IGO Interactive Annual Report 2019

In FY18, IGO ceased mining at the Long Operation after 16 years of operation, placing the mine into care and maintenance. IGO is proud of both the way we assisted those employees who lost jobs as a consequence of the mine closure and our consultation with the affected host community in Kambalda. We are also proud of the environmental clean-up and remedial works completed prior to the sale of the Long Operation to Mincor Resources NL. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT Whilst IGO’s environmental impacts are relatively minor, we have an ongoing commitment to making a real but proportionate contribution to addressing the world’s most pressing environmental challenges: e.g. global warming, biodiversity loss, deforestation, water pollution, soil loss or degradation and waste management. Currently IGO’s single largest environmental impact is land clearing. Given the current and foreseeable technologies required for exploration, IGO, like other explorers, needs to physically get onto land to explore by means of on-ground electromagnetic surveys, seismic surveys, surface soil sampling and drilling. Invariably this requires the creation of cleared tracks for the passage of vehicles. Whilst the need for these tracks is temporary, vegetation is invariably removed. To minimise the impact of our activities we actively plan the work in consultation with other land owners (e.g. Traditional Owners or pastoralists), with regard to the flora and fauna likely to be affected, the potential for the accidental introduction of pest species, the potential for the accidental disturbance of ethnographic sites of significance, soil disturbance, and prompt remediation once access is no longer required. So, what does it mean to be a sustainable mining company? IGO’s answer is addressed in our purpose; the way in which the mineral resources we explore for, find and develop are used and reused. This is the very definition of sustainable development: development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. For more information on our sustainability performance please see our Sustainability Reports that can be found on our website www.igo.com.au . The effectiveness of mine site rehabilitation is dependant on the quantity and quality of the top soil available to be placed onto post-mining land forms. This soil is typically sourced during the pre-mining activities wherein it is stripped from mining areas and stockpiled for later use. While it is common to have enough topsoil at the end of mine life for rehabilitation works, the quality is often poor. As any good gardener will tell you, soil is so much more than its insoluble mineral constituents. Good soils are high in organic matter, nutrients, seed and critically, soil microbes. A variety of factors affect the quality of stored topsoil, including the size and depth of stockpiles, duration of storage, soil type, climate and method of storage. In January 2019, IGO commenced participation in a study led by Dr Haylee D’Agui with the ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration (CMSR) from Curtin University. The aim of this research is to determine how the diversity, abundance and activity of soil microbes within topsoil stockpiles is influenced by factors such as storage time. The Nova Operation is one of seven mines that will contribute data to inform the development of topsoil management guidelines that will improve mine site restoration outcomes. Keith Ashby, IGO’s Head of SHEQ & Risk highlights, “It is important that we support scientific research into the management of topsoils specifically, and in mine site rehabilitation generally. Doing this well will safeguard both IGO’s future licence to operate and contribute to that of the industry.” CASE STUDY: UNDERSTANDING THE HEALTH OF OUR TOPSOIL IGO topsoil stockpile IGO ANNUAL REPORT 2019 — 19