BUSINESS: 327 PRACTICES
The mining company HELLAS GOLD SA was established in December 2003 with aiming to: Operate mines of all kinds, processing and marketing of minerals, establish and operate metalworking operations for vertical integration of production in Halkidiki.
Hellas Gold’s environmental performance is highly transparent. We invite our stakeholders to learn more about our operations by accessing our online Environmental Monitoring System – an online tool for monitoring our environmental performance. In 2016, a key success for Hellas Gold was the launch of an integrated
Environmental Monitoring System. This online platform provides the general public with direct access to environmental data for our operations and the wider area around our sites. Data includes air, water and soil quality, noise and acoustic measurements, seismicity and ecology (flora and fauna). All data is available online using measurements provided by special instruments and measuring stations installed in the wider area of our operations. It is one of the most integrated and comprehensive environmental monitoring systems in Europe.
Access to our environmental data is available online. Users can view our monitoring data, which provides a picture about the state of the environment in and around our operations. Here is an example: Going forward, we intend to further enhance the Environmental Monitoring System to improve its user-friendliness. Our objective is to improve public understanding of the wealth of environmental data available.
Hellas Gold’s environmental monitoring program is overseen by an Independent Environmental Committee. The Committee was established by the State and comprises members from various local and regulatory bodies. Hellas Gold responds to feedback from the Committee, which has a specific mandate to review Hellas Gold’s compliance to the sites’ Environmental Terms. The Committee is responsible for reviewing samples collected by third-party laboratories for quality control, independence and accuracy. This approach helps validate our performance to our stakeholders by using independent experts and sources they can trust. Additionally, Hellas Gold considers findings from assessments by regulators, agencies and auditors that oversee our performance as well as reports and feedback from our employees and local community members.
2016- today
Hellas Gold’s environmental performance is highly transparent. We invite our stakeholders to learn more about our operations by accessing our online Environmental Monitoring System – an online tool for monitoring our environmental performance.
Visiting our environmental monitoring system, it is clear that all the environemtal indicators, including air pollution, water treatment, sea water, soil vibration and noise are improving over the years.
NA Halkidiki
Hellas Gold works in collaboration with several universities in Greece to identify new ways to improve our environmental performance. Our research partners include the following institutions:
● The Forestry Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
● The School of Geology of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
● The School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering of the National
Technical University of Athens
Advancing research and practice
By collaborating with local academic institutions, we gain insights into new
research, innovations and emerging technologies. Furthermore, we offer our
partners mining expertise and operational knowledge that help students and
professors develop expertise and practical applications for their research.
Throughout the life cycle of our operations, we maintain systems to identify, manage, monitor and mitigate our potential impacts. Our environmental commitments are demonstrated by activities such as the reclamation of historic disposal sites and land no longer needed for mining use, the application of best available technologies to increase resource efficiency, and establishing a strong culture of environmental stewardship. In 2016, Hellas Gold launched one of the most integrated and comprehensive environmental monitoring systems in Europe, and we continue to search
for ways to improve our environmental performance while maintaining high levels of corporate transparency. Our performance is assessed through several mechanisms including internal audits and controls, regular monitoring and assessments, annual performance reviews, and external certifications of management systems and equipment.
The environment is a key concern for the local community in Halkidiki. The region offers a rich ecosystem that supports numerous industries and sectors, including forestry, farming, tourism and recreation. Mining by its very nature has impacts on the natural environment. It is important to us and our stakeholders that we avoid or manage the environmental impacts of our operations at all times. An awareness of the potential impacts of our operations allows us to proactively manage environmental considerations sο that we continue operating legally, responsibly and with the trust and support of our stakeholders and the local community. We believe that good environmental management practices are core to our long-term success. Our environmental performance is a key indicator of our ability to create value for all stakeholders and to implement our sustainability strategy. The environment is also an area where we have identified an opportunity to generate a competitive advantage – by implementing best practices and driving innovation, for example, to maximize resource efficiency.
Environmental Monitoring system ewbsite has frequent visits from Halkidiki inhabitants when at the same time the proces of creating and operating such a system poses a benchmark for other similar enterprises and academic insitutions.
