Minergy has a defined sustainability strategy which has clear imperatives, goals, priority areas and targets, to enable the Company to meet the respective legislative requirements in Botswana. Minergy’s strategic framework focuses on the following:
Our philosophy is to employ Botswana residents, especially from the surrounding villages, as far as this is possible. If skills are not available locally, then resources will be sought from outside of the country, backed up by a suitable skills transfer programme. Employees include direct Minergy staff as well as indirectly appointed contractors.
Ninety eight percent (2023: 95%) of employees are local citizens and approximately one-third of the current workforce is from the local Kweneng district. Minergy has a strong drive to transfer skills so that trained skills remain in Botswana. This also applies to the contractors that Minergy appoints.
Our integrated Human Resources Development Programme (“HRD”) seeks to maximise the productive potential of people involved with the Masama Coal Mine operation, through:
Training and skills transfer remain ongoing and included the following:
CITIZEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (“CEE”)
The operating subsidiary Minergy Coal (Pty) Ltd Board adopted a Local Citizen Economic Empowerment Policy, whereby to date Minergy Coal has endeavoured to support local businesses and employ local citizens. This was achieved on a voluntary basis as there is no prescribed charter or legislative prescription. Minergy Coal is required, in terms of funding provided by Minerals Development Company of Botswana (“MDCB”) and in the spirit of, and compliance with, the provisions of Section 12 of Mines Act, to develop and introduce a CEE programme. The objective of CEE is to facilitate meaningful participation by citizens of Botswana in the project supply chain.
For additional information in the 2024 Integrated Annual Report please click here.
Minergy strives for continuous engagement with employees at various levels to ensure harmonious relations and good employee morale. The mining contractor has recognised the Botswana Mine Workers Union. Relations are managed through employee representatives, line and senior management.
During the year under review, there were no labour or strike action.
Minergy engages with employees on a regular basis and updates are provided on the performance as well as challenges at the mine. In addition to this, monthly Toolbox Talks are regularly undertaken as well as inspections of working conditions. To ensure that all standards are met, an internal review process has also been established.
Safety briefings are part of the Minergy DNA
Minergy has a Safety, Health, Environment and Quality (“SHEQ”) Management System in place, which details our management policies, processes and procedures.
Several health and safety briefings and training sessions have been undertaken. Minergy also reaches out to the people in the villages of Lentsweletau and Medie to ensure that they are aware of safety issues and that Minergy cares for the health of the people, as well as the animals in and around the village areas.
Minergy is proud to report that there was only one minor reportable accident during the year resulting in injuries. There has been no fatalities resulting from activities during and post the financial year.
In addition, a SHE policy, Legal Compliance, Incident/Accident Investigation, Support Orientated Processes (“SOPs”) and Customer Orientated Processes (“COPs”) are in place across the mine, as are the Waste Management and Management of Persons Under the Influence of Alcohol and Drugs procedures, and detailed procedures in respect of hydrocarbon spillages. On an ongoing basis, the Safety Health and Environmental Management Plan is implemented and enhanced.
Minergy strives to become a leader in the protection of our employee’s health and the community’s well-being. Minergy has implemented a COVID-19 Action Plan, which can be found on the Company’s website. In the year under review, Minergy continued to deal proactively with the pandemic to ensure the safety and health of all employees, ensuring employees had the necessary information and protective gear and that they operated in an environment that was safe and consistently sanitised.
COVID-19 remains a challenge, with a total of 138 cases reported since the pandemic’s start, 78 of which were recorded during the full year. Thankfully, all staff have fully recovered. Minergy has spent ~P354 000 on COVID related costs since the inception of the pandemic. Our goal regarding safety: To be a leader in workplace safety by creating a safe working environment for our employees which will result in eliminating injuries and fatalities.
Although, towards the end of the financial year end, COVID-19 restrictions had been lifted, during the majority of the year, COVID-19 protocols were adhered to with all employees and visitors undergoing temperature screening at the mine gate, washing or sanitising their hands and maintaining social distancing. Educational materials were circulated at the mine to educate employees on COVID-19 prevention measures and to be aware of the virus. Minergy also ensured that it could isolate certain sections, shifts or groupings at the mine should a COVID-19 infection be detected. This ensured that the mine did not come to a complete shutdown but that only the affected area was closed and appropriately sanitised.
Employees in that area went through all the necessary medical checks and protocols. Employees at the Masama Coal Mine have access to a First Aid office, ablutions with dressing areas, through the COVID-19 Management Plan, access to screening, hand soaps, sanitisers, wash basins, an isolation room and a COVID-19 vaccination site, periodic medical examinations, the provision of personal protective equipment and the provision of potable water. To ensure a high level of safety, employees have access to continual training. During the year, the following training for employees was undertaken:
Daily Toolbox Talks are held by each operating section or per shift before the start of work or the shifts. All employees in their respective areas or shifts attend these Toolbox Talks. There is the ongoing implementation of the SHE Management Plan, as well as continuing development and implementation of the Site Procedures and Policies; SHE Inspections take place, as well as weekly SHE meetings and Visible Felt Leadership Inspections. Furthermore, safety awareness is raised through the “Near Miss/Hit” Campaigns.
To ensure risks to personnel health and safety and the environment are reduced and controlled at a level as low as reasonably practicable, our goals are simply as follows: Zero injuries, zero property damages and no damage to the environment. Comprehensive SHE Statistics are kept in a SHE register, and Minergy is pleased to indicate that there has been no absenteeism since mining operations began.
External organisations are invited to assist in HIV/AIDS testing and counselling at the mine. Condoms are distributed to the employees. Periodic medical exams, including chest x-rays for tuberculosis (“TB”) and high blood pressure, are available on site. There is a plan in place for employees to test for diabetes and cholesterol. There is also a plan for future accreditation of ISO 45001 — Occupational Health and Safety Management Systems.
The Safety, Health and Environment (“SHE”) policy addresses environmental management and waste management, and hydrocarbons management procedures are in place, as are various Standard Operating Procedures (“SOPs”) and Customer Orientated Processes (“COPs”) that address environmental conservation.
The Masama Coal Mine has an Environmental Management Plan (“EMP”) authorised by the Department of Environmental Affairs (“DEA”). The EMP dictates how various forms of flora and fauna will be protected during the construction, operation and decommissioning of the mine. All activities at the mine are guided by the EMP for environmental protection.
Plans and procedures which are in place include a waste management procedure, spontaneous combustion procedure, a procedure for the handling, treatment and disposal of hydrocarbons, Environmental Impact Assessment, Environmental Management Plan which has been implemented and an Environmental Monitoring programme. Minergy is pleased to report that in the year under review there were no major environmental incidents to report.
Activities and progress
Minergy is a responsible corporate citizen and will adhere to all compliance principles and guidelines according to the approved EIA. As such, Minergy has studies and guidelines in place as set out in the adjacent table:
P.O Box 2330 ABG, Broadhurst, Gaborone, Botswana, Tel: +267 397 2891
Whistleblowing Hotline Contact Details
Email Address (for emails and attachments): minergy@i-Tell.africa
For additional information please go to the contact page on the website
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