Kazchrome awarded the Responsible Chromium Label
The International Chromium Development Association (ICDA) granted the honorary Responsible Chromium award to JSC “TNC “Kazchrome”. Only six companies in the world including the Republic of Kazakhstan Leader in ferrochrome production.
According to Sheraz Neffati, Executive Director, ICDA, there was and still is a growing need within the chromium industry to have an official label certifying a company is acting in compliance with the highest responsible standards.
- “The ICDA has long-term ambitions, with our immediate aim being to have more companies successfully join this program. We warmly congratulate the companies which have received the Responsible Chromium label, going above and beyond the standard requirements,” – said Sheraz Nefatti.
The Responsible label award demonstrates a commitment of the Company to values including following safe processes and best practices, the ethical treatment of people and communities, abolishing child labour and modern slavery, the mitigation of environmental impact and the fight against corruption.
The independent Ecovadis agency, which is highly regarded for its business sustainability ratings, was involved to evaluate the Company’s adherence to these values. Kazchrome was granted the Ecovadis Silver award, which reflects the ERG’s continued efforts to ensure it sources its products responsibly and its commitment to improving its sustainable business practices.
The new tailings beneficiation facility, which is currently being developed by Kazchrome at Donskoy GOK, is one of the world’s most advanced facilities in terms of technology and automation, which uses innovative flotation technology to reduce the environmental impact of its tailings. The Company’s key projects also include constructing a ferroalloy gas recycling power plant, recycling waste in its production activities including through briquetting gas purification dusts, and processing slags and sludge into more than 20 types of commercial products through ERG Recycling.
In 2020 the environmental projects investments amounted to $55.3 million. The company's total budget to provide social support to employees was $14.7 million, while social investments in the regions of Kazchrome’s presence totaled $9 million.
Arman Yessenzhulov, President of Kazchrome, noted: “The Kazchrome team is proud of such rating from a leading international association”.
- “The principals and quality of our work have been recognized at the international level. We are strongly committed to our environmental projects, which use the latest technologies, have launched a number of initiatives to improve energy efficiency and are investing in the social development of our regions of presence. We have had a long history of working with the ICDA, having been actively involved in many of their projects. The ICDA is widely recognized for their efforts in promoting the value and sustainability of chromium worldwide”, - said Arman Yessenzhulov.
- “I would like to congratulate Kazchrome and ERG on this inspiring achievement, being a source of pride for Kazakhstan also, as Kazchrome is representing Kazakhstan in the global arena as a responsible producer of chromium”, - said Nikolay Radostovets, Executive Director of the Kazakhstan Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises.
Anastasia Kuskova, Transformation and Sustainable Development Director at ERG, said that this is an achievement that shows the importance that ERG places on environmental, social and governance (ESG) matters.
- This Kazchrome Responsible Label award will serve to motivate us as we continue improving our ESG practices across the whole Company. I am thankful to our colleagues at Kazchrome, our corporate offices, and specifically the ecology, compliance, HR and procurement departments for their diligent work to secure this rating, which was recognized by the auditors”.
For reference: ICDA is the International Chromium Development Association. The Association was established on July 1, 1901 in accordance with French law. The members of the Association are the global leaders of the chrome industry, representing 26 countries of the five continents. They are companies or organizations operating everywhere in the world with an interest in the production, processing, supply, and study of chromium-containing materials.