The most important environmental concerns in the area are those around water, dust, energy management and emissions, waste management and tailings and biodiveristy. At Black Mountain lead and zinc mine, the goal of zero harm in the areas of health and safety extend also to the discipline of environmental management. Black Mountain’s parent company Vedanta Zinc’s approach to the environment is underpinned by technology. In addition, Vedanta is a signatory to the Paris Pledge for Action and is continuously seeking to reduce carbon emissions.

With evolving legislation on GHG emissions and carbon tax there is an onus on companies to ensure that these climate change challenges are addressed with the same commitment as other sustainability issues, while also establishing the financial implications, and impact on cost profiles.

After successful engagement with the national Department of Nature Conservation and the national DEA, the Khumani mine has made good progress in registering a portion of land as a nature conservancy. This practice of offsetting has become an increasingly workable way of preserving biodiversity.