IAMGOLD is the first mining company to obtain the ECOLOGO® certification for mineral exploration in Quebec
IAMGOLD recently obtained the ECOLOGO® certification for its mineral exploration activities carried out in Quebec. Getting the ECOLOGO® certification is a significant achievement since IAMGOLD is the first producing mining company to receive it for mineral exploration in la Belle Province.
We sat down with Marie-France Bugnon, IAMGOLD’s General Manager Exploration – Americas, who spearheaded the application process for IAMGOLD. A mining industry veteran with over 30 years’ experience in exploration, Marie-France has first-hand experience in Quebec, including Abitibi, in Ontario and in the Maritimes. Having travelled the world around, Marie-France also brings a deep knowledge of South America’s and West Africa’s geological environments. On the ground, she is as comfortable leading grassroots exploration projects as she is leading advanced exploration projects throughout a mine’s life cycle.
- Tell us about UL and how the ECOLOGO® certification came about.
As you may know, UL is one of the world’s oldest safety certification companies, and it provides third-party evaluation and certification. It is a well-established and respected organization globally.
In 2012, the Quebec Mineral Exploration Association (also known in French as “Association de l’exploration minière du Québec” or "AEMQ") came up with the idea of developing a certification process aimed at evaluating and recognizing the responsible practices of mineral exploration companies and their service providers. To achieve that, the AEMQ collaborated with the Université du Québec en Abitibi-Témiscamingue who developed the initial normative document, then with UL who created the ECOLOGO® certification program based on the university’s work. The program was officially launched in 2019.
- Why is getting the certification a significant achievement?
IAMGOLD is the first major mining company to be certified for its mineral exploration activities in Quebec. This third-party certification confirms that our environmental, social and governance procedures and practices in relation to exploration in Quebec are exemplary. As such, we hope to be a source of inspiration for other companies to follow in our path.
- Is this certification relevant beyond Quebec?
We obtained the certification for our exploration activities in Quebec. We hope this certification will become available to other areas in Canada and other countries where we operate.
- Tell us about the certification process and its duration.
The ECOLOGO® certification process entailed the verification of about a hundred indicators encompassing practices on environment, health and safety, governance, community relations, Indigenous relations, innovation, contribution to local economy, etc.
It is a long and rigorous process, which took us 1.5 years to complete. It pushed our team to take a hard look at existing practices and adopt a growth mindset attitude to embrace transformation and change to reach the certification’s highest standards.
Our exploration activities in Quebec had already received the ISO 14001 certification a few years back, and we already had well-developed environmental procedures, but the ECOLOGO® certification process goes beyond an environmental management system and compelled us to revisit our practices.
- How did the certification process help IAMGOLD?
The certification process helped us in many ways. Firstly, and as said previously, it compelled us to revisit our processes and improve them. Secondly, it compelled us to articulate our processes and practices and put them systematically on paper. This documentation step initiated years ago with our strict inspection system already in place was really a beneficial one as it has helped us in working with our contractors and new colleagues — including for setting expectations and passing on savoir-faire to new colleagues and contractors. Lastly, it also helps in our relations with inspectors and stakeholders when they want to see proof that we’re doing what we say we’re doing. This is very important in gaining and maintaining trust.
- In your view, how does IAMGOLD compare to other mining companies in terms of environmental practices as applied to exploration activities?
The mining industry is at a crossroads. A few years ago, IAMGOLD was ahead of the pack, so to speak, in the implementation of good environmental practices as it relates to exploration in Quebec. Now, I’m very pleased to see our concern for sound ESG practices is now common among other exploration companies and exploration contractors, in general. For example, our focus on ESG has compelled our drilling contractors to improve their own work practices. It's very satisfying.
- Looking to the future, what are your projects?
It is recognition such as this one that illustrate our company’s commitment to sustainable and responsible mining industry. I’m very proud of our team’s efforts in rolling up our sleeves to get the certification. It was really hard, but it was worth it!
Other than that, we’re very busy. We are currently working in the emerging Chibougamau gold district and we should have a new resource estimation done on the expanding Nelligan deposit by the end of 2022. We are also advancing the Rouyn Project optioned for Yorbeau Resources that is part of the “hub-and-spoke” model for our Westwood mine.
Again congratulations to Marie-France Bugnon and her exploration staff on their hard work and for their continued commitment to sustainable mining! To learn more about the certification, visit ECOLOGO® Certification Program | UL.