Life of an operation

The life of the operation is usually at least 40 years.  It can take as much as 10 years from the beginning of exploration through to the evaluation of a deposit and then on to the development of a mine. Then mining the ore and processing the minerals at both our managed and non managed operations may last for a generation. 

This means that all our operations are major undertakings that require us to make a huge commitment to the area, in terms of investing in the community and the land.

How we develop a mine

The first stage of all our projects is exploration, and this process includes us talking to the local community, outside experts and NGOs about the social, economic and environmental needs of the area. We respect indigenous cultures and so also work cooperatively with those who may have prior rights to the land stretching back for thousands of years.

It is only after that stage is completed that the real exploration work can begin. And although we use the very latest technology, and can spend millions of dollars, it is still a very uncertain business - only one in 350 prospects results in a viable mine.  That is why we have strict guidelines in place for the evaluation of projects.

But once we are satisfied that a mine would be viable, the planning and construction begins.  We then appoint our suppliers, following guidelines for local procurement. And it is also at this stage that we start developing our closure plans, so that we will eventually close down the mine in a safe and socially aware way.

Often, before the mine complex can be constructed and equipped, roads, railways and houses may need to be built, and electricity and water supplies installed. Only after that, a vast array of machines, equipment and people is assembled and the operation is commissioned.

Finally, when the operation is reaching the end of its life, we close it safely and rehabilitate the land, often restoring such natural biodiversity to the area that you would never know that a mine had once been there.