Duration: 2019 – 2020
Sustainability East Asia LLC (Sustainability) completed an independent Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (“ESIA”) for Erdene Mongol LLC’s (Erdene) 100%-owned, highgrade, open-pit Khundii Gold Project (“Project”) in southwest Mongolia.
The ESIA was prepared in accordance with the Performance Requirements of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (“EBRD”) by Sustainability, in consortium with Ramboll Australia Pty Ltd (“Ramboll”) and Eco Trade LLC (“Eco Trade”).
As the lead technical consultant Sustainability also oversaw the Mongolian statutory Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (DEIA), conducted by Eco Trade. Additional technical support in the areas of hydrology and waste management were provided by Ramboll.
ESIA Highlights
The ESIA adheres to the Performance Requirements of the EBRD, with due consideration for Mongolia’s statutory assessment requirements. The ESIA followed a comprehensive four-stage process, including impacts scoping, impacts assessment, development of impact mitigation measures, and consideration of cumulative impacts. The ESIA provides detailed background information, assessment, and management plan commitments of the Project in a comprehensive and transparent manner prior to the mine construction phase.
Impact domains considered include; (1) climate and air quality, (2) noise and vibration, (3) topography, landscape, geology, soils and seismicity, (4) water, (5) biodiversity conservation, (6) waste, (7) population and demography, (8) economy and employment, (9) land use, (10) cultural heritage, (11) occupational and community health, safety, and security, (12) transport and, (13) cumulative impacts.
Management commitments to ensure impacts are avoided or mitigated are included in the ESIA Management Plans, detailing Erdene’s commitment to develop and operate the Khundii Gold Project in accordance with leading industry practices, including the following:
Climate and air quality
- Site infrastructure design and layouts to reduce the risk of air quality to workers, and dust and traffic control measures, including performance provisions for all contractors.
Noise and vibration
- Equipment and facilities design and specifications to minimize noise and vibration.
Water resources
- Maximize water efficiency and re-use, targeting 80% water recovery within the processing plant.
- Participatory water monitoring with herders and local stakeholder groups.
- Ensure any existing seasonal water use in the vicinity of the Project site is reasonably maintained, including provision of reserve wells.
Biodiversity conservation
- Pre-disturbance site survey and ongoing monitoring of potential localized and indirect impacts to flora and fauna, including participatory monitoring.
Waste
- Engineered landfill, transfer station, and purpose-built wastewater treatment plant to maximize recycling and ensure safe disposal of non-hazardous waste.
- Manage mineral waste in an integrated waste facility (IWF) to contain filtered tailings within mine waste rock, reducing environmental risks during operations and closure and decreasing land disturbance.
Hazardous materials
- Commitment to adherence with the principles and guidance of the International Cyanide Management Code and applicable national requirements.
Contractor and procurement
- Long-standing commitment to good governance and ethical conduct, including in the screening and selection of suppliers and contractors.
- Local supplier development support, including assessment of local supply opportunities.
Crisis and emergency response
- Emergency medical facility on site, and ongoing readiness training for all staff and contractors.
Human resources
- Measures to minimize the risks of gender-based violence and harassment in the project impact area, including a policy of non-harassment and Code of Conduct for employees and contractors.
- Local hiring preference through on-the-job training and employment readiness support for qualifying local residents in the nearby sub-provincial centres.
Land use and livelihoods
- No registered herder shelters or existing structures directly within the Project mineral license areas.
- Commitments to identify and manage potential economic and/or nuisance affects with local herders through targeted measures in support of livelihoods and natural resource management.
Occupational and community health, safety, and security
- Strategic support for community health initiatives within the framework of Local Cooperation Agreements.
- Integrated site access and control systems to ensure safety and security.
Stakeholder engagement and communications
- Mutually agreed, accessible platforms for communication, building upon the Company’s commitment to stakeholder engagement and material information disclosure in both English and Mongolian languages.
- Feedback and engagement mechanisms, including for comments, recommendations, and grievances.
Local cooperation
- Maintain and expand partnerships with local stakeholders to support education, public health, livelihoods, and environmental management in the communities of Shinejinst, Bayan-Undur, and Bayankhongor aimag.
- Commitment to support needs-based, participatory planning and implementation of local cooperation efforts to maximize benefits, including support for cultural heritage.
Transport
- Pre-determination of all site and access routes, with vehicle tracking, monitoring and enforcement, including for contractors.
Land disturbance control and rehabilitation
- Monitoring through pre-disturbance survey and chance finds procedures.
- Planning for progressive rehabilitation, including trial cultivation of endemic plants.
Mine closure
- Conceptual closure objectives in place to ensure that planning and execution of mine closure are compliant with the Project standards and facilitate relinquishment of obligations in a timely fashion.
The ESIA Report and its Non-Technical Summary are available on Erdene’s website through the following links:
Considering the outcomes of the EBRD-compliant ESIA, the Mongolian statutory Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment (“DEIA”) for the Bayan Khundii deposit has been prepared by Eco Trade LLC in accordance with the applicable national standards.
Background on the Khundii Gold Project Development
Erdene’s deposits are located in the Edren Terrane, within the Central Asian Orogenic Belt, host to some of the world’s largest gold and copper-gold deposits. The Company has been the leader in exploration in southwest Mongolia over the past decade and is responsible for the discovery of the Khundii Gold District comprised of multiple high-grade gold and gold/base metal prospects, two of which are being considered for development: the 100%- owned Bayan Khundii and Altan Nar projects. Together, these deposits comprise the Khundii Gold Project.
