Mineral wealth has always been a source of prosperity for our country. Today, it can once again become a driving force for economic recovery. Hellas Gold confirms this perspective, with investments exceeding $1 billion, employment of 1,600 employees, active support of Greek suppliers & businesses and important initiatives & projects to support the local community.
The mining company HELLAS GOLD SA was established in December 2003 with the aim of: Operating and exploiting mines of all types, processing, and trading of ores, establishing and operating a metallurgical plant for vertical production in Halkidiki.
Environmental Sustainability: Public Disclosure of Daily Quality Indicators
Target Audience
Local authorities, investors, local residents, and environmental organizations
Duration
The upgrade of the Environmental Monitoring Program was initiated in 2023, with a new simplified platform aimed for inauguration in 2024.
Description
Hellas Gold has implemented an Upgraded Environmental Monitoring Program featuring a new, simplified platform to oversee the company's environmental performance. Initially launched in 1995, Hellas Gold's award-winning Environmental Monitoring Program has undergone significant enhancements. As of 2024, the program monitors 15 environmental parameters across 500 data points surrounding the Kassandra Mines facilities.
Through an interactive map, users can explore the area, select one of the 500 monitoring stations, and easily access understandable data on environmental parameters such as water, air, and soil quality, noise and vibration levels, dust emissions, and biodiversity status. This platform also provides historical data for comparisons with previous periods, enabling visitors to gauge the area's environmental quality effectively.
The project garnered recognition at the 2021 Mining Awards in the Environmental Protection category, lauded for the initiative: How Kassandra Mines became an environmental management case study - The ground-breaking innovative systems that are changing the landscape of environmental protection.
The initiative represents a substantial investment, with an initial installation cost exceeding €4 million and annual operation and maintenance costs nearing €2 million.
Developed by Geospatial Enabling Technologies with scientific guidance from Enveco, this platform exemplifies Hellas Gold's commitment to sustainable development through advanced technologies as part of its broader digital transformation strategy.
Strengthening Transparency and Accountability: Simplified access to environmental data enables residents and stakeholders to directly and accurately monitor the company's environmental performance.
Strengthening Community Participation: The interactive platform allows residents and stakeholders to actively engage in the monitoring process and provide feedback.
Creating an Open Dialogue: Access to historical data for comparison fosters transparent communication between the company and the community. By leveraging innovative technologies and promoting sustainable practices, the platform aligns with the company's broader strategy for sustainable development.
The program monitors 15 environmental parameters at 500 data points around the Kassandra Mines facilities.
Initiative Location
In Northeastern Halkidiki, specifically at the company's facilities in Kassandra Mines.
Working with Organization
Geospatial Enabling Technologies, Enveco
Workers Participation
A total of 11 employees (Hellas Gold and subcontractors)
Benefits for Οrganization
Hellas Gold ensures a sustainable future through the implementation of one of the most innovative and integrated Environmental Monitoring Systems, guided by the principles of responsible mining.
The primary goal of environmental monitoring is to manage and mitigate the impact of economic activities on the natural environment and human health, while ensuring ongoing compliance with regulatory standards. In the mining industry, which faces substantial environmental challenges, effective environmental monitoring is essential for sustainable operations.
Environmental monitoring employs various methods and tools to measure and evaluate site-specific environmental parameters, enabling data collection and transparent access for regulatory bodies, institutions, and all stakeholders.
The newly simplified Environmental Monitoring platform enhances accessibility for the general public, presenting parameters and related data in a user-friendly, visually engaging manner. Through an interactive map, users can locate measurement stations and view variable values using intuitive color illustrations and explanations linked to everyday examples. Simultaneously, a scientific geoportal offers advanced search capabilities for more detailed information. Both versions are available in multiple formats, ensuring broad accessibility via the scientific geoportal and geodatabase.
The 15 environmental parameters monitored include:
Ecological and chemical quality of river and coastal waters in the area.
Chemical quality of groundwater and drinking water in the area.
Chemical quality and quantity of treated mine water.
Noise and vibration levels around construction sites.
Noise and vibration levels in nearby residential areas
Concentration of airborne dust at construction sites.
Concentration of airborne dust in residential areas.
Air quality in residential areas including Stratoni, Stratoniki, Stagira, Paleochori, Neochori, and soon in M. Panagia.
Meteorological parameters.
Geotechnical and physicochemical monitoring of Kokkinolakkas Tailings Management Facility (TMF).
Qualitative and quantitative monitoring of mining waste.
