ENVIRONMENT MANAGEMENT
GENERAL ASPECT
In order to conduct an effective environment management in all its operations and projects, Koza Gold Operations Inc has set up an Environment Unit and an Environment Department at each of its mine operations under the Environment Corporate. Environment departments at different mine sites directly report all environmental developments and activities to the Environment Corporate each week.
An excellent environment management system has been set and operated to combine sharing of knowledge, experience, and constant coordination between environment departments in each mine sites and Environment Management Unit with the requests from Koza Gold Operations A.S. top management on the protection of environmental values.
In order to take measures to reduce possible environmental impacts into acceptable levels and to conduct environmental observation programs, environment management works are ongoing for all mining operations of Koza Gold from the start of operations until well after mining has finished and post-closure period.
While Environment Management Unit continues its works, it acts with an understanding of sustainable mining, which is integral to the principles of complying with regulations, protecting environment, social responsibility, transparent management and productivity. The operations of Koza Gold pursuing mining and environment protection activities have been locally and internationally recognized to set example.
Environment Management Unit has five major targets:
- Starting from investment stage, to monitor construction works and conduct required controls of the activities to ensure works are performed in compliance with the regulations. By implementing this, all necessary infrastructures have been properly employed to reach targeted environmental standards during planning and construction phases leaving no room for any surprises in operational period.
- to keep positions of operations current within frame of environment applied and constantly updated and other regulations related, thus all facilities of Koza Gold Operations Inc have obtained Environment Permit and License certificate or about to complete this process.
- To ensure constant measurements are conducted on the mine sites within Environment Regulation and EIA Undertakings. The measurements performed before and after start of mining activities are constantly compared and forwarded to government agencies, if requested.
- Koza Gold Operations Inc. begins to rehabilitate the mining areas covering the period from the start of operations until well after targeted stage is reached
- To provide all employees with trainings covering Environment Regulations and Environment Policy of Koza Gold Operations A.S and ensure environment policy becomes a culture.
OVACIK GOLD MINE
Ovacik Gold Mine operated by Koza Gold Operations Inc since May 2005 currently has an underground mine, TSF and a plant, which process ore transported from other mines. Environment Department of Ovacık Gold Mine has set its targets and generated procedures and action plans to reach it goals. Within the framework of these targets, periodic environmental measurements are conducted during production stage, and EIA commitments and compliance with applicable provisions of regulations are realised and maintained.
Plant operated by tank leach method produces dore gold. Waste from plant is subjected to SO2/Air chemical decomposition process to decompose cyanide and heavy metals precipitated and stabilized. Finally, these wastes are stored in tailing storage facility (TSF), constructed with zero discharge principle, impervious and stabilized under static and dynamic loads. Impervious tailing pond was constructed to resist earthquake or flood conditions. Projects and construction of tailing pond was supervised by State Hydraulic Works (DSİ).
High density polyethylene (1.5mm HDPE) geomembrane composite lining is spread between two clay layers of side walls of TSF to secure impermeability. Excessive water in TSF is pumped back to water tank at the plant to reduce use of raw water. First TSF constructed has now completed its run of life and rehabilitation began. All results of measurements taken since mine has gone into operation were below the specified limit values. These results are the indication to the sufficiency of the measures implemented during project, construction and operational stages of Ovacık Gold Mine.
Ovacık Gold Mine Leach tanks
Within the frameworks of Environment Management System of Koza Gold Operations Inc., dust, noise, blast (pressure and vibration) hydrogen cyanide gas in air, hydrogen sulphur gas and plant wastes (including cyanide and metals) are measured and moment data obtained from meteorologic station are observed. Samples taken from plant’s chemical treatment discharge and TSF are continuously followed for cyanide and heavy metal concentrations. In addition to all these, water quality and levels are observed at 15 underground boreholes. All the measurements are monthly reported to official institutions…
Environmental performance of Ovacik Gold Mine has been regularly monitored by an inspection committee set up by Izmir Governorship. The samples taken during the monthly inspections conducted by the members of Inspecting and Monitoring Committee on the site are sent to an accredited laboratory for analysis. Monthly Environment Report, which contains data in relation to environmental measures have been available to public and related government authorities, departments, universities, media and non-government organizations as part of our responsible and transparent management consciences.
MASTRA GOLD MINE
Mastra Gold Mine is first gold mine set up by Koza Gold Operations Inc. It is Koza’s second gold mine and in operations since March 2009. Mastra Gold Mine is very similar to Ovacik Gold Mine in terms of process and content. The knowledge gained at Ovacik Gold Mine on mining and environment is implemented at Mastra Gold. The aim of Environment Department is to achieve the goals documented with procedures and action plans, to fulfil responsibilities, and turn internal reports into measurable targets.
Mastra Gold Mine facilities include open pit and underground mining where ore is produced, process plant, and tailing pond. Ore is processed by tank leach method the waste from plant is subjected to SO2/Air chemical decomposition process to decompose cyanide and heavy metals precipitated and stabilized. Finally, these wastes are stored in tailing storage facility (TSF), constructed with zero discharge principle, impervious and stabilized under static and dynamic loads. High density polyethylene (1.5mm HDPE) geomembrane and geosynthetic clay liner secure impermeability. Impervious tailing pond was constructed to resist earthquake or flood conditions. Projects and construction of tailing pond was supervised by State Hydraulic Works (DSİ)
In pursuant to the procedures, Mastra Gold Mine’s Environment Department measures dust, noise, blast (pressure and vibration) hydrogen cyanide gas in air and plant wastes (including cyanide and metals) are measured. The taken samples from plant’s chemical treatment discharge and TSF are constantly followed for cyanide and heavy metal concentrations. In addition to all these, water quality and levels are observed at 9 observation boreholes. All the measurements are monthly reported to government agencies. Environmental performance of Mastra Gold Mine is continuously monitored by an inspecting committee set up by Gumushane Governorship. The samples taken every month are sent an accredited laboratory.
KAYMAZ GOLD MINE
Kaymaz Gold Mine is second gold mine set up by Koza Gold Operations A.S. It is Koza’s third gold mine and in operations since January 2012. Mastra Gold Mine is very similar to Ovacik and Mastra Gold mines in terms of process and content. Mastra Gold Mine facilities include open pit, where ore is produced, process plant, and tailing pond where waste is finally stored. Ore is processed by tank leach method the waste from plant is subjected to SO2/Air chemical decomposition process to decompose cyanide and heavy metals precipitated and stabilized. These wastes are finally stored in tailing storage facility (TSF), constructed with zero discharge principle, impervious and stabilized under static and dynamic loads. High density polyethylene (HDPE1.5mm thick) geomembrane and geosynthetic clay liner (50cm thick) secure impermeability. Projects and construction of tailing pond was supervised by State Hydraulic Works (DSİ)
Dust, noise, blast (pressure and vibration) hydrogen cyanide gas in air and plant wastes (including cyanide and metals) are measured, and the samples taken from plant’s chemical treatment discharge and TSF are constantly followed for cyanide and heavy metal concentrations. In addition to all these, water quality and levels are observed at 13 observation boreholes placed in around the plant and other areas. All the measurements are monthly reported to government agencies. The samples taken every month are sent to an accredited laboratory. Meteorologic data is collected every day from a meteorology station set up at Kaymaz mine site.
