The Copper Mark is a certification that mining companies receive following a rigorous audit of their ESG practices. To date, only 52 mining operations worldwide have obtained this mark of distinction. In Africa, Tenke Fungurume Mining is the first mine to have obtained certification. This was an opportunity for those involved in this achievement to celebrate. And 31 July was the date chosen to celebrate this international recognition obtained since 12 June.

The celebration took place at TFM's facilities. Given the importance of the event, CEO Wang Hanyuan, PCA Wang Quan and DGA John Woto personally took part in the ceremony. Surrounding them were the main directors of TFM's departments and divisions, in particular those who were on the front line during the audit that led to Copper Mark certification.

This certification, a first in the African mining industry, is the result of the dedicated work of TFM's team over several years under the supervision of Julie Liang, ESG Vice-President of CMOC, TFM's parent company.

Sponsor of the efforts that led to the certification, Julie Liang was keen to take part in the celebration of this mark of distinction. Speaking online, she expressed her gratitude for the efforts and dedication of all TFM employees, but also acknowledged that "it was hard to believe that we would succeed". However, with everyone's commitment and dedication, she said, TFM had managed to "defy the impossible" and see the end of the tunnel. She placed particular emphasis on the audit to be carried out next year and on the corrective measures to be implemented upstream.

The evening was marked by a series of speeches by company directors, explaining how TFM achieved the Copper Mark and what requirements it entails. To begin with, the CEO retraced the path taken to reach the Copper Mark. "The year 2023," he said, "has seen many milestones in our ESG work.... And we have become the first mine in Africa to commit to all Copper Mark standards."

He also urged that the GSS should be "the company's calling card and firewall", reflecting CMOC's vision: "To become a respected, modern, world-class resources company".

Speaking along the same lines, the PCA was rather pedagogical, explaining the whole process leading up to certification. "The Copper Mark," he introduced, "is a leading certification scheme launched in 2020 aimed at meeting the growing demand for responsible sourcing and production practices internationally and promoting responsible practices in the copper value chain."

Referring to the certification requirements, he explained that they cover key environmental, social and governance issues, including legal compliance, labour relations, environmental management, community development, grievance mechanisms and stakeholder engagement. And all of this, he added, covers the entire production process of the products - copper and cobalt - from extraction to refining.

In conclusion, the CEO expressed his wish for the future: "I hope that in the future, TFM and our partners will continue to implement the CMOC Group's ESG vision, which is as follows: "Responsible mining for a better world."

In his turn, CEO John Woto pointed out that for TFM, Copper Mark certification is "global recognition of our commitment to CSR" and that "the Copper Mark is a symbol of our commitment to the environment, social responsibility and governance". He also emphasised that this certification is the "validation of our efforts for sustainable transparency and responsible management of our resources".

As well as the speeches, there were a number of entertainment activities. There was a tombola and a quiz session on Copper Mark requirements.

The ceremony ended with a family photo, immortalising the moment in a good-natured atmosphere, to the unison cry of "The Copper Mark".