QIT Madagascar Minerals

No. To enhance transparency and address community concerns, QMM commissioned international environmental experts JBS&G Australia Pty Ltd (JBS&G) to complete a comprehensive independent community study of radiation at QMM. The study concluded in September 2023 that there is no need for heightened health concerns around local radiation levels. 

The analysis received on the five cycles covering various seasons from November 2019 to October 2022 showed that local food sources, water, air and dust are safe from a radiological perspective.

The study is one of the most comprehensive of its type ever undertaken and was commissioned as one of a number of steps QMM is taking to reinforce international best practices and standards in monitoring its environmental impacts, and the impacts on host communities.

QMM’s water facilities meet the Rio Tinto internal Standards for Management of Tailings and Water Storage Facilities and Slope Geotechnical Hazards.

The integrity of the berm system in place is continuously checked and improved where necessary. Work is underway for QMM to comply with the GISTM standard by August 2025. 

In terms of non-compliant water, QMM has historically operated under a national decree exemption approved by the regulator that allowed the release of water into the receiving environment with a pH between 3.2 and 6. As of November 2020, the regulator required QMM to comply with the national decree for all surface water release, with a pH between 6 and 9. This triggered the need for QMM to install a water treatment plant to comply with the amended decree.  

In 2022, QMM commissioned a pilot water treatment plant that, combined with a polishing pond, allows the release of water that is compliant with pH and aluminium regulatory limits. The pilot will be expanded to a full-scale plant with the capacity to treat at a rate up to 1,500 m³/hr of water in 2024.

Following three cyclones and heavy rainfall in Fort Dauphin in early 2022, a controlled water release, authorised by the Malagasy regulator (ANDEA and Office National de l’Environnement), was carried out at QMM to mitigate against a possible breach of our dam infrastructure and an uncontrolled incident that could have significantly impacted the environment surrounding our operation. This release, whilst it minimised environmental risks, raised concerns from our host community members who witnessed fish deaths in the bodies of water surrounding the mine. 

Following these concerns, QMM, together with the regulator, undertook a series of water sample analyses, in addition to ongoing release water monitoring. These showed no significant change to the water quality in the receiving natural environment, and no conclusive link between our mine activities and the observed dead fish by community members.  

QMM commissioned a further study, led by the Water Research Group (WRG), an independent South African environmental research centre. The study looked at samples of fish, water and sediments collected at the same locations as the observed fish deaths, as well as other critical monitoring points. WRG concludes that the 2022 fish deaths are unlikely to be caused by any of the metals concentrations in fish. However, based on the available data, WRG were not able to identify the cause of the fish deaths.

WRG explains that fish deaths are usually determined to be the result of multiple factors and recommends additional monitoring and assessment be conducted in order to better understand aquatic life in the environment surrounding QMM’s operations.   

QMM has commissioned independent expert WSP Global Inc. to undertake a comprehensive receiving environment assessment. This will involve monitoring and assessment over multiple cycles to help to better understand the aquatic life and the environment surrounding our operations, and support further strengthening of QMM’s water management. We commit to keeping our key stakeholders informed on progress of the receiving environment assessment.

No. Water released by QMM has always been from the pre-approved (by the regulator) discharge point, with no released water leading into the ocean.

No. QMM is under the obligation to publish a report to its regulator, the Office National de l’Environnement (ONE), the content of which is discussed annually with the government monitoring committee. The ONE organises public sessions on key findings and recommendations. 

In addition, QMM has commissioned and published multiple studies that assess QMM’s potential impact on people and the environment, so far showing no concerns. These studies include the Water Report 2021-2023 and the previous Water Discharge Monitoring Data report (2015-2020).  

Beyond our Water Reports, we understand that we need to share information transparently with host communities so that they are aware of and understand our water management strategy and approach. To this end, the QMM social engagement team is adopting a process of co-design whereby community members are involved in identifying the most effective tools and strategies for communicating and discussing information related to water. Giving the community ownership of this process is crucial for building trust around our water management process.

Upstream of the Mandena mine, surface water does not meet the criteria for potable water and therefore QMM’s water treatment system does not aim to produce potable water either. Instead it aims to achieve regulatory criteria, so that should QMM need to release site water into the natural environment, the waterways downstream from the mine are of the same standard as those upstream and therefore not negatively affected by mining activity.

Putting this aside, we believe that access to safe and clean water is a fundamental human right. We are committed to playing our part in protecting water in and around our operations and helping host communities, including the people of Fort Dauphin, to have access to potable water.  

Beginning in 2021, we have invested to help the communities in the communes of Ampasy Nahampoana, Mandromondromotra, Andrakaraka and Emanaka receive infrastructure to access potable water, with the construction of the potable water stations for Mandromondromotra and Ampasy Nahampoana to be completed soon. We continue to make this a community development priority. 

In alignment with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), Rio Tinto has disclosed detailed information on global tailings facilities rated Very High or Extreme under GISTM classifications, with the highest potential consequences in the unlikely event of a failure. 

As QMM facilities, which are managed under the same commitments, are not classified as Very High or Extreme, they are scheduled to comply with GISTM by August 2025. 

The community tensions in Fort Dauphin in early 2022 were an aspect of a very challenging situation that required a rapid response from all parties. In addition to short-term measures taken by QMM to respond to the fishing ban, including emergency food deliveries to over 7,000 affected households, a tripartite process was initiated between the government, QMM and community representatives and led to an agreed community grievance process in May 2022.

A total of 8,778 claims were considered in the tripartite process, with over 5,000 eligible individuals receiving compensation from QMM by March 2023. Claimants were organised in three main categories: fisherfolk, natural resource users and land claimants. Compensation was agreed with claimant representatives, following a negotiation process, and based on the cumulative impact of QMM's operations for each specific group deemed eligible since operations began. Land claimants were deemed not eligible and managed by a separate process between the land claimants and the authorities. Compensation payments for eligible complainants were completed in March 2023. 

The process was voluntary and publicised within affected communities including on local radio. Negotiations took place with representatives of fisherfolk and natural resource users, in the presence of two observers and a jointly appointed mediator. The representatives of the various groups were to keep the communities informed of developments. Throughout the process, QMM made resources available to all parties to fund external experts.