Good morning and Namaste. Participating in this conference on Sustainable Mining is an honor. I am grateful to FICCI and the Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry for inviting me to share our experiences in preparing for sustainable mining at Rio Tinto’s Bunder diamond project in Madhya Pradesh, which falls under my responsibility. Firstly, I would like to give you a brief overview of Rio Tinto in India, the Bunder project, and my understanding of sustainable mining. Subsequently, I will discuss the on-ground initiatives we have undertaken for sustainable development in the region, with hopes of soon having India’s next diamond mine.
Slide 2 – Rio Tinto in India. Despite being a lesser-known fact, Rio Tinto has been present in India since the 1930s. Presently, we have offices and operations spread across multiple locations within the country. Our involvement goes beyond selling various products to India; we also procure goods and services from the nation. Additionally, we are actively exploring opportunities to establish ourselves as a mining and mineral production company in India. Notably, our Bunder diamond project stands out, situated near Chhatarpur in Madhya Pradesh, at the heart of India’s stunning landscape.
Slide 3 – Bunder pictures – discovery, resource, processing plant, camp. In 2004, the Bunder diamond deposits were discovered after a two-year exploration in Bundelkhand. Since then, we have built a campsite with recreational amenities and a medical clinic that can accommodate up to 140 patients. Furthermore, we conducted an economic feasibility study of the site. In 2008, we announced an estimated resource of 27 million carats of diamonds and applied for a mining lease to develop this resource into a mining and beneficiation operation.
Extensive drill sampling, environmental, social, engineering, and workforce development studies have been conducted to support the development of a detailed blueprint for the project. In 2009, a state-of-the-art sample processing plant with a nameplate capacity of ten tonnes per hour was established to process the collected samples. Today, I want to visually illustrate the range and scale of activities during the pre-mining phase of our project.
We currently do not have a mining operation, but we operate various facilities and departments similar to those in your mining operations. Our workforce consists of over 400 individuals, with approximately 280 from the local area. On-site, we have a technical team that encompasses professionals from various mining-related disciplines including geology, mining, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, civil engineering, machinery maintenance, environmental science, health and safety, community development relations, workforce development and training, and security.
Our sustainable mining challenge resembles yours, with a potential advantage or disadvantage depending on perspective. We have the opportunity to establish the groundwork for sustainable development, which is advantageous. However, this also creates expectations during the pre-mining phase. Essentially, we aim to begin in a manner that aligns with our long-term intentions. Slide 4 showcases the four pillars of sustainable development, which we have heard about numerous times. Now, the question remains: how do these pillars apply to the Bunder project?
Sustainable development and sustainable mining entail various aspects: generating employment opportunities, imparting training and promoting development; safeguarding the surrounding natural environment; prioritizing the welfare and trust of our workforce; and maintaining transparency regarding our operations while valuing the concerns of others who share our commitment. Maintaining openness and listening entails continuous engagement with our neighboring communities, whether nearby or far away. So, what do these communities express in terms of development priorities? Any guesses? Employment, access to clean water, and education – similar to the aspirations of numerous rural regions in northern India.
Our experience has taught us the importance of local solutions for local issues. In this case study, I will show you examples of sustainable development activities that are benefiting us and may be valuable for a pre-mining development project or an existing mining operation. Let’s start by looking at the physical environment: Slide 5 features our sustainability garden. We established this garden in 2006 when we set up our accommodation campus. It has served as an incubator for our environment team.
Over the years, we have successfully tested and demonstrated practical solutions for local environmental issues. In particular, we have addressed the issue of waste management in a campus with 145 beds and over 100 inhabitants, as well as in nearby villages. Our waste reuse program incorporates various initiatives such as a worm farm, organic farming, floriculture, and the recent addition of biogas generation. Through our small biogas plant, we are able to generate enough power to light a street light, at a relatively small initial cost of a few thousand rupees. We aim to spread this concept to surrounding villages, where other biogas sources like cow dung can be utilized as fuel.
Slide 6: Plantation and saplings In the garden, we have discovered valuable species suitable for cultivation in the region. These include medicinal plants, vegetables, citrus trees, and marigold flowers. Through trial and error, we have gained important knowledge. To create a green curtain around our sample processing plant, we planted mango trees. This innovative idea serves dual purposes – it acts as both a green curtain and provides a cash crop for the community.
Unfortunately, the mango trees did not survive in the unsuitable physical environment, but other species like citrus trees thrived and will bear fruit in the future. The image shows the current state of the plantation area after nearly three years. This experience taught us a valuable lesson to consider when planting trees for our mining operation. Slide 7: Compilation of Water Harvesting – Water scarcity is a major issue in the Bundelkhand region.
Due to the increasing needs of people, traditional water management practices that have been used for centuries are no longer sufficient. In order to address this, we have implemented rainwater harvesting on all our structures at the sample processing plant and the campus. This harvested rainwater is then used to replenish the groundwater. Additionally, we recycle all grey and black water from the kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry in the sustainability garden. Slide 8 of our presentation focuses on lantana eradication and recycling. Unfortunately, our location in a forested area has led to an infestation of lantana weed, which adversely affects the health of the forest ecosystem.
In the past year, we collaborated with the district forest department and the village forest committees. During this monsoon season, we successfully cleared around 120 hectares of land, which required over 16,000 working hours and provided employment for locals. Additionally, we partnered with a local NGO to develop skills in lantana furniture fabrication, making use of this weed eradication product. As a result, we have received orders for corporate dining room chairs and sofa sets. We are excited to witness the growth of these orders and are actively exploring further marketing options. Look out for our products in a Fabindia store near you!
At the Bunder project, there is a close connection between jobs and education. In order to ensure sustainability, we prioritize employability by starting with education from the lowest level. Slide 9 showcases our capacity-building efforts through three panels. Our support begins at aganwadi centres and extends through primary and middle schools. Thanks to our special partnership with UNICEF, this support continues into high school with coaching programs for the 10th Class Board exams. With the assistance of UNICEF, we concentrate on enhancing teaching methods and offering capacity-building support to teachers.
We will be implementing the new learning curriculum, based on “Activity-based learning,” in 186 primary and middle schools in the Buxwaha Block. Additionally, we are prioritizing the development of mining-specific skills for our future workforce, which includes on-the-job training. One significant initiative in the local area is the training of women as drivers. Our examination of the gender gap in our workforce back in 2010 revealed a large disparity, which is common in the mining industry globally.
Despite our attempts, we were unsuccessful in generating an adequate number of job opportunities for women. In order to address this issue, we organized a workshop and requested the district CEO to speak to a gathering of women. Our goal was to initiate a dialogue about the types of work that women might be interested in undertaking within our operations. As a result of this discussion, we established a driver training program specifically designed for women. Furthermore, I presented a challenge to the students: if I could successfully learn to wear a sari, which comes effortlessly to them, they could similarly acquire the skill of driving, which comes naturally to me.
We have successfully passed the test and now have four women drivers in our operations. This is an important step in promoting women’s participation in our current and future workforce, as well as creating transferable skills and employability in our neighboring communities. Slide 11 shows a picture of the Sita Ram Rungta Social Awareness Award, highlighting our commitment to social responsibility. Our business case is centered around sustainable mining practices, which includes investing in education and training to develop a capable local workforce for the future.
By fostering job creation and promoting enterprise development, I can bring essential goods and services closer to my businesses. Moreover, by safeguarding and improving the physical environment, I protect and ensure the sustainability of the ecosystem and biodiversity surrounding natural resources like water, as well as the people crucial to my business. Investing in sustainable mining at this stage is not only morally correct but also makes good business sense. Hence, it is vital to start with a sustainable approach and maintain it throughout the mining process.
