KASIBU, Nueva Vizcaya—OceanaGold (Philippines), Inc. has renewed its ISO 50001:2011 Energy Management System certification, which is focused on achieving continual improvement of energy performance, including energy efficiency, energy use and consumption.
This new certification is supplementary to the existing ISO certifications of the mine—both ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007.
The ISO certification was awarded through QSCert, an accredited certification body of the International Organization for Standardization.
OGPI general manager David Way said the award came as a significant step in realizing their vision of improving its processes and to further ensure a quality environment management system.
“This new achievement is a demonstration of our commitment not only to support the management and efficient use of energy in the Company for our business and processes but also support government efforts to reduce GHG emission,” he said.
Didipio Mine’s EnMS certification also conforms to RA 11285 or Energy Efficiency and Conservation Law, which was recently signed by President Rodrigo Duterte.
The law aims to institutionalize and implement plans that promote energy efficiency and the development and use of renewable energy.
The EnMS certification, on top of the implemented Integrated Management System, is an effective management tool that promotes improved environmental and safety performance through proactive environmental compliance, prevention of pollution, as well as creation of excellent safety culture through its OHSAS 18001 certification.
Prior to the certification, OceanaGold has executed programs on energy efficiency that contribute to solving climate change problems.
One of these was in 2015, when the Didipio Mine connected to the national grid through its overhead power lines, which significantly led to reduction of carbon emissions and diesel consumptions by as much as 89%.
Compliant to its newly-acquired ISO 50001, OGPI aims to reduce 3% of its energy consumption by the end of 2019. It also has a carbon sink program in place which has also reduced carbon emissions by establishing tree plantations in and around the mine site.
Through its Mining Forest Program, OceanaGold has planted more than 1.6 million trees in support to the governments National Greening Program.
OceanaGold’s Didipio Mine is the only operating mine that is ISO 50001:2011 (EnMS) certified. This is a commitment of the company to continuously improve its processes when it comes to protecting the environment to leave a sustainable ecosystem for future generations, Way said.