The Group is committed to the responsible management of mineral waste and other waste products, as set out in its Environmental Policy. The Group HSS Committee is responsible for monitoring waste management. The General Directors of the Group’s operations are responsible for waste management at a site level.

DISCLOSURE ON TAILINGS MANAGEMENT

Waste rock by asset (Mt)

1 kt/kt copper production

During 2023, the Group generated waste rock from the mining of overburden, mainly at its open pit mines at Aktogay, Bozshakol and Bozymchak. The generation of waste rock at Aktogay and Bozshakol is not considered to be a significant stakeholder issue due to the remote locations of the mines, their low strip ratios and their distances from local communities. Waste rock mining in 2023 reflected the volumes of stripping in line with mining plans. The volume of waste rock mined at Aktogay and Bozshakol increased in 2023 compared with 2022 as in the prior year a greater volume of rock was repurposed for use in roads or embankments and was therefore excluded from the 2022 waste volumes. At Bozymchak, waste rock volumes increased in 2023 as the site transitions from an open pit mine to an underground operation from 2024 onwards.

TALINGS BY ASSET (MT)

1 kt/kt copper production

Tailings waste increased by 4% in 2023 to 88.9 Mt (2022: 85.1 Mt) in line with ore processing volumes which rose by 4% as the concentrators at Aktogay, Bozshakol and Bozymchak all operated ahead of design capacity.

The safe and effective management of tailings waste is a high priority for the Group. Operating procedures are in place for the monitoring and maintenance of tailings storage facilities, including regular inspection and testing of nearby groundwater to detect and maintain structural integrity. The Group periodically arranges for inspections by independent external experts, with all active tailings storage facilities inspected during 2023. KAZ Minerals will seek to align its tailings management and disclosure with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management set out by ICMM, the Principles for Responsible Investment investor network and the United Nations Environment Programme.

The Group is required to comply with the laws of the Governments of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in relation to the licensing, upkeep and maintenance of tailings storage facilities. State authorities regularly inspect the Group’s tailings storage facilities to ensure compliance with regulations. One of the Group’s lower category tailings storage facilities, which fully complies with local standards, was reassessed under international standards and determined to require additional measures to raise its factor of safety.

Ongoing work programmes, supported by appropriate external consultants, are in place to develop the tailings storage facilities in line with future production plans and to address any issues identified.

second life for bozshakol waste