Vulcan Reinforces Commitment with Advanced Measures to Address Coal Dust Concerns

At Vulcan, our top priority is the well-being of our employees and the community. Guided by our zero-harm principles, we are committed to addressing dust reports with decisive action, continually reinforcing our dedication to minimizing environmental impact.

As a responsible mining company, we are committed to upholding zero harm principles across all our operations. This press release aims to reaffirm our dedication to these practices and address the concerns and misleading statements recently stated regarding our impact.

Post the acquisition in 2022, we engaged internationally recognized and renowned firm Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions UK Limited to conduct an independent dust emission audit. This assessment, part of Vulcan Mozambique’s project, provided a detailed analysis of air quality and particulate emissions at the Moatize mining area and the Moatize town.

The Wood’s study, a thorough analysis of dust mapping and air quality at our mining operations, its surrounding ecosystem, and in Moatize town, found that our operations contribute only a small fraction of the total emissions in Moatize town and surrounding areas. Most emissions were attributed to external sources, including nearby industries, bio-burning, other mining projects and transportation.

Wood also highlighted several recommendations to minimize dust, which have all been implemented as a part of Vulcan’s dust management framework including maintaining rigorous daily monitoring to ensure ongoing compliance and effectiveness. Our commitment to zero harm principles is reflected in our regular internal and external audits conducted by both private and public entities. These audits demonstrate our ongoing compliance and efforts to uphold the highest environmental standards.

In Moatize, where various sources contribute to emissions, including vehicle exhausts, industrial activities, construction work, agricultural practices, and wood burning, Vulcan is committed to minimizing our impact on the community. We actively listen to community feedback and rigorously assess our processes to ensure we have effective controls in place to address all community concerns.

Our goal is zero harm. Regardless of economic considerations, we prioritize the well-being of our community and workforce. We are dedicated to minimizing our environmental impact to the greatest extent possible. Our focus is to proactively seek feedback and continuously improve our practices to ensure the highest level of environmental stewardship and community care.

Key Actions Taken by Vulcan Include:

Enhanced Monitoring Systems: We have advanced dust monitoring technologies in our control room that provide real-time data. This allows us to ensure compliance with environmental standards and make immediate adjustments to effectively manage and mitigate dust emissions.

Upgraded Dust Control Measures: Our investment in cutting-edge equipment and techniques significantly reduces dust emissions across all operational stages, including stockpiles, conveyors, and rail wagons.

Community Engagement: We are actively engaging with and listening to local communities through regular meetings, feedback sessions, and transparent updates on our environmental efforts.

Vulcan CEO, Dr. Mukesh Kumar, emphasizes: “At Vulcal, we prioritize zero harm which means ensuring no harm to our community, employees, stakeholders and environment. Our commitment to operational excellence and environmental stewardship drives us to continuously address and mitigate any impacts from our projects. We are dedicated to upholding our responsibilities to the community and contributing positively to the sustainable development of the region.”

Vulcan, Mozambique’s largest mining company and a leading employer, creates hundreds of jobs each year, primarily for young people. As one of the world’s largest integrated coal pit-to-port operations, we are committed to zero harm and excellence. Our focus on sustainability and community building ensures we deliver exceptional value while positively impacting the regions we serve.