SUMMARY
Levin Sources supported Eurasian Resources Group (ERG), a leading diversified natural resources producer, with the development of its Clean Cobalt Framework, launched at ERG’s Metalkol RTR project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in December 2018.
CHALLENGE
Located near Kolwezi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, ERG’s Metalkol RTR is a greenfield, tailings re-treatment project, which will reprocess cobalt and copper tailings previously deposited in the Kingamyambo Tailings Dam and Musonoi River Valley. At full capacity, the facility will supply 24,000 t/y of cobalt to the global market, volumes sufficient to power more than 3 million electric vehicles per year.
ERG’s wider goal is to ensure that cobalt is sourced and produced in a responsible and sustainable way. Demand for cobalt, a key metal for the growing green economy and the Fourth Industrial Revolution, continues to grow and ERG recognises the need for a systematic approach.
SOLUTION
The Clean Cobalt Framework sets out a forward-looking, achievable mission and vision for the sustainable production of cobalt and aims to deliver positive outcomes by pursuing seven goals. The Framework is designed to meet the requirements set out in the OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Supply of Minerals from Conflict-Affected and High-Risk Areas and goes beyond ‘managing risks’ and to go beyond in order to drive more systemic change.
Levin Sources helped develop a Chain of Custody (CoC) procedure and the selection of a data management system which enhances data management for each material batch and reassures customers that standards are upheld. Levin Sources also updated Metalkol RTR’s ASM Management Plan which helps advance ERG’s commitment that it does not source from ASM.
ERG will demonstrate continual improvement through regular independently verified Performance Reports.
ERG’s Clean Cobalt Framework can be read in full here.
