Australian mining company BHP has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with JX Metals to establish the Green Enabling Partnership.
The partnership will support the companies’ efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase sustainability in the copper supply chain.
As part of this effort, the companies will work on improving traceability and material origin verification across the industry.
JX Metals director and deputy chief executive officer Kazuhiro Hori said: “JX Metals’ partnerships in the downstream copper supply chain are expanding in scope.
“Our efforts to produce more sustainable copper are centred on green hybrid smelting at the Saganoseki smelter and refinery, and partnerships with upstream sectors are essential to reduce our scope 3 GHG emissions reported by JX Metals in copper concentrate production and transportation.
“We will respond to our stakeholders’ needs by enhancing our ESG efforts in upstream sectors through this partnership with BHP, a vital responsibility for JX Metals.”
In addition, the partnership plans to support the circular economy and GHG emissions reduction through copper concentrates and sulphuric acid supply between BHP and JX Metals.
It also plans to promote knowledge sharing in areas of estimating and reducing the carbon footprint of electrolytic copper, besides engaging in research and development to support enhanced material processing.
BHP chief commercial officer Vandita Pant said: “We look forward to working with JX Metals on the Green Enabling Partnership that aims to support further GHG emissions reduction in the supply chain for copper, one of the most critical minerals in the journey towards global net-zero ambitions.”
