Ardea and importantly the Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) with whom it deals all operate to ensure Environmental, Social and (Corporate) Governance (ESG) considerations are at the forefront of the way in which the Company does business and assesses societal impact. All project designs and work practices are predicated on ensuring the Company minimises greenhouse gas emission per tonne of nickel equivalent production. In doing so, the Company can ensure responsible sourcing of critical mineral supply, through sustainable and ethical production.
To this end, Ardea enlisted the services of Digbee ESG™ which is considered the mining sector’s foremost independent assessment platform for ESG disclosure, to assess and report on Ardea Resources and the Kalgoorlie Nickel Project (KNP).
- Digbee ESG™ has awarded Ardea an overall score of “BBB”. This is considered by Digbee ESG™ to be a very good early-stage Development project with good ESG foundations in place.
- Digbee ESG™ is considered the mining sector’s foremost independent assessment platform for ESG disclosure and is endorsed by leading global financiers
- Initial submission paves a path for operational and reporting improvements to be addressed across all pillars of Environmental, Social and Governance
On receiving confirmation of Ardea’s overall ESG “BBB” rating from Digbee’s ESG™ independent assessment team, Mr Andrew Penkethman, Managing Director and CEO of Ardea commented:
“Our commitment to a transparent ESG strategy, reporting and continuous improvement program is exemplified by our partnership with Digbee ESG™. Now that the independent team of experts from Digbee ESG™ have identified Ardea’s baseline credentials, we will now incorporate all their recommendations in order to assist in improving our Environmental, Social and Governance programs, which will remain a key focus in the development of our assets, and in upholding the highest levels of business integrity and ethics. The Board and staff of Ardea note our maiden overall ESG award of “BBB” and acknowledge that this range provides some near-term opportunities for improvement which will be realised, as Ardea continues to grow and advance the KNP Goongarrie Hub towards development as a leading source of sustainable and ethical nickel-cobalt battery mineral supply. As the improvements are embedded in our current operations, we look forward to preparing our next submission and demonstrating continuous improvement.”
Commenting on the assessment, Mr Jamie Strauss, the founder and CEO of Digbee commented:
“The leadership team of Ardea has shown, throughout their submission, clear incorporation of ESG principles and sustainability priorities as part of the Company’s vision and value. This early stage embracement of ESG, the commitment to minimise greenhouse gas emissions per tonne of nickel equivalent produced and the transparency to address areas of remediation identified in the Report, demonstrates a positive culture towards delivering a mine of the future.”
For more information and detail on the ESG Rating, see the ASX announcement dated 24 November 2022.
More about Ardea Resources and the KNP
Environmental
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Responsible sourcing of materials, through mechanisms such as mandatory reporting of CO₂ footprints for all batteries sold is essential. Traceability is also being implemented with raw materials used in batteries that must be procured according to OECD guidelines for sustainable sourcing. These important considerations are an essential part of the feasibility study work Ardea is undertaking on the KNP, notably through its FBICRC membership.
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Project designs and work practices are based on the Company minimising the project development footprint and CO₂ green-house gas emissions when in production. The proposed flowsheet has been enhanced for CO₂ mitigation in the neutralisation circuit through introducing an Atmospheric Leach (AL) circuit to assist in neutralising the High Pressure Acid Leach (HPAL) discharge. The AL circuit facilitates upgrade of the site acid plant utilisation and allows Ardea to generate its own site power requirements off-grid, without relying on fossil fuel for power generation. Responsible sourcing of materials, through mechanisms such as mandatory reporting of CO₂ footprints for all batteries sold is essential. Traceability is also being implemented with raw materials used in batteries that must be procured according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines for sustainable sourcing.
During the 2023 PFS, a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of the Goongarrie Hub was completed. Using the KNP Goongarrie Hub’s mass and energy data produced for the 2023 PFS, the expected environmental impacts of Ardea’s nickel and cobalt-containing MHP product have been quantified.
The LCA has also undergone third party review and is published in accordance with ISO 14040/2006 and 14044/2006 standards. The reported KNP Goongarrie Hub climate change impact is expected to be 11.9kg CO₂ eq. per kg nickel in MHP based on Ardea’s Scope 1, 2 and upstream Scope 3 emissions. Ardea’s maiden LCA is deemed relatively low for an HPAL operation primarily due to the use of Mineralised Neutraliser (MN) rather than importing and transporting limestone to neutralise acid waste streams. Ardea’s proposed flowsheet, which includes the generation of on-site electricity from steam generated as a by-product of burning sulphur within the sulphuric acid plant, also contributes to the comparatively low LCA.
Social
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First Nations
Acknowledgement of Country - Ardea acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Western Australia and their connections to the land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past, present, and emerging, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today. We also recognise the importance of continued protection and preservation of their cultural, spiritual and educational practices.
Native Title - Ardea has a Native Title Mining Agreement in place for development of the Goongarrie Hub and has successfully negotiated land access agreements with all Native Title claimants in areas affected by our exploration activities.
Education Fund - Ardea Resources established an education fund to support Indigenous students within the communities that Ardea operates. The Eastern Goldfields Education Grant Program offers funding for a range of activities, including education and sporting opportunities. The grants are available upon application to eligible individuals, associations, charities and not-for-profit organisations. Eastern Goldfields Education Grant is independently administered and managed by Kalgoorlie local business, Kalsec. For more information, call (08) 9021 4555 or go to the website.
Kalgoorlie student Noah Hinkley received funding support to help his dream of education and basketball in the USA in 2021. The Goldfields Education Grant Program assisted Noah in funding his 12-month adventure to the USA, attending Community College as well as further developing his basketball talent in an elite program.
Ardea sponsored Leonora Drug Action Group basketball team’s participation in regional tournament, covering team uniform, and travelling funds.
Other local community support initiatives are being considered and will be implemented in the future. For more information visit: www.easterngoldfieldsgrants.com
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Ardea enjoys strong support from the communities in which we operate, primarily the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Shire of Menzies in addition to the local business community.
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The Ardea Team are the Company’s most important asset and comprise 25% female participation in the Board of four, 40% in senior management and 38% of total employees. The Company is a strong advocate for gender equality and fair representation for all community groups. All personnel and their families are offered complimentary support by a ‘wellbeing’ service provider.
Governance
Ardea have a strong board and management team committed to continual improvement in all aspects of our business. The initial Digbee ESG™ submission paves a path for operational and reporting improvements to be addressed across all pillars of Environmental, Social and Governance.