SUSTAINABILITY
Committed To Responsible Mining Practices That Prioritise The Environment, Community Engagement, And Ethical Sourcing Of Minerals
SUSTAINABLE & ESG-DRIVEN
Sustainability is a vital element of Sovereign’s strategy for Kasiya.
The company is committed to making informed choices that improve our corporate governance, financial strength, operational efficiency, environmental stewardship, community engagement, and resource management.
The project aims to meet the requirements of international guidelines and standards, including the IFC Performance Standards on Environmental and Social Sustainability (IFC, 2012), the World Bank Group Environmental, Health and Safety Guidelines (WBG, 2007), the Equator Principles (Equator Principles Association, 2020) and the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) principles for future studies and development phases of the Kasiya project.
The Kasiya project will be designed considering both the Equator Principles and Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions under the Green House Gas protocol so that the design meets high Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards from the outset.
Generally, cheap processing equals green processing, and Kasiya is no exception.
Natural rutile requires no upgrading for use in titanium pigment feedstock (unlike the labour/energy/carbon intensive process required to upgrade ilmenite). Indeed, the plan is to use hydro mining followed by wet concentration plant processes — which is far less carbon intensive than the drilling, blasting, crushing, and grinding required at hard rock deposits.
This will leave Kasiya with the lowest carbon footprint of major graphite producers – Syrah (Mozambique) generates 0.4CO2eq/tonne, China 1.2CO2eq/tonne, and Kasiya will generate a mere 0.2eq/tonne.
Rutile will play a critical role in decarbonising titanium supply chains.
Huge
environmental benefits
The lack of supply of natural rutile, due to its genuine scarcity, prompted the titanium industry to develop energy and carbon-intensive processes to upgrade ilmenite (low-grade titanium mineral) to high-grade titanium feedstock products that can be used as substitutes for natural rutile (i.e. synthetic rutile and titania slag).
Reduced emissions and waste for downstream users
The downstream processes (i.e. pigment production) rely heavily on the use of upgraded titanium feedstocks such as synthetic rutile and titania slag, each having a substantial associated environmental impact.
Due to growing environmental pressures, and with the significant carbon footprints of numerous industry players related to pyrometallurgical ilmenite upgrading operations, Sovereign’s natural rutile product is well positioned to impact the titanium supply chain with the ability to potentially displace and reduce the use of carbon and waste-intensive upgraded alternative titanium feedstocks.
Natural rutile has Scope 1 & 2 emissions orders of magnitude lower than ilmenite-derived alternatives
Natural rutile requires no upgrading for direct use as titanium pigment feedstock, eliminating the upgrading step required for ilmenite, resulting in zero additional CO₂ emissions. Up to 2.8 tonnes CO₂ eq. for each tonne of natural rutile utilised could be saved compared to the upgrading/beneficiation of ilmenite, using smelting and chemical processes, to high-grade titanium feedstocks like titania slag and synthetic rutile.
Reduced emissions and waste for downstream users
The downstream processes (i.e. pigment production) rely heavily on the use of upgraded titanium feedstocks such as synthetic rutile and titania slag, each having a substantial associated environmental impact.
Due to growing environmental pressures, and with the significant carbon footprints of numerous industry players related to pyrometallurgical ilmenite upgrading operations, Sovereign’s natural rutile product is well positioned to impact the titanium supply chain with the ability to potentially displace and reduce the use of carbon and waste-intensive upgraded alternative titanium feedstocks.
ENVIRONMENTAL
PROJECTS
ESTABLISHED ESG
FRAMEWORK ADVANCING
SOCIAL INITIATIVES IN MALAWI
The Africa-based specialist social performance consultancy Social Essence has been appointed to assist in the continued development of the company’s stakeholder relations, social performance objectives, and its community and social responsibility (CSR) framework.
Social Essence has been engaged to design, implement, and manage several social and community initiatives during the definitive feasibility study (DFS) phase of the Kasiya project and prepare Kasiya’s social-impact assessment and its management plan which will feed into the DFS and permitting requirements.
It will also design, implement, and manage social performance activities, including stakeholder engagement and the development of key relationships.
The appointment aligns with the company’s objective to develop a socially responsible and sustainable operation which will provide significant long term and sustainable benefits to local communities.
COMMUNITY
PROJECTS
COMMUNITY
AND STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT
Sovereign maintained its engagement with key stakeholders from local communities through to Government.
All engagements are in strong standing with significant support for the project while advancing social initiatives, such as:
- Construction of a community centre
- Community water bores
PROMOTING
EDUCATION
Sovereign understands the importance of education and has completed and planned programmes to improve the learning environment including:
- Schools upgrade programme
- Scholarship programme
- Internship programme
EMPLOYMENT
AND TRAINING OF
A DIVERSE WORKFORCE
Sovereign currently employs over 80 individuals in Malawi with at least 30% of the professional staff women. Malawian national employees will be employed predominantly from the Kasiya area and the capital city of Lilongwe.
Structured training and skills programmes are in place developing a strong skill base to be able transition to the operation.
Kasiya is expected to employ more than 1,200 people.
SUSTAINABLE
FARMING INITIATIVE
In February 2024, Sovereign initiated a conservation farming programme in Malawi.
Local farmers are trained in sustainable farming techniques to increase maize crop yield, protect soil from erosion and degradation and to improve long-term food security.
Farmers have enthusiastically adopted the programme with 90 participants within the project area being trained in low-input cost, high-yield sustainable farming techniques. A further 300 farmers will be added during the 2024 planting season.
The programme is ultimately aimed at providing a platform where successful smallholder farmers can produce sufficient surplus crops to generate sustainable household income.