Responsible rehabilitation:
Closing Cobre Las Cruces

Taking care of our environment once mining operations cease is a matter of utmost importance for First Quantum. This is just as true at Cobre Las Cruces as it is at all our operations, especially due to its proximity to populated areas, just 20km northwest of Seville.

Progressive rehabilitation

Since the beginning of our operations, we have carried out a progressive rehabilitation plan. This is an environmental restoration practice that seeks to minimize the impact of mining activities by continuously restoring affected areas throughout the operation’s lifecycle. This practice has two main benefits:

1. A faster ecosystem recovery
   It allows for quicker and more effective ecosystem recovery by enabling affected areas to start regenerating while other areas are still being worked on
2. Better relationships with local communities
   By demonstrating a commitment to the environment and early rehabilitation, we improve our relationships with the communities in which we operate

This sustainable approach allows mining activity to be balanced with environmental and community protection, enhancing the social and ecological viability of the sector.

Our ongoing environmental restoration program has consisted of planting for erosion protection, revegetation and removal of infrastructure at the closure of the project. The temporary planting for erosion protection prevents stockpiled materials from eroding before we have the opportunity to remove them, whilst the restoration is applied to surfaces in dumps, mine waste storage or areas that were used for temporary stockpiles.

Our key objectives

All our actions are aimed at achieving four closure objectives for our specific area of operation:

• Diversification of final land uses in restored areas enables activities that can provide goods and services in the short, medium and long term, as well as identification of potential activities in restored areas
• Local economic development once mining activity ceases
• Landscape integration of restored areas looking at habitat diversification to increase ecological value and biodiversity in the restored area
• Creation of final land uses for educational and recreational purposes

During closure, long-term safety and the stability of remaining structures will be guaranteed, limiting danger posed to either the local community or the environment. Specifically, we will ensure the Tailings Storage Facility will be completed with a landfill for inert waste materials and the water supply pond will be restored and remain as a wasteland. The supply pond has already become a lake ecosystem that is home to a variety of aquatic bird species and other fauna, such as otters.

Long-lasting foundation

Through our good work and responsible operation during our time in the area we have maintained a strong relationship with all four local municipalities. In 2010, we created a Foundation that encourages, promotes and develops environmental and sustainable initiatives, helping us to meet our objectives on corporate social responsibility. Since its inception, the Foundation has become one of the most active entities of its kind in Andalusia, with more than 500 activities and projects carried out to date.

One of the key activities of the Foundation in recent years has been promoting and organizing training that fosters business development of the local social fabric, generating work that is independent from mining activity and ensuring that the impact of mine cessation is lessened.