Unki Mine, owned by Anglo-American Platinum (Amplats) and Zimbabwe’s third-largest producer of platinum group metals (PGMs), has set a global standard in responsible mining by becoming the first operation worldwide to achieve the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) 75 Rating.
Additionally, it completed the rigorous IRMA Surveillance Audit, as reported by Mining Zimbabwe.
According to Amplats’ 2023 Climate Change Report, Unki Mine was the pioneer in publicly committing to an independent audit against the IRMA Standard and the first mine in Africa to successfully complete this review, earning the prestigious IRMA 75 Rating. The report highlights that Unki also made history in 2022 by becoming the first mine globally to undergo an IRMA Surveillance Audit, further solidifying its leadership in sustainable mining practices.
“Our Unki PGMs mine in Zimbabwe was the first in the world to publicly commit to being independently audited against the IRMA Standard and the first in Africa to complete the review, verified by a third-party assessor. Unki has achieved the IRMA 75 Rating. In 2022, Unki also became the first mine globally to undergo an IRMA Surveillance Audit,” the report states.
The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) responds to the growing global demand for more socially and environmentally responsible mining practices. It provides independent assessments against a comprehensive standard for all mined materials, ensuring full coverage of the issues impacting industrial-scale mines.
IRMA’s vision is to create a mining industry that respects the human rights and aspirations of affected communities, offers safe and healthy workplaces, minimizes environmental harm, and leaves positive legacies. The organization’s mission is to safeguard people and the environment impacted by mining operations, create financial value for mines that adhere to best practices, and share this value with businesses that source materials from these mines.
