Diamonds and Specialty Products
- EKATI Diamond Mine
Winter aerial, Koala North, Koala
The Diamonds and Specialty Products (D&SP) group encompasses diamonds, titanium minerals, fertiliser products, exploration and technology. The EKATI Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories of Canada is one of the world’s largest gem quality producers. Richards Bay Minerals in South Africa is a major producer of titanium slag, high purity pig iron, rutile and zircon. D&SP also acquired world-class assets through the acquisition of WMC Resources Ltd, such as Queensland Fertiliser Operations (QFO - recently renamed Southern Cross Fertilisers) in Australia and Corridor Sands titanium project in Mozambique. Major expansions also occurred in Exploration offices in China, Russia, Mongolia and Africa, as well as increased activities in Technology in the developing countries.
HSEC Overview 2005
Key aspects of the HSEC performance of Diamonds and Specialty Products for the reporting period 2004/05:
- We achieved zero fatalities since the BHP Billiton merger.
- We achived a 33 per cent reduction in Classified Injury Frequency rate over 2004/05.
- We implemented Behavioural-based Safety programs across D&SP.
- All Technology Laboratories achieved ISO 14001 certification.
- The EKATI Diamond Mine has consistently been named among Canada’s Top 100 employers.
- Our incident reporting and close-out of action items matured.
HSEC Outlook
Looking ahead, the primary HSEC focus for Diamonds and Specialty Products will be to:
- Continue to strive towards Zero Harm – especially no fatalities
- Continue Classified Injury Frequency rate reduction with commencement of underground operations at EKATI, acquisition of QFO phosphate operations and Exploration’s presence in new terrain
- Embed behavioural-based safety programs
- Be proactive in environmental management, particularly water management at EKATI
- Continue reduction in energy use at EKATI through its Energy Smart program, which seeks energy saving ideas from employees, evaluates and then implements the suggestions.
