The Group uses manufacturing processes that emit air pollutants such as dust and sulfur oxides (SOx) as a result of burning fuel, etc. In particular, emissions from our copper smelting and refining plants account for the majority of those emissions. Each facility is working to suppress emissions of air pollutants by stabilizing and increasing the efficiency of operations that generate emissions, and by installing advanced waste gas treatment equipment and maintaining appropriate performance.
All of our sites strive to prevent water pollution, such as by appropriately treating effluent and imposing wastewater management standards that are even stricter than the wastewater standards stipulated by law or municipal ordinance. In addition to measures such as installing dikes to prevent chemical or oil leaks, and inspecting equipment on a daily basis, we also conduct regular training aimed at preventing the spread of substances in the event of a leak.
The Group’s manufacturing plants handle a diverse range of chemical substances. Each site is taking steps to reduce environmental risks, such as reducing the use of hazardous chemical substances, preventing their leakage into the environment, and reducing emissions. Specific initiatives include the review of processes according to the characteristics of each chemical substance, the installation of new equipment, as well as the switch to less hazardous alternative substances.
To contribute to building a resource-recycling society, we take comprehensive measures to reduce waste discharge and recycle resources from waste we have discharged. We also engage in recycling operations.
| Purpose of activities | Activities during fiscal 2022 | Self- assessment |
Targets/plans for activities from fiscal 2023 onwards |
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A |
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Self-assessment grades A: Target achieved B: Target mostly achieved C: Target not achieved
We are a company with its origins in the mining industry. The Mitsubishi Materials Group owns a wide range of mines around Japan, including limestone, coal and nonferrous metal mines, such as copper, lead and zinc mines. Operations at all of our non-ferrous metal mines have now been suspended or discontinued. Currently, we are managing 21 abandoned mines in 15 locations. We have continued to implement the following controls and management programs for our abandoned mines on a long-term basis, pursuant to Article 5 of our Code of Conduct, which states, “[Environmental Management] We will work to manage our environmental impact and promote decarbonization, make efficient use of natural resources, and accelerate recycling.”
We continue to preserve and maintain sections of mine drift in some abandoned mines as cultural heritage sites or tourist facilities to exhibit their former conditions and preserve historical mining technologies for future generations.
Broadly speaking, acid mine drainage can be generated in two ways. There is the acidic water in the pits (mine water) containing heavy metals, generated through contact between oxidized minerals and rainwater and groundwater, which can fill the underground pits and mining cavities formed in mineralized belts due to mining operations. Then there is the permeated water (wastewater) generated when small amounts of heavy metals, which are contained in slag and other substances in the tailings dams, come into contact with rainwater and surface water. The acid mine drainage goes to processing plants, where it undergoes neutralization and the removal of heavy metals. The water is then discharged into rivers according to wastewater standards.
The Group controls acid mine drainage treatment, tailings dams, mine drifts and entrance drifts at the abandoned mines under its management. Acid mine drainage treatment involves the appropriate processing. Tailings dam control involves preventing stored slag and sediment from leaking out in case of dam body collapse. Mine drift and entrance drift control involves inspections to maintain waterways for acid mine drainage and sealing entrances to prevent injuries due to third-party trespassing and mine drift collapse. In particular, acid mine drainage control is carried out around the clock every day of the year.
Acid mine drainage treatment facilities (Yatani Mine)
Tailings dam management (Ikuno Mine)
We are pushing forward with the digitalization of management tasks for abandoned mines to improve the management and efficiency of the tasks.
Visualization of operational data (displaying data trends)
Recording inspection results using smartphone (digitalization of inspection data)
Since 2015, our Group has been implementing responses to deteriorating natural disasters and other risks by conducting protective construction to guard against contamination and other threats, reinforcing tailing dams to prevent uncontrolled release of slag and sediment in the event of major earthquakes, reducing wastewater at the source and upgrading aging facilities and by fiscal 2019, we had completed appropriating an environmental countermeasure reserve for work expenses.
Drawing on lessons learned from the leakage of slag and sediment from tailings dams managed by other companies during the Great East Japan Earthquake, in November 2012, the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry revised its technical guidelines on aseismic performance. Based on this, we evaluated the stability of the tailings dams at abandoned mines managed by the Group, which revealed that measures needed to be implemented at 10 locations. Thus, we started construction work to design and implement stability measures at the locations in fiscal 2016.
Reinforcement work by soil stabilization at the Yatani Mine Tailings Dam (completion)
In an effort to decrease the burden and risks of acid mine drainage due to environmental changes (large-scale typhoons and guerrilla rainstorms) in recent years, we are proceeding with source countermeasure construction and updating aging equipment. One way of the source countermeasures is to cover exposed surfaces of mineralized belts on a large scale, such as by using the latest technology (which enables greening that was previously difficult due to acidic rocks). This prevents rainwater from coming into direct contact with the mineralized belts, which is expected to reduce the amount of water to be processed as well as the burden of contamination.
Contamination containment work（Komagi Mine）
Upgraded pit wastewater treatment facility (Komagi Mine)
All the Group’s non-ferrous metal mines are abandoned and some time has passed since the mines were closed down. As such, we have seen a decrease in relevant human resources as engineers with skills in non-ferrous metal mining have either retired or reached advanced age. In order to continue to sustainably manage abandoned mines, we are actively training young engineers with little mining experience, and setting up a variety of educational programs for engineers (including programs for acquiring skills for the management of abandoned mines and for obtaining relevant qualifications). In this way, we strive to transfer mine management skills.
Engineer training (mine tunnel management)
Engineer training (basic training)
In fiscal 2018, we opened an endowed laboratory in the field of resources environment and remediation at Hokkaido University. In addition to giving lectures related to the protection of the mining environment, this laboratory engages in a variety of research projects and activities.
We also work on initiatives including the development of new environmental conservation technologies in cooperation with and guided by experts from other universities and research institutions. We have widely publicized the achievements of these R&D efforts by presenting them in research papers, at symposiums and at other events.
A plant tour given to students from an endowed laboratory (site tour)
A greening survey at a former mining site
A river ecological survey (collection of benthos)
Field test of passive treatment
To promote local residents’ understanding of our measures for preventing mining-induced pollution at our abandoned mines, we proactively hold sessions to explain countermeasure work and offer facility tours. We also strive to contribute to local communities through tree-planting and the release of juvenile fish as environmental activities, as well as participation in and cosponsoring of local events and festivals. In addition, we accept inspection tours of our mining facilities by students and researchers from Japan and overseas. We thus offer our facilities as locations for research and development and skills training related to the prevention of mining-induced pollution.