Andrada complies with and holds in high regard the national safety, health & environmental laws of Namibia, in addition to its own policies and requirements. The Company strives to use resources sparingly, to reduce its footprint on the environment, stakeholders and surrounding communities, and make a lasting contribution to the upliftment and growth of the region and the country of Namibia. The Company is proud to be a source of conflict-free minerals.
Andrada has chosen to adopt the International Council on Mining & Metals’ Performance Expectations 10 principles. The table below outlines how we apply each of the code’s ten key principles to our business:
| Principle | Mitigation |
|---|---|
| 1. Apply ethical business practices and sound systems of corporate governance and transparency to support sustainable development. | As a listed company traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange, we recognise the importance of sound corporate governance throughout our organisation, giving our shareholders and other stakeholders including employees, customers, suppliers and the wider community confidence in our business. We endeavour to conduct our business in an ethical and sensitive manner irrespective of race, colour or creed. Andrada has chosen to adopt the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) Corporate Governance Code 2018 for smaller Companies. How we apply each of the code’s ten key principles to our business is outlined in the Corporate Governance page. |
| 2. Integrate sustainable development in corporate strategy and decision-making processes. | Sustainable development principles are integrated into corporate strategies and decision making processes by the board and management team. The Company endeavours to ensure that responsible health and safety, environmental, human rights and labour practices and policies are adopted by suppliers and contractors. |
| 3. Respect human rights and the interests, cultures, customs and values of employees and communities affected by our activities. | Managing human capital in an equitable and sustainable way is central to the Company’s project development strategy. The Company promotes gender equality and an inclusive work environment through its recruitment practices, management and remuneration policies, and development initiatives. Andrada is in support of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and provides for processes to enable the remediation of adverse human rights impacts. |
| 4. Implement effective risk-management strategies and systems based on sound science and which account for stakeholder perceptions of risks. | The Group is subject to a variety of risks, specifically those relating to the mining and exploration industry. As an entrepreneurial business operating in emerging markets, there is clearly an elevated risk which is balanced by potentially greater rewards. The Board is mindful of, and monitors, both its corporate risk and individual project risk. The principal risk factors that the Board feels may affect performance are outlined in the Directors’ Report of the Annual Report. |
| 5. Pursue continual improvement in health and safety performance with the ultimate goal of zero harm. | Andrada recognises that the management of health and safety is an integral part of its business and is committed to establishing and maintaining high standards. This is achieved through the implementation of operational health and safety policies and procedures, as well as regular risk assessment and awareness campaigns. Additional measures and strict protocols have also been introduced to mitigate risks introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| 6. Pursue continual improvement in environmental performance issues, such as water stewardship, energy use and climate change. | The project area is not regarded as environmentally sensitive and is located within a historical mining domain. The non-chemical nature of ore beneficiation, combined with an ore that is largely free of deleterious elements, contributes to a reduced level of environmental risk. Nonetheless, the Company ensures compliance with its operational environmental management plan through continuous monitoring of dust, water and waste management practices. |
| 7. Contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and integrated approaches to land-use planning. | With the Phase 1 Expansion of our flagship Uis Tin Mine on the horizon, the Company’s expansion plans are designed and will operate in a way that is compatible with the value for which the area was designated. For this next phase, the Company’s ambition is to achieve no-net-loss of biodiversity and all risks and impacts to biodiversity and ecosystems are to be addressed and assessed. |
| 8. Facilitate and support the knowledge-base and systems for responsible design, use, re-use, recycling and disposal of products containing metals and minerals. | Performance expectations: 8.1 In project design, operation and de-commissioning, implement cost-effective measures for the recovery, re-use or recycling of energy, natural resources, and materials. 8.2 Assess the hazards of the products of mining according to UN Globally Harmonised System of Hazard Classification and Labelling or equivalent relevant regulatory systems and communicate through safety data sheets and labelling as appropriate. |
| 9. Pursue continual improvement in social performance and contribute to the social, economic and institutional development of host countries and communities. | The Company continually implements inclusive and supportive approaches with the local community to contribute to their economic and social wellbeing. The project has recruited approximately one third of its workforce from the local Uis community and is aiming to increase this portion through training and development programmes. All members of the permanent workforce at the mine are Namibian citizens. The communities surrounding the mine are supported in various ways other than by direct employment. Local small and medium-sized enterprises are prioritised for procurement opportunities. Regular sponsorships are awarded to local sports teams, as well as support for the local traditional authority and various wildlife conservation initiatives. The SMU, Andrada’s local partner in Namibia, are represented on the board of directors of its Namibian operating entity and play an active role both in the management of the company and the management of stakeholder relations in Namibia. |
| 10. Proactively engage key stakeholders on sustainable development challenges and opportunities in an open and transparent manner. Effectively report and independently verify progress and performance. | Performance Expectations 10.1 Identify and engage with key corporate-level external stakeholders on sustainable development issues in an open and transparent manner. 10.2 Publicly support the implementation of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) and compile information on all material payments, at the appropriate levels of government, by country and by project. 10.3 Report annually on economic, social and environmental performance at the corporate level using the GRI Sustainability Reporting Standards. 10.4 Each year, conduct independent assurance of sustainability performance following the ICMM guidance on assuring and verifying membership requirements. |