INDEPENDENCE GROUP NL SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017

CASE STUDY / This year, IGO reached an important milestone with the first export shipment of nickel and copper concentrate from Esperance Port in June 2017. The success in transporting our concentrate safely through the Esperance Port is attributable to several years of planning and engagement with stakeholders and the community since 2013. Historically, noise and dust generated from the transport and bulk handling of heavy metals through the Esperance Port has impacted the environment and the local community. In the lead up to our first shipment through the Esperance Port, our focus has been to establish industry leading best practice methods for ship loading to ensure negligible dust impacts to the surrounding environment. We’ve carried out baseline soil contamination assessments along our transportation route and implemented noise, dust, odour and weather monitoring at Esperance Port in an effort to mitigate any potential impacts. Most noteworthy is the innovative technology that our stevedoring partner, Qube, employs at the Esperance Port to ensure zero fugitive dust emissions during transport and ship loading. The purpose designed and built Rotabox™ technology combines the use of a rotating frame and bulk containers with lockable lids to trap dust during loading and eliminate dust emissions to the environment. Together with extensive environmental monitoring, and with the advantage of the Rotabox™ technology, IGO can maintain sustainable, low impact ship loading operations at the Esperance Port, and additionally meet the expectations of the community. ENVIRONMENTAL ESPERANCE PORT SHIPPING OUR FOCUS HAS BEEN ESTABLISHING INDUSTRY LEADING BEST PRACTICE METHODS FOR SHIPLOADING. IGO SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2017— 79