The Environment

Our Commitment in Practice

Highlights

  • Low carbon intensity operation
  • Award winning environmental performance for Gibraltar’s water, land, energy, and air quality Management Protocols
  • Comprehensive environmental reporting

A Low Carbon Future

A low carbon future depends on copper; it is essential for all forms of renewable energy, electric vehicle transportation, energy transmission and so much more. There is no metal more vital to power tomorrow than copper.

Gibraltar Mine

Benefiting from hydro power, Gibraltar Mine has a low carbon intensity. As reported and qualified by Skarn Associates, Gibraltar ranks in the lowest quartile compared to other copper miners throughout the world with Scope 11 GHG emissions of 1.66 t CO2e/t Cu eq. per pound of copper produced and Scope 22 GHG GHG emissions of 0.09 t CO2e/t Cu eq. per pound of copper produced.

Florence Copper

With a combined Scope 1 & 2 Copper Intensity of 1.88 t CO2e/t Cu eq. per pound, Florence Copper Project will have one of the lowest GHG emissions per pound of copper compared to other copper mines throughout the world.

When commercial production from Florence Copper commences, Taseko’s position (Gibraltar + Florence) on the GHG Intensity Curve drops lower into the first quartile, as reported by Skarn Associates.


Skarn Copper GHG Intensity Curve

Scope 1: direct greenhouse gas emissions
Scope 2: indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with the purchase of electricity, steam, heat, or cooling

Environmental Recognition

Jake McDonald Mine Reclamation Award

The Gibraltar Mine was awarded the prestigious Jake McDonald Annual Award for Metal Mine Reclamation from the British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation on September 23rd, 2020. The award recognized Gibraltar’s outstanding achievement in mine reclamation and indigenous collaboration.

Mining & Sustainability Award

On July 12th, 2014 the Mining Association of BC and the Province of British Columbia awarded Taseko-Gibraltar with the Mining & Sustainability award for 2013 at a community event in Williams Lake. The event, attended by Taseko-Gibraltar employees, members of the Williams Lake Indian Band, the Aboriginal Mentoring and Training Association, local government representatives, community supports and many others, celebrated the accomplishments of Taseko-Gibraltar since the Gibraltar Mine restarted in 2004.

Metal Mine Reclamation Award

In September 2012, Gibraltar was recognized for its large-scale reclamation projects and progressive reclamation research trials with the Metal Mine Reclamation Award for Metal Mine Reclamation from the British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation. Projects included a joint initiative with the Ministry of Forests for a pine tree establishment research program, research using biosolids from Metro Vancouver and wood chips to reclaim the tailings areas, and, the establishment of a pilot wetland to monitor the capabilities in treating tailings.

Environmental Reporting

Gibraltar Mine undertakes comprehensive water and air monitoring procedures that includes regular monitoring of approximately 165 sampling sites across the property. Samples are analyzed by an independent and provincially accredited laboratory based in Vancouver and results are reported to the British Columbia Ministry of Energy and Mines on a quarterly and annual basis.

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