Long-term value for all our stakeholders can only be achieved through sustainable and responsible investment. We look to finance resources that enable a sustainable future, and to influence others in the mining sector towards sustainable outcomes
United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Ecora’s purpose is to provide capital to the natural resources sector with a focus on projects that will increase the supply of critical minerals. In addition to our business’ strong alignment to the two SDGs which we previously reported, we believe our business is strongly aligned to SDG 12 and SDG 13, as set out below:
- Description: Ensure access to clean, affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
- Reason for alignment: Ecora invests in mining projects that will increase the supply of commodities central to the production, storage and transmission of renewable energy
- Description: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation
- Reason for alignment: Ecora invests in mining projects that will increase the supply of commodities central to the energy transmission that will enable sustainable industrialisation
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Description: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
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Reason for alignment: Ecora invests in mining projects that will increase the supply of commodities central to the production, storage and transmission of renewable energy.
- Description: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- Reason for alignment: Ecora invests in mining projects that will increase the supply of commodities central to the production, storage and transmission of renewable energy.
Sustainability due diligence
We commit to conducting robust sustainability risk due diligence throughout all of our investment decisions.
Progress in 2024
- Integrated sustainability operator monitoring during site visits to Voisey’s Bay, Mantos Blancos and Mimbula
- Updated our sustainability due diligence process taking into account the development stage of each project and its forward-looking sustainability targets
Engaging with our operators
Be a positive influence on our mining partners.
Progress in 2024
- Continued to explore opportunities of partnering with operators on community engagement initiatives
- Donated to the Community Food Sharing Association in partnership with Vale
- Published financed emissions metrics for the first time
Thematic investing
Investing in commodities that support a sustainable future.
Progress in 2024
- 100% of capital deployed into future facing commodities
- Invested $8.5m into Phalaborwa Rare Earths Project in South Africa
CASE STUDY
South32 royalty acquisition
The acquisition of the South32 royalty portfolio in July 2022 satisfied our robust sustainability investment criteria. Capstone Copper (operator of Santo Domingo) and BHP (operator of West Musgrave) are well-regarded operators with a strong sustainability focus, environmental track record, an emphasis on creating shared value with local communities, and established governance frameworks.
In particular, the West Musgrave project scored as a tier 1 project during our due diligence process. The project has strong sustainability credentials and is expected to be 80% powered by renewable sources of energy, with plans to take it to 100% which will make it one of the largest fully off-grid renewable powered mines in the world. Water requirements at the site can be met from a local acquifier system and a bore field. The operation is envisioned to be a highly scalable, low-cost and low-emissions mine.
80%
Powered by renewable resources
Santo Domingo is located in Chile, in a relatively arid environment; therefore water management is a key issue. To mitigate this, the operator is building a desalination plant which will provide all water for the project reducing water stress on the local environment. As part of the Mantoverde-Santo Domingo district integration plan, the mines will share one desalination plant reducing the combined environmental footprint of the two operations.