Environment
KICO is committed to responsible environmental management throughout the mining lifecycle and across its operational footprint. The company’s governance approach is grounded in compliance with applicable environmental and social regulations in the host country and is further guided by industry-leading practice and international standards.
KICO works to avoid or prevent adverse impacts on the environments in which it operates. Where avoidance is not possible, the company acts to mitigate and minimise those impacts.
Compliance, Monitoring and Awareness
KICO’s strategic environmental management approach is founded on proactive, integrated and ongoing monitoring, supported by continuous feedback and improvement. Environmental systems and controls, including impact assessments and management plans, are regularly reviewed and updated to address operational risks
and opportunities while remaining aligned with local regulatory requirements and international standards.
Water Management
KICO is committed to responsible water stewardship, underpinned by transparent governance. The mine’s water and risk management strategies are designed to identify and address water-related impacts while safeguarding water security for current and
future users within the operational footprint.
Systems and controls incorporate key contextual considerations, including basin- and catchment-level water availability, stakeholder dynamics, regulatory frameworks and the condition of surrounding ecosystems.
KICO prioritises responsible and sustainable water use across its operations. Recognising the critical role of water management in mining, the mine implements measures to optimise water use and protect this resource both within and beyond the operational area. Key focus areas include flood risk management, water recycling,
hydropower reliability, water consumption and pollution prevention.
Operating in a water-positive region, KICO manages water discharges to minimise impacts on surrounding surface water receptors and to maintain water quality in accordance with national requirements and international drinking water standards.
The company aligns its practices with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) guidelines on water management.
KICO’s water management efforts extend to community development initiatives that form part of the mine’s broader sustainability strategy. These include boreholes, water
reticulation systems and sanitation infrastructure that improve access to potable water and contribute to long-term community resilience.
Climate Change, Energy and GHG Emissions
An updated greenhouse gas emissions assessment recently completed by Skarn Associates confirms that KICO is the lowest-carbon emitter per unit of zinc produced worldwide.
This position reflects the ultra-high-grade Big Zinc orebody, which has an average head grade of more than 36% zinc over the first five years of operation. That is more than 6.5 times higher than the average head grade of the top 20 zinc mining operations
in 2023. A high head grade means significantly less rock is mined, hauled and milled for every tonne of zinc produced. The total peak power required by the mining and milling operation is only 23 megawatts (MW).
The low emissions intensity is also a function of the DRC grid being among the cleanest in the world, with 99.5% of grid power generated from hydroelectricity, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
On a Scope 1 and 2 basis (reported from ore to mine gate), KICO’s greenhouse gas emissions intensity for 2025 is 0.25 equivalent tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne of contained zinc produced. This ranks the mine comfortably near the bottom of the global Scope 1 and 2 emissions curves.
Zinc’s Role in the Energy Transition
Zinc’s primary application is the protection of steel against corrosion, which accounts for more than 60% of global consumption. In 2023, global crude steel production
reached approximately 1.9 billion tonnes, according to the World Steel Association, underscoring zinc’s critical role in extending the lifespan and durability of infrastructure.
Zinc is also essential to the energy transition, particularly in renewable energy generation and transmission infrastructure, as well as in emerging battery storage technologies. It plays a vital role in protecting solar panel mounting systems and wind turbine structures from corrosion and extreme weather. On average, a 100 MW solar installation requires approximately 230 tonnes of zinc, while a 100 MW offshore wind installation requires around 40 tonnes.
Demand for zinc in battery storage is expected to grow significantly. According to industry consultant CRU and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), demand for zinc in energy storage is forecast to increase tenfold to more than 130,000
tonnes per annum by 2030. This growth is projected to lift total zinc demand for renewable energy generation and storage to more than 360,000 tonnes annually.
Waste Management
Effective waste management is fundamental to sustainable mining and supports environmental protection, water management, community wellbeing and long-term value creation. Poorly managed mining waste can lead to environmental degradation, regulatory non-compliance and increased closure liabilities, while proactive management reduces long-term risk and underpins strong environmental, social and governance performance.
KICO works to enhance the quality of life within its operational footprint by providing access to a designated landfill, together with training and guidance to support effective community waste management practices.
Tailings Management
Tailings generated as a by-product of mineral processing are managed with a clear focus on safety, environmental stewardship, regulatory compliance and risk reduction across the full life cycle of each tailing’s storage facility.
KICO’s tailings storage facilities are designed, constructed and operated in alignment with recognised international standards and industry best practice. Each facility is engineered based on detailed geotechnical, hydrological, and environmental investigations to support structural integrity, effective seepage control, and responsible water management, taking site-specific climatic conditions into account.
Conservative design parameters, staged-raise strategies, and life-of-mine deposition planning are applied to safeguard long-term performance and resilience. Tailings management is governed by the group Tailings Policy, which aligns with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) and reflects the principles of the ICMM Conformance Protocol.
Mine Closure
Mine closure can have lasting and, in some cases, irreversible impacts on both the environment and the communities that depend on mining for their livelihoods. Effective closure planning requires a comprehensive and integrated approach that addresses social, economic, environmental and governance considerations after closure. Sustainable closure also focuses on defining a viable end state for the mining area while supporting host communities to become resilient and self-sustaining in a postmining future.