Supervisory Organization of investment in Energy and Mining) will be exercised.

As featured in Womp 08 Vol 4 - www.womp-int.com