Lithium Americas (Argentina) Corp.
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2023)
Reporting Period: 2023
Environmental Metrics
Total Carbon Emissions:34,198.4 tCO2e/year
Scope 1 Emissions:28,862.1 tCO2e/year
Scope 2 Emissions:5,336.4 tCO2e/year
Scope 3 Emissions:Not disclosed
Renewable Energy Share:53% of total energy use
Total Energy Consumption:Not disclosed
Water Consumption:2,552.05 ML/year
Waste Generated:1,403.69 tons/year (Cauchari-Olaroz) + 46.60 tons/year (Pastos Grandes)
Carbon Intensity:5.7 tCO2e/tLi2CO3 produced
ESG Focus Areas
- Energy and emissions
- Water and effluent
- Biodiversity
- Waste and hazardous materials
- Talent attraction
- Health and Safety
- Local communities (including Indigenous Peoples)
- Human Rights
- Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- Ethics and integrity: social donations
- Regulatory compliance
Environmental Achievements
- Commencement of Operations at the Caucharí-Olaroz Project in June 2023
- Development of a comprehensive data collection and reporting process which included the creation of an inventory of Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions
- Continued work to record and identify new species, following the identification of +400 species
- 70,524.50 GJ of renewable energy purchased, constituting 53% of the total electric energy consumption
Social Achievements
- Issuance of a Human Rights Policy in October 2023
- Great Place to Work Certification at Caucharí-Olaroz for the second consecutive year in 2023 (78% of employees stated it was a Great place to work)
- Exar was chosen as “Mining Company of the Year” by Panorama Minero
- First Job Placement Program (#PIL) for communities, in which 14 young people participated, of which six became employed by Exar
- Launch of the first edition of the Exar Project Contest with the community and financed 21 projects with a social impact on the community
- Launch the Women Entrepreneurs Program to promote the development of more than 30 women in seven communities.
Governance Achievements
- Five of eight board members are independent, and one of eight board members is female
- Development of a comprehensive data collection and reporting process to collect non-financial, ESG-related information.
- During 2023, the Board of Directors created the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, Corporate Governance Framework, Anti-Corruption and Bribery Policy, Human Rights Policy and Inventive Compensation Recovery (Clawback) to enhance the governance of the Company.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Medium-term Goals:
- Not disclosed
Short-term Goals:
- GHG emissions mitigation: Monitor and report energy usage and GHG emissions throughout all project phases and establish a mitigation strategy once reaching full production on-site
- Energy efficiency: Identify and implement energy efficiency opportunities, including expanding renewable energy sources, aiming for complete reliance on solar energy
Environmental Challenges
- Water scarcity and depletion of aquifers
- Disruption of fragile ecosystems
- Loss of livelihoods and cultural disruptions for indigenous communities
- Potential negative impacts on local populations from security personnel
Mitigation Strategies
- Participatory Environmental Monitoring (PEM) approaches
- Water management system that properly integrates the different elements of the system, proactively managing water quantity and quality, identifying any risks and planning how to respond to any incidents
- Setting water-related objectives to measure, track and report on performance to both employee and the public
- Providing training in human rights to security personnel
Supply Chain Management
Supplier Audits: Not disclosed
Responsible Procurement
- Include contractual clauses for contractors, suppliers and other commercial associates taking rigid commitments to abolish child forced and compulsory labor
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Physical Risks
- Adverse weather conditions and natural disasters
Transition Risks
- Changes in applicable laws, rules, regulations and government policies
Opportunities
- Expanding renewable energy sources
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: GRI, SASB
Certifications: ISO 45001, ISO 14001:2015, ISO 9001
Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed
UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Not disclosed
Not disclosed
Sustainable Products & Innovation
- Not disclosed
Awards & Recognition
- Mining Company of the Year by Panorama Minero