CHAPTER 7

Environmental Management

We focus on the care and rational, efficient, and sustainable use of natural resources. This is achieved through the application of good environmental prevention and control practices in our activities.

Efficient Use
of Water

Elhe industrial water used in our mineral processing plant comes from pumping in the northern and southern well fields of the Jaukihua aquifer, located 10 km southeast of the mine. During the project's construction phase, a baseline study was conducted, identifying this water body as saline and unsuitable for human, animal consumption, or irrigation. Similarly, the groundwater extraction source is in an area with low demand for this resource, ensuring there is no water stress.

To prevent liquid discharges outside the operational area and dust emissions into the air, wastewater from the camp and dining hall undergo biological treatment until it reaches a quality suitable for reuse in the irrigation of re-vegetation plots and roads within the operational area.

Due to the arid conditions of the region and the demand for water for various activities, there are no discharges to water bodies. All these measures are part of the environmental control practices implemented across all our operations.

Energy Consumption

In our facilities, we use electrical energy sourced from the National Interconnected System. Of the total energy consumption, electricity accounts for 45.78%, diesel for 53.50%, and gasoline for the remaining 0.72%.

In the following graphs, it can be observed that energy consumption increased by 0.3% (1,150 MWh) compared to 2022. The consumption index per ton of concentrate produced also increased significantly, primarily because the tonnage of ore processed at the plant decreased by 391,690 tons, which is 2.2% less than the previous year.

Atmospheric
Emissions

To prevent the dispersion of dust and particulate matter in the air, we have implemented the following controls:

Waste
Management

Possible environmental effects such as soil, air, and water pollution due to waste generation were identified in the environmental impact study of the project.

To properly manage waste, a risk analysis is conducted in MSC's operational and support areas, as well as among contractor companies working in the operational area. Preventive and control actions are defined to prevent and mitigate impacts through field inspections and verification of operational controls.

Soil remediation
and rehabilitation

We perform annual tasks for the remediation and rehabilitation of areas disrupted by mining activities, with the purpose of reestablishing traditional use of the soil and preserving the local ecosystems as much as possible.

For this reason, since 2007, and with the participation of a local community-based company, we have developed the revegetation plan for 133 hectares of soils that were affected during the construction phase and during operations.

Investments and
expenses on
environmental
protection

The following table shows the operating expenses and investments in prevention, mitigation and remediation of environmental impacts:

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CHAPTER 7

Environmental Management

Efficient Useof Water

Energy Consumption

AtmosphericEmissions

WasteManagement

Soil remediationand rehabilitation

Investments andexpenses onenvironmentalprotection

Efficient Use
of Water

Atmospheric
Emissions

Waste
Management

Soil remediation
and rehabilitation

Investments and
expenses on
environmental
protection