Rabat - Less than a week after German media published a report accusing Morocco’s mining group Managem of violating environmental standards, and endangering the safety of its workers, the group published a statement describing the report as “false” and its claims as “unfounded.”

In the Moroccan mining group’s statement, issued on Wednesday, Managem says that it “rejects categorically false allegations regarding the Bou-Azzer mine.” [...]

On their part, Managem said in its statement that “since the opening of the mine, no Arsenic-related occupational illnesses have been identified, nor any Arsenic-related illnesses in the Bou-Azzer mine area have been reported.” The mining company says that the claims are “unfounded.” 

Managem explained in the statement that it operates responsibly. At Bou-Azzer, the ore is handled in “full compliance with mining employee protection rules.” 

“From the moment it is mined through to its final processing, whether in terms of collective protection measures (the ventilation system in the underground mine) or the equipping of all employees and subcontractors with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), adapted to the risks associated with each operating station,” the statement says.

The health of employees, including subcontractors, is “closely monitored” in line with the industry’s “best practices,” Managem added.

The company adds that “every employee at the mine has two full medical check-ups and examinations per year.”

Managem recalled that its mine holds a number of certificates attesting to its compliance with ESG standards. The Bou-Azzer mine is “certified to international standards (ISO 45001, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 26000, CSR Label, RMI) by leading agencies who confirm the effective implementation of the highest standards in the industry in terms of quality, safety, and respect for the environment.”

The statement furthermore addressed the report’s claims concerning water quality near its mines, saying that it carries out annual studies and audits as part of ISO certification which showed “no irregularities in concentration levels that exceed drinking and irrigation water standards.”

In addition, the company says that “major investments have been made to capture waste water on the industrial site and its reinjection into the industrial process. The water recycling rate is thereby 93%.”

Managem concludes its statement by saying that it “reserves the right to take legal action against any unfounded allegations concerning the Bou-Azzer mine.”