2023 Sustainability Report

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# 2023 Sustainability Report

Source: https://www.westafricanresources.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/WAF_2023_Sustainability_Report_02Apr.pdf
Published: 2024-03-01T00:00:00+00:00
Fetched: 2026-05-12T16:33:14.041+00:00
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## Content

# 2023 Sustainability Report
WEST AFRICAN
RESOURCES LIMITED
SUSTAINABILITY REPORT
2023
ABOUT THIS
REPORT
TABLE OF
CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM
THE CHAIRMAN
About this Report 2
Report and Scope 2
Reporting Approach 2
2023
Materiality Assessment Process 3
HIGHLIGHTS
Approving Entity 3
Message from the Chairman 4
2023 Highlights 6
About West African Resources 8 ABOUT WEST AFRICAN
RESOURCES
Our Operations 9
Our Value Chain 10
Governance 12
OUR APPROACH TO
Risk management 14
Policies and Strategies 14
Our Approach to Sustainability 16 SUSTAINABILITY
Message from the General Manager of Sustainability 16
Sustainable Development Goals 17
OUR PEOPLE
Stakeholder Engagement 17
Our People 20
Training and Professional Development 23
Occupational Health and Safety 24
Managing our Environmental Footprint 26
MANAGING OUR
Water Stewardship 28 ENVIRONMENTAL
Energy Consumption 28 FOOTPRINT
Emissions and Climate Change 29
Biodiversity 30
Waste and Tailings Management 32 WORKING WITH
Working with our Local Communities 34 OUR LOCAL
COMMUNITIES
Resettlement Planning and Livelihood Restoration 35
Community Development Initiatives 40
Supporting the Local Economy 42
Units, Acronyms and Glossary 43 UNITS, ACRONYMS
AND GLOSSARY
Sustainability Report 2023 | West African Resources 1
ABOUT THIS
ABOUT THIS
REPORT
REPORT MESSAGE FROM
THE CHAIRMAN
2023
HIGHLIGHTS
ABOUT WEST AFRICAN
In this report, “WAF” and “the Each year, an enterprise-level risk
RESOURCES
REPORT AND SCOPE REPORTING APPROACH MATERIALITY ASSESSMENT PROCESS APPROVING ENTITY
Company” refer to West African assessment is undertaken to assess
This Sustainability Report (Report) WAF undertakes a periodic materiality This report has been approved for
This report presents the Resources Limited and its subsidiaries, local and global risks of relevance to
has been prepared following the assessment to ensure the Company release by West African Resources’
activities of West African unless otherwise explicitly stated. the Company and whether current
Global Reporting Initiative Sustainability understands what environmental, Board of Directors.
A full list of subsidiaries can be mitigations are adequate. This process
Resources Limited’s corporate Reporting Standards 2021 social and governance (ESG) issues
OUR APPROACH TO
found in the 2023 Annual Report. includes a detailed review and analysis This report has not been subject
office in Perth, Australia (GRI Standards). Information was present material risks to the Company’s
The management approaches of each business area by the General to external assurance or auditing.
collated by the Sustainability operations and which matter most
and exploration and mining
SUSTAINABILITY
described in this report apply to all Manager-Risk and the lead manager It is WAF’s policy to undertake
Department in consultation with to our stakeholders. The materiality
activities in Burkina Faso. WAF entities, however statistical of the applicable business area. The regular external assurance for the
Heads of Department. This Report assessment applies a risk assessment
information is focused on the findings are presented to the Board Annual Report and periodic external
and supporting information are methodology based on the concept of
Sanbrado Gold Mine, the Kiaka Gold of Directors. The 2023 enterprise risk reviews of management systems.
available online at double materiality: understanding both
Project (under construction) and the assessment did not identify any new The Sustainability Report will be
www.westafricanresources.com the Company’s impacts on an ESG issue
Toega Project (pursuing a mining environmental, social or governance incorporated into this process in
OUR PEOPLE
(such as climate change), as well as
permit), in addition to WAF’s This report presents an update on WAF’s risks to the business. The likelihood of future years.
the potential impact of the issue on the
corporate office. performance in 2023 with relation to some risks had decreased from 2022,
Company. The contact point for any
topics deemed to be material to our while other risks had remained the
This report covers a reporting period enquiries related to this Report is
operations and our potential impacts Material ESG issues are drawn from same with regards consequence and
of 1 January 2023 to 31 December info@westafricanresources.com.
on the environment and communities. risk assessments and environmental likelihood.
2023 (in-line with financial reporting in In order to keep the report concise, our and social impact assessment (ESIA)
Based upon the materiality assessment
the 2023 Annual Report). Reports are approach to managing these material studies prepared for each project, MANAGING OUR
prepared annually and information from and enterprise risk assessment, the
topics is presented in the GRI Content which detail the potential impacts and
following topics are addressed in WAF’s ENVIRONMENTAL
the previous reporting period has been Index. Additional statistical data is risks associated with the Company’s
included where it provides the context 2023 Sustainability Report: FOOTPRINT
available in the 2023 ESG Databook, activities. The materiality assessment
necessary for comparing performance available on WAF’s website. also considers ESG topics that are + Local communities
or as background information. relevant at a global level or are specific + Employment
Currency is reported in Australian to the gold mining industry, not just + Economic performance
issues of relevance at a site-specific WORKING WITH
Dollars, unless otherwise stated. + Occupational health and safety
level. OUR LOCAL
Publication date: March 2024. + Emissions
COMMUNITIES
The views of stakeholders are + Water and effluents
incorporated into the materiality + Waste
assessment, using feedback from + Biodiversity
Legal entity Commonly used project name WAF personnel, grievance registers,
UNITS, ACRONYMS
+ Indirect economic impacts
Société des Mines de Sanbrado SA Sanbrado Gold Mine (‘Sanbrado’ or ‘SOMISA’) community consultations, investors,
+ Training and education
proxy advisors and media reports.
AND GLOSSARY
Kiaka Gold SARL Toega Gold Project (‘Toega’) + Diversity and equal opportunity
Details of stakeholder feedback are
presented in the section entitled + Procurement practices
Kiaka SA Kiaka Gold Project (‘Kiaka’)
Stakeholder Engagement. + Non-discrimination
2 West African Resources | Sustainability Report 2023 Sustainability Report 2023 | West African Resources 3
MESSAGE FROM
ABOUT THIS
REPORT
THE CHAIRMAN MESSAGE FROM
THE CHAIRMAN
2023
HIGHLIGHTS
We are proud to present West African Resources Limited’s (ASX: WAF) 2023 Sustainability Report, “ OUR SUCCESS IN DEVELOPING LONG-LIFE PROFITABLE MINING OPERATIONS
in which we detail WAF’s significant ESG activities as we invest, build and operate our high-quality BRINGS SIGNIFICANT BENEFITS TO OUR SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAMS AND ABOUT WEST AFRICAN
gold mining projects in Burkina Faso, bringing benefits to our shareholders, employees, contractors, CAPABILITIES TO CONTRIBUTE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN
suppliers and local communities. RESOURCES
BURKINA FASO, WHILE ALSO DELIVERING VALUE TO WAF SHAREHOLDERS.”
Our Sanbrado gold project continued than 95% of compensation agreements and consistent reporting, led by Richard Hyde
its strong performance in 2023 with signed and payments made by the Sanbrado’s Head of Environment.
226,823oz gold produced at an AISC end of 2023. Kiaka development + Drawing from the successes OUR APPROACH TO
of US$1,136 per ounce. During 2023 remains on schedule and on budget, and challenges in the Sanbrado
SUSTAINABILITY
we also undertook significant growth with approximately 60% of costs now + Support to healthcare through the been in no small part because of the Our Toega gold deposit will also be
resettlement process and livelihood
and capital investment programs, committed and fixed. development of infrastructure, successes achieved by the Burkinabé advanced in 2024, with mining expected
restoration program (LRP), with
with exciting exploration results at donation of necessary materials military, while the gold mining sector has to commence in the second half of
The Kiaka team has more than 130 the visioning study for the LRP to
Sanbrado and major construction and funding community awareness continued supporting the government 2025 and all ore to be transported
staff working alongside other specialist commence at Kiaka in early 2024.
works underway at our 7.9 million programs. through the payment of taxes and 14km to Sanbrado for processing. Early
construction contractors, with staff Our success in developing long-life royalties. I’m also proud to report that works to develop the project will include
OUR PEOPLE
ounce Kiaka gold project. One area of success in promoting
numbers to grow significantly during profitable mining operations brings West African Resources was recognised building the haul road connection to
2024 as the build progresses. In sustainable economic development
Diamond drilling at Sanbrado during significant benefits to our sustainability as the best mining company in Burkina Sanbrado and other infrastructure.
preparation for commencement of in recent years is through new income
2023 identified strong potential for programs and capabilities to contribute Faso at SAMAO (West African Mining
mining operations 2025, staff hired for generating activities, developed via As always, on behalf of the WAF Board,
a second underground mine, adding sustainable economic development Week) 2023.
Kiaka will receive training at Sanbrado Sanbrado’s livelihood restoration I extend my thanks to our staff and
289,000oz to the Company’s total in Burkina Faso, while also delivering
to allow them to learn our methods and program. Where many households may In 2024, we look forward to advancing contractors for another successful year.
mineral resource. Located under value to WAF shareholders. Sustainable
procedures from those already working economic development helps to
have previously relied on subsistence- construction at Kiaka, with the process I would also like to recognise the efforts MANAGING OUR
the existing M5 South open pit, this
level agricultural activities and artisanal plant starting to take shape and of Seydi Nabbe, who was appointed
resource is expected to increase annual in corresponding positions. This is just improve living conditions for families ENVIRONMENTAL
one example of the efficiencies we mining, now there are cooperatives completion of major earthworks for our Country Manager for Burkina Faso
gold production and extend Sanbrado’s and communities which can continue
selling products and delivering services the tailings storage facility and water in October 2023 and brought to the FOOTPRINT
mine life. Studies will continue in 2024 are leveraging from our existing high- long after our projects are complete.
performing Sanbrado operation. Other into the local and national market. storage dam. Work will continue to role a comprehensive understanding of
to further define the extent of the In addition to the significant tax and
examples include: These new agricultural activities include connect Kiaka to the national grid, our commercial business, government
resource and to refine our mining plan. royalty contributions to the government
poultry farms, seed production, market which is predominantly supplied by relations and the regional mining sector.
+ Design improvements such as the of Burkina Faso, key areas where WAF
We commenced large-scale mine
aims to make a positive and long-lasting
gardens, as well as other activities hydro and gas power generation, and WORKING WITH
development works at Kiaka in early inc

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