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    com.liferay.portal.kernel.util.DateUtil_IW@165d64fe
    Foto: Vale Indonesia
    com.liferay.portal.kernel.util.DateUtil_IW@165d64fe
    Foto: Vale Indonesia

    Our Commitment

    Lake Matano is a testament to the performance of our water and effluent management. We make serious investments to treat runoff water before it is discharged into the environment.

    We analyze processed effluent periodically, which will be channeled into the tributary to Lake Matano. The analysis aims to ensure compliance with the quality standards according to the Minister of Environment Regulation No. 9 of 2006 concerning Wastewater Quality Standards for Nickel Ore Mining Businesses and/or Activities.

    Together Reducing the Intensity of Water Consumption

    We strive to optimize water use for every tonne of nickel in matte produced, in accordance with PT Vale's Water Efficiency and Wastewater Pollution Load Reduction Policy.

    The most significant need for water is for hydropower operations on the Larona River, with water sources from Lake Matano, Mahalona and Towuti. Water from the lake is channeled into a dam reservoir and passed down a canal to drive turbines. The amount of water consumed is equal to the water taken from the lake. No water is drawnfrom the water stress area.

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    Our commitment to protecting the three lakes also supports the lake's status as a Natural Tourism Park Conservation Area, based on Minister of Agriculture Decree No. 274/Kpts/ Um/4/1979 dated 24 April 1979.

    Total water use in 2022 is 8,519,762 m3, a decrease of 1.86% from the previous year's consumption. Meanwhile, the water consumption intensity value in 2022 reached 141.77 m3/Ton Ni, an increase of around 6.71% from the previous year due to a decrease in total production.

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    Water Consumption Intensity Value

    Description Unit 2022 2021 2020
    Nickel in Matte Production Volume
    Ton
    60,090
    65,388
    72,237
    Water Consumption Volume
    m3
    8,519,762
    8,681,643
    9,611,107
    Megaliter
    8,519,762
    8,681,643
    9,611,107
    Water Consumption Intensity
    m3/Ton Ni
    141.77
    132.85
    135.30
    Megaliter/Ton Ni
    0.141
    0.132
    0.135
    Description: 1 m3 conversion is equivalent to 0.001 Megaliter. The increase in water intensity is due to a decrease in production, but in absolute terms, water consumption in 2022 is lower than in 2021.

    Throughout 2022 PT Vale has made a number of efforts to boost water consumption efficiency, namely:

    • Reducing and controlling leaks in water supply pipelines in operational areas

    • Controlling and reducing water overflow in Matte ponds

    • Implementing a water efficiency programs in the business process flow based on Hotspot Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Analysis and Water Audit;

    • Increasing employee awareness of saving water consumption and reporting daily water consumption through daily FMDS meetings; as well as
      Making the intensity of water use as one of the company’s key performance indicators (KPI).

    Effluent Management

    In an effort to comply applicable laws and regulations, an independent, accredited laboratory conducts regular monitoring and analysis of our effluents. The analysis was carried out using the SNI 6989.59:2008 Water and Wastewater methods, as well as methods according to American Public Health Association (APHA) standards. 

    The inspection results in 2022 found that the quality of the company’s processed effluent has met the quality standards.

    The effluent management performance cannot be separated from the instruments and resources that we allocated thoughtfully. To control effluent from the mining area and processing plant, we built more than 100 settling ponds in the Sorowako Block. Settling ponds are equipped with two liquid waste treatment facilities to reduce pollution of water bodies, namely:

    • Pakalangkai Wastewater Treatment, which has been operating since 2013.

    • Lamella Gravity Settler (LGS), which has been operating since 2014.

    LGS technology is a standard technology in water purification for the processing of drinking water raw materials. The first LGS technology for mining in Indonesia is the result of 2 years of research and collaboration with BPPT (Agency for the Assessment and Application of Technology). 

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    PT Vale is the first mine to use LGS technology.

    Liquid waste treatment is also accompanied by regular lake water quality checks.
    Water quality checks are carried out with an independent team.
    The results of measurements of TSS and Cr6+ levels in Lake Matano and Lake Mahalona are always far below the quality standards set by the government.

    Effluent Quality Measurement Results for 2022

    Find out more