QUETTA: The Reko Diq Mining Company (RDMC) has submitted a comprehensive Environment and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report to authorities in Balochistan and Sindh for review and approval. This milestone comes after two-and-a-half years of extensive studies conducted by independent experts for the Reko Diq gold-cum-copper project in Chagai district.
The ESIA aims to ensure RDMC’s adherence to global environmental and social standards. The studies assessed air quality, water resources, biodiversity, and the well-being of local communities. Mitigation measures have been integrated into the project design to address potential environmental and social impacts, ensuring sustainable operations.
Ashley Price, ESIA Manager at RDMC, emphasized the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating, “The completion of this ESIA represents a major milestone in ensuring that our operations will be environmentally responsible and beneficial to the communities where we work.”
The ESIA complies with the Balochistan Environmental Protection Act, 2012, and the Sindh Environmental Protection Act, 2014, as well as international standards such as the International Finance Corporation’s Performance Standards, the World Bank Group’s Environmental Guidelines, the Equator Principles, and the Global Industry Standard for Tailings Management.
RDMC highlighted its ongoing engagement with local communities and stakeholders to incorporate their concerns into the impact assessment process, reaffirming its focus on sustainable development and minimizing potential negative outcomes.
