FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WITH PICTURES
JULY 18, 2022
Kagem demonstrates mining excellence with triple ISO certification
LUFWANYAMA, ZAMBIA – Marking another milestone in the emerald mine’s endeavour to demonstrate excellence in safety, quality assurance and environmental protection, Kagem Mining Ltd has become officially certified with the ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental Management System), ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health and Safety Management System) and ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System).
Lufwanyama District Commissioner Justin Mwalikwa commended the mine, saying: “As Government we are very happy with the efforts that Kagem is continually making in improving their operations and their operational environment. Government is a primary stakeholder in Kagem by virtue of owning 25% shares through the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC), therefore, as partners, it gives us great pleasure to see the mine make great strides in meeting international standards in mining operations.”
The certification signifies that Kagem has met the internationally prescribed standards on the health and safety of its employees, protecting the environment and providing the highest quality products: its world-renowned emeralds.
“The health and safety of our employees, protecting the natural environment and providing quality products are of great importance in our everyday work life as we conduct our business. They are core items of business integrity and ethics,” said Kagem government representative director on the Board, Boniface Mutale.
During the certification ceremony at the Kagem site, renowned Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) services firm Bureau Veritas, who have been in this business since 1828, observed that the Lufwanyama-based mine had over the years optimised its operations and made them efficient.
“Kagem is demonstrating to Zambia and the world at large that it cares about the environment. The company does not just extract the mineral reserves but also leaves the environment in such a manner that it can be used by generations to come,” noted Bureau Veritas Certification Manager, Elias Mwale.
Kagem General Manager, Sanjeev Kumar commented “Business practices nowadays call for environmental protection, social responsibility, and good governance. Kagem management realises that it has a moral, ethical, and legal obligation to the environment, its employees, and the community it operates within.”
“The certificates were achieved by the efforts of our in-house team rather than an engaged consultancy, demonstrating the strength of Kagem’s in-house expertise,” added Sanjeev Kumar.
The International Standards Organisations (ISO) is the highest world standards body that provides a wide array of internationally recognised standards that companies should meet.
Maintaining high quality levels and consistency is essential in achieving the best standards in mining operations and in the continued effort to be a leading example within the coloured gemstone sector across health, safety, environment and quality, Kagem always strives to follow and be compliant with international standards.
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CONTACT
Enquiries
Gillian Langmead
Langmead & Baker Ltd
Tel: +260 979 060705
info@langmead.com
Head office
Helena Choudhury
Head of PR and Communications
Tel: +44 (0)207 518 3420
helena.choudhury@gemfields.com
Kagem responsible sourcing highlights
- Kagem is committed to ensuring that the community continues to benefit positively from its operations through various sustainability programmes focused on alleviating poverty and aligned with government policies, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Vision 2030
- The mine has spent more than USD 2.8 million on community projects, including:
- Rehabilitation of the 18.7km road connecting Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s chiefdoms from Kandole to Kafwaya village in Lufwanyama district
- Construction of the Nkana Health Centre
- Construction and equipping of a new Chapula Secondary School
- Construction of new buildings at Chapula Primary School
- Building of teachers’ accommodation at Kapila Community School
- Support for the Blessing, Kapila Green Farms, Twende and Twasanta projects
- Improvements to Chief Nkana and Chief Lumpuma’s palaces
- Kagem has renewed its partnership with the University of Zambia (UNZA), committing to a new USD 172,500 scholarship programme which follows the previous commitment of USD 345,000 to sponsor students from the geological and mining engineering departments at the School of Mines at UNZA and Copperbelt University (CBU) over a period of eight years.
- Kagem has pledged USD 220,000 to support the Lumpuma Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society farming initiative.
- Kagem currently provides 1,150 direct jobs, with 94% of the workforce being local.
About Kagem Mining
Kagem Mining Ltd, based in Lufwanyama, is believed to be the world’s single largest producing emerald mine. Kagem is 75% owned by Gemfields, in a model partnership with the Zambian government.
Kagem aims to emulate the values of Gemfields and operate in a way that contributes positively to the national economy, while taking a leading role in modernising the coloured gemstone sector and building sustainable livelihoods for the communities around the mine. Kagem believes that coloured gemstones should be mined and marketed by championing three key values – transparency, legitimacy and integrity.
Gemfields is a world-leading miner of responsible coloured gemstones. In addition to Kagem, Gemfields is the operator and 75% owner of Montepuez Ruby Mining in Mozambique (at one of the most significant recently discovered ruby deposits in the world), as well as bulk sampling licences in Ethiopia, amongst others.
Gemfields has developed a proprietary grading system and a pioneering auction and trading platform to provide a consistent supply of coloured gemstones to the global jewellery market.
Fabergé – an iconic name with an exceptional heritage – is a member of the Gemfields Group. The beauty of Fabergé’s designs and craftsmanship, helps to raise consumer awareness of responsibly sourced coloured gemstones.
As well as supplying a significant share of the world’s rough rubies and emeralds, Gemfields initiates activations to build desire for coloured gemstones: for example, collaborations with international jewellery brands and other creative partners. Often surprising, unexpected and unique, these collaborations are chosen to promote consumer awareness and increase the appeal of coloured gemstones, raising their profile, and, in turn, providing greater benefit to their place of origin in Africa.
Gemfields: Gemfields.com | Investors | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Fabergé: Fabergé.com | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
Kagem Mining: LinkedIn
Montepuez Ruby Mining: LinkedIn