Albemarle Begins Third-Party Audit in Chile Using IRMA's Standard
By Strategic Research Institute on Sep 09, 2021 10:00 am
Leader in the global specialty chemicals industry and in lithium extraction and production Albemarle Corporation has commenced an independent, third-party assessment using the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance's Standard for Responsible Mining at the company's lithium brine extraction site, the Salar Plant, located in Northern Chile in the Salar de Atacama. Albemarle's third-party audit makes the company the first global lithium producer to commence such an assessment using the rigorous IRMA Standard. ERM Certification and Verification Services, an IRMA-approved certification body, is executing the audit, which includes a desk review followed by an onsite audit. Onsite auditors will interview mine management, department staff, mine workers and external community stakeholders; review relevant data and documents; develop corrective action items, and publicly disclose the audit summary. Once the process has been completed, a full report will be published on IRMA's website for public access.
Prior to beginning the independent audit with ERM CVS, Albemarle was the first lithium producer to complete and submit IRMA's self-assessment process at the Salar Plant in February 2021. The third-party assessment covers 26 areas, including water management, human rights, greenhouse gas emissions, fair labor, and terms of work.
IRMA is globally considered the most comprehensive and rigorous certification standard for assurance of responsible mining. The organization specifies objectives and requirements with the greatest depth, breadth, and specificity for environmentally and socially responsible mining practices.