From Zijin Mountain to the Globe: Zijin Mining's ESG Practices and the Survival Strategy of the Gold Industry

From Zijin Mountain to the Globe: Zijin Mining's ESG Practices and the Survival Strategy of the Gold Industry —— The World Gold Council and Media Witness China's Gold Industry Transformation

In recent years, the global gold industry has seen accelerated unification in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) rating systems. China's gold sector has made significant progress in green mine construction, intelligent upgrades, carbon neutrality goals, and social responsibility fulfillment. Against this backdrop, the World Gold Council organized a media delegation to visit Zijin Mining from November 24 to 26, 2025, for an in-depth exploration of China's sustainable development journey in the gold industry.

During the visit, the media team toured core sites such as the Zijinshan Gold-Copper Mine and Zijin Mining's gold smelting facilities, gaining firsthand insights into its achievements in green mining, intelligent upgrades, and community collaboration.

At Zijin Mining's headquarters, the delegation engaged in discussions with the company's ESG office and corporate culture department. Zijin Mining shared its overall development strategy and ESG progress, including its implementation of the World Gold Council's Responsible Gold Mining Principles (RGMPs). The dialogue covered ESG strategic planning and advanced domestic and international projects, offering the media a comprehensive understanding of Zijin Mining's ESG governance and sustainability efforts.

Leading achievements do not come overnight. Liu Yongquan, Deputy Director of Zijin Mining's ESG Office, emphasized, "ESG is not a cost burden but a core competitive advantage for long-term success. Fulfilling ESG responsibilities is not about superficial compliance but an intrinsic need for corporate survival." This mindset has yielded tangible results: in 2024, Zijin Mining reduced carbon emissions per CNY 10,000 of industrial added value by 34.9% compared to 2020 levels, while achieving a water recycling rate of 93.46%, surpassing global mining leaders.

The visit highlighted Zijin Mining's ESG journey from Zijin Mountain to the global stage, signaling that ESG is no longer optional but essential for survival in the evolving mining industry. As a member of the World Gold Council, Zijin Mining stands as a pioneer in ESG practices within China's gold sector, demonstrating how innovation, management reform, and value-sharing can align mining with societal benefits.

The World Gold Council remains committed to promoting sustainable development in the gold industry, encouraging Chinese miners to prioritize green practices, innovation, and responsibility in smart, low-carbon, and community-integrated operations.

About Zijin Mining's ESG Philosophy and Practices

Turning Mines into World Geoparks: Making Green the Foundation of Mining Guided by its "GLOBE" sustainability strategy—focusing on Governance & Integrity, Low-carbon Minerals, Optimized Resources, Benefit Sharing, and Environmental Stewardship—Zijin Mining embodies the principle that "clear waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets."

The Zijinshan Gold-Copper Mine exemplifies this approach. As Zijin Mining's birthplace and flagship operation, it integrates development with restoration, leveraging energy-saving technologies and multi-energy solutions to advance carbon-neutral mining. The mine's innovative "Five-in-One Ore Flow" model enhances low-grade gold resource utilization while maximizing socio-economic benefits. In 2024, it was recognized as part of the Longyan Geopark within the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network.

Intelligent mining systems, including unmanned truck dispatching and underground autonomous hauling, set industry benchmarks for safety and efficiency. The mine also supports local communities, employing nearly 4,000 workers and driving rural revitalization.

Global ESG Expansion: From Zijin Mountain to the World Across 18 countries, Zijin Mining adapts ESG principles to local contexts. In Europe, Serbia's Bor Copper Mine, revitalized through technological upgrades, now contributes 2% to Serbia's GDP. Ecological restoration has transformed degraded areas into wildlife habitats.

In Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo's Lualaba region benefited from USD 4.4 million in community projects, including schools and clinics. In South America, Colombia's Buriticá Gold Mine supports local coffee farms and empowers women through employment initiatives.

With a 96% local hiring rate overseas, Zijin Mining upholds human rights, diversity, and fair labor practices. Its supplier ESG screening system evaluated 3,366 vendors in 2024, with 1,882 meeting standards.

ESG as a Core Business Imperative Zijin Mining's three-decade journey proves ESG is not mere compliance but a strategic necessity for risk mitigation, profitability, and trust-building. Its governance framework integrates ESG KPIs into executive evaluations, ensuring seamless execution. In 2024, the company invested CNY 1.434 billion in environmental protection, maintaining a 100% ISO 14001 certification rate with zero major incidents.

Global recognition includes top-tier ESG ratings: 86/100 from LSEG (top 1.7% industry ranking), AAA from Wind, and 26 from Morningstar.