In 2012 SLN began the ambitious project of becoming the first New Caledonian operator to be certified ISO 14001, the international standard that defines the rules for factoring environmental concerns into all of a company’s activities. That goal was achieved for the ERAMET subsidiary in spring 2016.
On March 22nd, 2016, SLN obtained an ISO 14001 certificate for its entire scope, i.e. its nickel mines and ore processing plant. This certification is the fruit of determined efforts by the company since 2012 to build an Environmental Management System that complies with international standards for both industry and mining. It also reflects the actions taken up to reconcile the company’s operating needs with respect for the environment, taking stakeholders’ concerns into account.
A long-haul project
SLN obtained its first ISO 14001 certificate in 2014 for the Doniambo metallurgical plant in Nouméa. Then the central structures in the Mining Department and the Tiébaghi and Poum mines were accredited in early 2015 before Népoui, Thio and Kouaoua mines were certified in early 2016.
A collective process
To achieve certification, SLN’s personnel and all of its subcontractors rallied round the project team and the Environment and Quality departments. 20 or so “environment correspondents” were selected on each site to raise their coworkers’ awareness of environmental issues. In addition, 1,000 operators from Doniambo plant were trained in 2013, followed by 800 operators from the mining centres in 2014 and 2015. The process is still the subject of frequent meetings and regular audits on the ground to assess and keep up everyone’s progress.
