Rio Tinto, a leading diamond and gold miner and a founding member of the Responsible Jewellery Council (RJC), is the first mining company to achieve RJC certification, IDEX Online reported.
The certification covers Rio Tinto’s Diavik, Argyle and Murowa diamond mines and Kennecott Utah Copper, which produces gold and silver used in the jewelry industry.
Rio Tinto’s Bunder diamond project in India and Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia have not been included in the audit because they are not yet in commercial production and don’t supply the jewelry industry, RJC stated.
Rio Tinto has however committed to the RJC that both projects are being developed in accordance with the RJC’s Code of Practice.
“We support stakeholders’ demands for greater transparency and appreciate that people want to know that the jewellery they buy has been mined responsibly and ethically," said Harry Kenyon-Slaney, Rio Tinto’s chief executive, Diamonds and Minerals.
"As a founding member of the RJC, Rio Tinto is proud that our commitment to sustainability, integrity and environmental stewardship has been recognized and that we are the first mining company to receive this recognition from the RJC.”
"Rio Tinto currently occupies a unique position within the international mining industry of being the only certified gold and diamond miner,” said RJC CEO Michael Rae.
Exclusive
Sarine’s David Block: Diamond Industry at Standstill Until Chinese Demand Returns
David Block is CEO of Israel’s Sarine Technologies and has served in the position since 2012. In this exclusive interview for Rough and Polished, Block gives his opinion on the leading issues affecting today’s diamond trade.
11 september 2024
Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge: Demand for considerable-sized diamonds stronger than ever
The African Diamond Council (ADC) chairperson Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that although overall global diamond prices have been somewhat soft, the demand for considerable-sized diamonds...
02 september 2024
Amplats sees prospects as a standalone company
Anglo has revealed its plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which has operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to optimise shareholder value. Rough&Polished contacted Amplats to comment on this and other issues but was referred...
19 august 2024
WFDB President Yoram Dvash Remains Confident Despite Global Diamond Challenges
Yoram Dvash is President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) having been elected in 2020. He found time in his busy schedule to speak to Rough&Polished about the state of the diamond industry around the world and some of the major...
12 august 2024
Lyudmila Vysotskaya: Amber is a mystical stone, a living substance
Lyudmila Vysotskaya is a Kaliningrad-based amber artist and designer, expert, chairwoman of the Amber Academy and member of the Creative Union of Artists in Decorative and Applied Arts. This summer, visitors could admire the art works by Lyudmila Vysotskaya...
30 july 2024
