Our mining and metallurgy businesses use water resources at several stages in the process of transforming ore into metal: in the washing of ores, raw materials and by-products, in furnace cooling processes, in gas washing and slag granulation.

This is why Eramet is committed to monitoring and optimizing its water consumption and wastewater treatment in order to ensure that it remains a high-quality resource accessible to all, and to minimize the impact of its activities on aquatic environments. This objective is part of our “Act for Positive Mining” roadmap.

To achieve this goal, the Group is implementing a number of measures:

  • Continuous improvement in the monitoring of its activities (withdrawals, discharges, water audits),
  • Optimization of water consumption and increased recycling, with targets included in our “Act for Positive Mining” roadmap at the two sites located in sensitive areas (one a water-stressed zone, and the other an arid zone),
  • Continuous improvement in water management and treatment methods.

Water withdrawals in 2024

Surface water 13,66%
Groundwater 3,9%
Sea water 81,9%
Water supplied by a third party 0,55%

Water recycling and reuse

Water recycling and reuse are essential, particularly when it comes to reducing our dependence on and minimizing our impact on freshwater.

Water is reused in a variety of ways at our sites:

  • In wet gas treatment units and furnace cooling systems in our plants,
  • In processes within our washing tanks, with recirculation of ore washing water from decanters at our mining sites.

Initiatives in 2024

Femmes d'Avenir - Gabon

Control

In 2024, Eramet stepped up water resource management measures at all its sites and projects. The Group has mapped all its withdrawal and discharge points, carried out comprehensive water audits and trained its environmental teams in the latest water management indicators and plans. External expertise has also been called upon to support sites subject to high levels of water stress, particularly in Gabon and Senegal.

Femmes d'Avenir - Gabon

Innovation

Eramet is also involved in innovation. With the support of EIT RawMaterials, the Group has launched an Open Innovation challenge aimed at reducing freshwater consumption and developing recycling solutions. In 2024, Weeefiner, a Finnish company specializing in water treatment and metal recovery, won the challenge. A pilot project is currently underway at the Porsgrunn site in Norway, with the potential for wider deployment.

The Eramet Ideas R&D center is at the forefront in this area, developing studies and projects aimed at reducing water requirements, creating new filtration and treatment technologies, optimizing recycling loops, reinjecting brine into salt flats, as well as engaging in hydrodynamic modeling.

Femmes d'Avenir - Gabon

Sharing

Finally, the Group takes an active part in the global dialogue: in 2024, Eramet participated in the Water Congress in Santiago, Chile, chaired by the President of Eramet Ideas, bringing together experts, manufacturers, and institutions to discuss solutions for improving how this vital resource is managed.

Water news