QIT Madagascar Minerals

In response to CSOs concerns, in 2019, QMM commissioned JBS&G to conduct an independent study on radiation around its mine over a period of four-season cycles. The analysis received on the four cycles showed no measurable impacts to human beings or the environment via vectors such as water, food, dust or soil.

Further samples were taken in October 2022 to strengthen the study. The full study is expected to be completed towards mid-2023, after cross-examination by the regulator.

QMM has made significant progress on strengthening its water management, with the support of its Water Technical Panel. In 2022, QMM commissioned a water treatment plant that, combined with a polishing pond, allowed us to release water that is compliant with pH and Al regulatory limits. The plant, which will be expanded, has been approved by the regulator. The final expanded solution will undergo Environment Impact Assessment in accordance with international standards.

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

Following three cyclones and extreme rain fall 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 link between our mine activities and the observations of dead fish made by community members.

In line with our commitment to impeccable Environmental, Social and Governance credentials, a further study, led by South African environmental research centre, Water Research Group (WRG), was commissioned by QMM. This study, which investigated the cause of the fish death phenomena, analysed a series of fish, water and sediments samples collected from the same location as the deaths as well as other critical monitoring points.

The Study will be completed in the coming months, and, from the preliminary results, the Water Research Group concludes that:

• Only a small number of exceedances were found in water samples collected at the regulated discharge point (site level). QMM is currently investing in an expanded water treatment plant to mitigate this
• There were no exceedances of metals concentration thresholds found near the location where the fish deaths occurred
• No toxicity thresholds in exceedance were found in sediments

With these preliminary findings, the WRG report concludes that the 2022 fish deaths are unlikely to be caused by any of the metals concentrations in fish.

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.

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 multiple studies that assess QMM’s potential impact on people and the environment, so far showing no concerns. These studies include:

• A 2021 QMM Water Discharge Monitoring Data report
• Summary reports of the 2022 minor water incidents investigations
• A radiation study by expert JBS&G, that will be finalised in the summer of 2023
• In 2022, a fish study by the Water Research Group that will be finalised in the coming months. Preliminary results from the study conclude that the 2022 fish deaths are unlikely to have been caused by metal concentration in the fish

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.

However, we believe that access to fresh water is a fundamental right. To support this, in partnership with the Government of Madagascar and the World Bank, we have significantly contributed to the improvement of water facilities for the people of Fort Dauphin since 2006. For instance:

• New potable water infrastructure: Andrakaraka, and three other stations being built
• Rehabilitation of Fort Dauphin’s water treatment plant (JIRAMA) and its piping system
• Rehabilitation of water caption zone
• Improvement of water facilities for the people of Fort Dauphin and communities around the mine since 2006

Rio Tinto is committed to implementing the GISTM for its existing and future facilities. As per GISTM guidance, a review by an independent design engineer established that QMM’s facilities were classified as neither ‘extreme’ nor ‘very high’ in terms of consequence potential. As such, full compliance for QMM is targeted for August 2025.

Currently, QMM manages process water and facilities under the Rio Tinto internal Standards for Management of Tailings and Water Storage Facilities and Slope Geotechnical Hazards, and we recognise that compliance with GISTM (which work is underway to achieve) will take QMM a step further.