ENVIRONMENT

BUSINESS: 295 PRACTICES


TOPIC:

Initiative

Resource management with the aim of zero environmental impact

Resource management with the aim of zero environmental impact
SUBMITTED FROM:

Hellas Gold

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.


www.hellas-gold.com 


Contact

Objective Action

The company is committed to responsible waste management and responsible use of natural resources, which is part and responsibility of the environmental management of each sub-project. For industrial waste deriving from each project, the Environmental Department is working with the staff from each project.

 

Target Audience

  • State/ Public Administration
  • Suppliers and Partners
  • Non Governmental Organizations
  • Local Communities and Local Unions
  • Local government
  • Media
  • Academic community
  • Greek Society
 

Duration

Continuous(2014-2016), the environmental monitoring system will be in full deplyment at the end of 2016


Description

Overall, the key management pillars relating to the substantive issue of waste and garbage are:

  • To Integrated Urban Waste Management Programme.
  • The certified Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Industrial Waste Management System  following the basic logic of separation at the point of production in order to achieve the best possible result.
  • Solid inert mineral residues from the Olympias mine development projects, Madem Lakkos - Olympias Tunnel and the development projects of the Black Stone, after being processed in crushing plants, can be used as building material, in many cases offered for free to the local community.
  • The remaining solid mineral residues from the process of natural enrichment of ore in our plant, are used after treatment as backfill material for the needs of the mines, in filling the old tunnels or shipped in specific licensed disposal sites within our facilities.
  • Moreover, after a thorough inspection and evaluation process including quantitative and qualitative controls of solid mineral waste, and if this waste meets certain standards it is used as by-product and other operations. Finally, from the creation of the mine a by- product is topsoil that can be used for rehabilitation works or for our nursery.
  • In addition to the liquid and solid waste associated with the production we have solid industrial waste (plastic, wood, metal). Based on the Integrated Waste Management System and contracts with certified operators, the financial balance of waste management is positive. Our goal is, for 2016, all waste rock from Olympiada, Stratoni and Tunnel, to be reused, so to avoid having any solid residues to inert materials. These goals and objectives surpass legislation and are mostly voluntary. As mentioned in the relevant rules and regulations provided, the disposal of solid waste is also possible, while Hellas Gold reuses the entire solid waste.
  • For liquid waste which in their entirety are made of treated mine water, there is continuous monitoring and continuous sampling confirmimg basic water quality parameters after chemical analyses. The waters of the region in each case have the same quality and composition as the water the rest of Halkidiki.

more...

Impact on Society

The impact of the use of natural resources and waste management is the improvement of the environment of the mining area through the rehabilitation of the old mining holdings. Moreover, the local community benefits from the free supply of inert materials suitable for infrastructure projects. Besides the recycling of water and the treatment of groundwater does not disturb the quality and quantity of water in the region. Finally the recycling apart from the financial benefit for the company it has an effect of further reducing our environmental footprint.
 

During 2016 the integrated and innovative environmental monitoring system will be available via internet and in real time can present numerous environmental parameters in the region demonstrating the company's efforts to protect and improve the environment as well as the use of natural resources in the region.



Initiative Location

NorthEast Halkidiki


Working with Organization

  • Department of Forestry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki for environmental restoration
  • Department of Mining Engineering NTUA for environmental characterization of solid samples

More...…

Workers Participation

In all recycling programs.
 


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