Glencore enters partnership with Tre-Altamira to expand satellite monitoring across its Tailings Storage Facilities

posted: 15/12/2020

Glencore enters partnership with Tre-Altamira to expand satellite monitoring across its Tailings Storage Facilities

Baar, Switzerland 15 December 2020

Glencore has entered a global agreement with Tre-Altamira to expand satellite monitoring to over 110 of its dams worldwide making this the largest industry monitoring agreement to date specifically focusing on Tailings Storage Monitoring.  

The monitoring provides measurements of surface movements every 11 days which is the current maximum available frequency for this type of data collection.  By taking measurements from both ascending and descending satellite orbit directions, Glencore will be able to resolve any measured movement on its TSFs into both horizontal and vertical components. The typical resolution on the ground is 3m x 3m with detectable movement resolution in the order of a few millimetres.  

Measurement data will be provided via a cloud based platform which will ensure continuous provision of information.  Results of the monitoring will also be used to support stakeholder engagement and demonstrate the ongoing safe performance of our dams.

While the main focus of the satellite monitoring program will be its Tailings Dams, the data will also be used at some sites to supplement other terrestrial monitoring techniques which will include open pits, waste piles and areas prone to subsidence.

For further information please contact:

Investors
Martin Fewings    
t: +41 41 709 2880    
m: +41 79 737 5642    
martin.fewings@glencore.com

Maartje Collignon    
t: +41 41 709 3269    
m: +41 79 197 4202    
maartje.collignon@glencore.com

Media
Charles Watenphul    
t: +41 41 709 24 62    
m: +41 79 904 33 20    
charles.watenphul@glencore.com
            
Glencore LEI: 2138002658CPO9NBH955

Notes for Editors

Glencore is one of the world’s largest global diversified natural resource companies and a major producer and marketer of more than 60 commodities. The Group's operations comprise around 150 mining and metallurgical sites and oil production assets.

With a strong footprint in over 35 countries in both established and emerging regions for natural resources, Glencore's industrial activities are supported by its global marketing network.

Glencore's customers are industrial consumers, such as those in the automotive, steel, power generation, battery manufacturing and oil sectors. We also provide financing, logistics and other services to producers and consumers of commodities. Glencore's companies employ around 160,000 people, including contractors.

Glencore is proud to be a member of the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights and the International Council on Mining and Metals. We are an active participant in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative.

Tre Altamira

With over 20 years’ experience, TRE ALTAMIRA is the leading global provider of commercial services based on satellite SAR Interferometry (InSAR).

TRE ALTAMIRA services deliver ground displacement information to millimetre accuracy by analysing SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) data with SqueeSARⓇ. As an industry standard for advanced InSAR techniques, SqueeSARⓇ enables the detection, measurement and monitoring of geophysical phenomena such as subsidence, uplift, landslides, slope instabilities and seismic faults. Such satellite measurements of displacement provide a quantitative understanding of ground response to both natural and anthropogenic activities.

TRE ALTAMIRA is a CLS Group company with main offices in Milano, Barcelona and Vancouver.

Disclaimer
The companies in which Glencore plc directly and indirectly has an interest are separate and distinct legal entities. In this document, “Glencore”, “Glencore group” and “Group” are used for convenience only where references are made to Glencore plc and its subsidiaries in general. These collective expressions are used for ease of reference only and do not imply any other relationship between the companies.  Likewise, the words “we”, “us” and “our” are also used to refer collectively to members of the Group or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.