Fulfilling their commitment to the principles of environmentally sound sustainable development and good corporate citizenship is a key measure for a lead/zinc mine in the Kyzyl-Orda Region of Kazakhstan, a project supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) who serve 65 countries from five continents plus the European Union.

The EBRD Performance Requirements mandate the minimum environmental and social performance expected from funded Projects who in turn develop environmental and social impact assessments, action plans and management plans which are subsequently made publically available during a disclosure period.

Sustainability is contracted to assist with a critical review of the environmental and social impact assessment plans and processes that had been developed for the Project.  This environmental and social review was conducted to ensure that the information and methodology used in the environmental and social impact assessment conformed to the EBRD’s Performance Requirements.

Lead by Senior Environmental Specialist Marc Barendrecht, Sustainability’s environmental and social specialists conducted the review, which included a site inspection, interviews with site personnel and a review of operational documentation.  The outcomes of this work allowed the EBRD to determine the level of effort needed to achieve compliance with their environmental and social Performance Requirements. This review also focussed on the Equator Principles and the ability of the Project to meet these standards.

Sustainability has substantial experience working with international environmental and social performance requirements of financial lending institutions including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Our assessment of the Project allowed the EBRD to make an informed decision of the risks and benefits associated with providing financial assistance to the Shalkiya Zinc project.