July 29, 2021

Grande Côte Opérations produced 362,000 tons of mineral sands in first half of 2021. These results should be credited to the teams, who are also involved in supporting the local communities.

Mineral sands production remained stable in the first half of 2021. The slight reduction in average mineral sand content in the mining zone was offset by the team’s excellent operational performance. Most of the yield consisted of ilmenite. Zircon production, meanwhile, fell 2% to 28,000 t, and sales were down 9% on the first half of 2020.

In a global market that remains unstable, these results reflect the robust nature of GCO’s operational model, as well as the ability of Eramet’s sales teams to consolidate its position as a leading producer of mineral sands, just a few years after it launched operations in 2014.

During the first half of the year, GCO submitted a proposal to administrative officials to optimize resources in the concession. This project, called “GCO Expansion”, will increase production capacity by 10% in the short term. The expected economic impact is +20%, and it will help create 60 direct jobs and another 50 jobs during the investment phase. The Community Relations team has already begun conducting field surveys among the local population and initiated discussions with local officials.

Responsible management of the health crisis and employee safety are major priorities for GCO. As such, the health protocol implemented in March 2020 is subject to regular reviews based on pandemic developments and the recommendations of local officials.

In April 2021, GCO became the first mining company in Senegal to receive ISO 14001 certification, a testament to the excellent environmental management system implemented by its teams. The company is currently involved in an identical international certification process, this time for its energy management system, as it prepares its ISO 50001 application.

It is making good progress with relocating and restoring the livelihoods of families living in hamlets along the mine’s path, and is involved in a Social Mining Program on education, health and public hygiene, water supplies, and local economic development, as stipulated in its mining agreement.

In July, GCO constructed a healthcare station in Diogo-sur-Mer, which will provide around 3,000 people with access to healthcare, particularly for expectant mothers. The facility, an investment of 61 million CFA francs (€93,000), supplements the healthcare resources already provided by GCO.

These measures help strengthen the integration of GCO’s CSR roadmap into the Group’s strategic transformation. They also support Eramet’s mission statement, enshrined in its bylaws in the first half of the year, which lays down its intention to become a leader in the responsible transformation of the Earth’s mineral resources for the benefit of all.

“In the first half of the year, GCO showed its resilience thanks to the teams’ performance. Our ethical and responsible approach is essential, and it is the reason why we always listen to the community in order to optimize the benefits for the country. We are demonstrating that it is possible to conduct a large-scale mining project while adhering to sustainable development commitments.” 

Benoît Robitaille
CEO of GCO