Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2022)
Reporting Period: 2022
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:20,052 tCO2e/year (Company-wide)
Scope 1 Emissions:18,380 tCO2e/year (Company-wide)
Scope 2 Emissions:1,672 tCO2e/year (Company-wide)
Renewable Energy Share:0%
Total Energy Consumption:664,285 GJ/year (Company-wide)
Water Consumption:1,056,896 m3/year (Eagle River), 374,948 m3/year (Kiena)
Waste Generated:2,886 metric tonnes/year (Eagle River industrial waste), 1,438 metric tonnes/year (Kiena industrial waste)
Carbon Intensity:0.18 tCO2e/ounce (Company-wide)
ESG Focus Areas
- Corporate Governance
- Waste and Hazardous Materials Management
- Tailings Management
- GHG Emissions and Climate Change
- Water and Effluent Management
- Air Quality Management
- Energy Management
- Health and Safety
- Land Use and Biodiversity
- Indigenous Relations
- Community Relations
- Workforce Management
Environmental Achievements
- Improved environmental performance over 2021, largely driven by more education and training on incident management and response.
- Conducted climate risk assessments at both operations.
- Planned work on the Tailings Management Area (TMA) at Kiena was 90% complete.
- Québec Mining Association awarded Wesdome the 2022 Environmental Distinction Award for the quality of work performed on the TMA.
- Updated the Energy Management Plan at Eagle River and launched energy-optimization projects.
- First stage of a dam raise completed at Eagle River TMA.
- Completed GHG inventory assessments and built emissions-forecast models at both sites.
- Zero significant environmental incidents at Eagle River and Kiena.
Social Achievements
- Held a company-wide Town Hall and conducted two employee surveys.
- Launched WesNet, a secure intranet site to improve employee communication.
- Formed a company-wide Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
- Continued to make community investments, with an emphasis on healthcare and education.
- Hired Community Relations Coordinators at both sites.
- Zero external grievances at Eagle River and Kiena after the first full year of operations at Kiena.
Governance Achievements
- Governance and disclosure best practices recognized in The Globe & Mail’s Board Games survey (6th place in Materials Industry).
- Incorporated the assessment of ESG factors in capital project planning, budgeting, and contractor evaluation.
- Joanna Miller promoted to Vice-President of Sustainability and Environment.
- ESG performance criteria factored into corporate performance scorecard, linked to executive compensation.
Climate Goals & Targets
Short-term Goals:
- Develop a Company-wide incident investigation standard by 2024.
- Develop a Tailings & Water Management Policy by 2023.
- Complete a formal gap analysis against the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management by 2023.
- Hire a Corporate Director of Tailings & Water Management by 2023.
- Form an Independent Tailings Review Board by 2023.
- Integrate climate risk assessment into the Enterprise Risk Management Process by 2023.
- Build a three-year roadmap to align with TCFD recommendations by 2023.
- Develop Energy & Emissions Performance Management Plans for both operations by 2024.
- Update site-specific Stakeholder & Indigenous Engagement Plans to align with MAC TSM program Level A by 2024.
- Engage local communities and Indigenous groups on site Tailings Management Areas and management practices by 2025.
- Develop a Supply Chain Policy by 2024.
- Develop a Human Rights Policy that includes commitments to respecting Indigenous Rights by 2024.
- Introduce an Employee Wellness Benefit by 2023.
- Report annually on Indigenous employment across the Company by 2024.
- Develop an Equity, Diversity & Inclusion strategy for the Company by 2025.
- Build site-specific crisis management plans by 2024.
- Implement online training on the Wesdome Code of Conduct and Ethics for all employees and contractors by 2024.
Environmental Challenges
- Operational challenges in 2022.
- Climate change risks including extreme weather events impacting infrastructure and access.
- Increased GHG emissions at Kiena due to operational ramp-up.
- Increased waste generation at both sites due to increased activity.
- Need for a new tailings facility at Eagle River.
Mitigation Strategies
- Integrating climate risk into enterprise risk assessment process.
- Developing a three-year roadmap to align with TCFD recommendations.
- Developing Energy & Emissions Performance Management Plans.
- Implementing MAC TSM program.
- Hiring a Corporate Director of Tailings & Water Management.
- Forming an Independent Tailings Review Board.
- Improving waste handling and storage processes, including upgrades to waste storage facilities and the development of waste management plans and procedures.
- Implementing recycling measures.
- Initiating planning for a new tailings facility.
Supply Chain Management
Responsible Procurement
- Competitive bidding process.
- Information on ownership, location, and ESG performance from bidders.
- Relationships with local organizations and Indigenous groups.
- Standard bid evaluation process awarding points to local and Indigenous businesses.
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Heavy snowfall impacting infrastructure.
- Mine ventilation systems impacted by poor air quality from wildfires.
- Access roads closed due to heavy snowfall or wildfires.
- Telecommunication and power supply impacted by wildfires.
- Extreme heat impacting infrastructure and functionality of support buildings.
Transition Risks
- Increased regulation and taxation of GHG emissions.
Opportunities
- Energy efficiency and emission reduction opportunities.
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: SASB Metals & Mining Standard, TCFD recommendations
Awards & Recognition
- 2022 Environmental Distinction Award from the Québec Mining Association