FQM pledges environmentally responsible practices

FQM’s clinic at Kalumbila

First Quantum Minerals has pledged to maintain equilibrium in its environmental responsibility and social sustainability, while it adds value through the extraction of resources.

The copper mining firm has also reaffirmed its commitment to helping local communities and various levels of government enhance biodiversity protection, prevent the destruction of habitats and offer sustainable alternatives to the depletion of natural resources.

“We must protect nature; it offers us protection and resources. We must give back by protecting nature for us to continue enjoying natural services and products such as fresh air for breathing, clean water for drinking and good soil to grow our crops,” said FQM Kalumbila Minerals’ environmental manager Joseph Ngwira, speaking during the 2017 World Environment Day (WED) commemoration at Kisasa Market this week, which was held under the theme“Connecting People to Nature”.

“We must understand all the major elements of nature and how they relate with each other. And our values, our practices, our needs and our norms should align with the ability for nature to handle,” he said.

Through its subsidiary Kalumbila Minerals, the mining firm has also signed a forestry protection and conservation Memorandum of Understanding with the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources for the protection and managing of Bushingwe National Forest and Lualaba National Forest which share boundaries with the mine.

“We must give back by protecting nature for us to continue enjoying natural services and products such as fresh air for breathing, clean water for drinking and good soil to grow our crops,” said Ngwira.

A key outcome of the WED commemoration is that the community decided to form a Community Hygiene and Sanitation Committee that will oversee hygiene and sanitation around Kisasa community. A representative of Senior Chief Musele also requested for continuity of good waste management and thanked government for ensuring that such initiatives were being introduced in the area.

Ngwira requested community members to take leadership, specifically in hygiene and sanitation so that well-wishers who may wish to supplement can do so through an organised structure.

Ngwira further urged residents of Kisasa community to identify good practices that must be implemented with the aim of developing a sustainable relationship with nature.

“We all have a duty to care. When we observe practices that negatively affect nature in our community, we have a duty to speak out and condemn such practices. We have a duty to always stop and think about how we can do things different and share our views with others. By connecting with nature, we have a lot to gain but by steering away from nature, the natural resources and services we enjoy now will be taken away from us by nature,” he added.

The company is of the view that effective environmental management is its corporate priority and all the efforts in conservation are aimed at leaving a positive legacy, knowing that it has a duty to care.

The company ensures that all its subsidiaries and projects operate in a manner to protect the long-term wellbeing of the communities where it operates and in an environmentally sound manner. And this is achieved by monitoring of relevant environmental parameters to enable early detection of deviations from the environmental management system, as well as working with suppliers and contractors through development of contractual obligations to address indirect impacts associated with the company’s operations.