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Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Awards

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Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Awards

Celebrating excellence and leadership in sustainable development

Origins and Conditions

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Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) Awards acknowledges companies, facilities and individuals that have implemented projects and initiatives to expand and promote sustainable development within the mining sector.

The awards will be presented in the following categories. 

  1. TSM Community Engagement Excellence Award
  2. TSM Environmental Excellence Award

TSM Community Engagement Award

The award shall be given to a mine or metallurgical site currently participating in and publicly reporting TSM performance in recognition of an innovative achievement in community engagement that took place within the last three years and whose contribution meets one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Innovative approaches to engage with communities of interest and ensure that communities of interest have a legitimate voice in the company’s decision-making process;
  2. Collaboration with communities of interest to address common community goals;
  3. Initiatives to address a specific need identified by the local community;
  4. Creative and/or innovative initiatives in which a large impact is made with a strategic investment;
  5. Unique approaches to health and safety initiatives for employees, contractors and communities;
  6. Initiatives intended to provide lasting benefits to local communities through self-sustaining programs that enhance the economic, social, educational and health aspects of a community;
  7. Collaboration with governments and communities to support and encourage community development programs.

TSM Environmental Excellence Award

The award shall be given to a mine or metallurgical site currently participating in and publicly reporting TSM performance in recognition of an innovative achievement in environmental leadership that took place within the last three years and whose contribution meets one or more of the following criteria:

  1. Collaboration with communities of interest and local conservation groups to protect vulnerable ecosystems and enhance biodiversity;
  2. Investments in renewable technology;
  3. Initiatives that enhance, through research, information sharing and/or partnerships, the industry’s understanding of and contribution to environmental protection, science and traditional knowledge;
  4. Procurement and supply chain management practices that incorporate environmental criteria;
  5. Innovative initiatives that contribute to environmental awareness, preservation and reclamation through education;
  6. Projects that exemplify the TSM Guiding Principles with associated regard for the environment;
  7. Innovative projects that have resulted in substantial improvements to the environment;
  8. Initiatives that establish a best practice that can be or has already been adopted across the industry to improve environmental performance.

Requirements and Conditions

  1. A mine or metallurgical site’s most recent TSM performance results will be a heavily-weighted factor in the selection process. Recipients of this award will have completed at least one cycle of TSM external verification.
  2. Normally, not more than one award may be made in any given year. In the event of extraordinary nominations, consideration may be given for more than one award.
  3. All nominations must be accompanied by:
    – A complete description of the meritorious achievement.
    – A justification of its leadership value and its potential impact on environmental and/or social practices in the mining sector.
    – At least one letter of support or endorsement from a relevant community of interest.
    – TSM performance scores provided by MAC or an appropriate provincial mining association.
  4. The CIM Chief Executive Officer shall refer each nomination to the TSM Awards Selection Committee.
  5. The Committee's selection shall be reported to CIM Council no later than the last Council meeting held prior to the annual CIM Convention at which the presentation is expected to be made.
  6. The members of the TSM Awards Selection Committee shall not be party to the nomination of any candidate.
  7. The award shall be presented by a MAC representative at the annual CIM Convention. In the event that the sponsor is not available the award shall be presented by the current CIM President.
  8. All nominations properly presented, and not selected as award recipients for that particular year, shall be carried forward for the next two years unless formally withdrawn. If a nomination is carried forward, the most recent year of TSM performance data will be taken into consideration. Nominees will be provided an opportunity to update their submission for reconsideration the following year.

Recipients

There is only one recipient of this award each year. This award may be given to an individual or an organization.

Winners

2026

Eldorado Gold, Kışladağ Mine (Environmental Excellence)

Environmental Excellence

Kışladağ is one of Eldorado Gold’s cornerstone operations and Türkiye’s largest gold mine, providing long‑term value to the company and meaningful economic benefits to the region. Located in Uşak Province, the mine has been in operation since 2006 and supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs through employment, local procurement, and investment in infrastructure. Through its Turkish subsidiary Tüprag, Eldorado is committed to responsible mining, environmental stewardship, and strong partnerships with local communities.

2026

Teck, Quebrada Blanca Mine (Community Engagement Excellence)

Community Engagement Excellence

Alconcha Conservation Project 

The Alconcha Conservation Project is a groundbreaking co‑management initiative between Teck Resources and the Indigenous Quechua Community of Ollagüe (CIQO) to create the first Indigenous‑led conservation area in Chile, located in the Salar de Alconcha in the Antofagasta Region. 

Covering more than 6,000 hectares of high‑Andean wetlands, the project safeguards an ecosystem of ecological, cultural, and spiritual importance while revitalizing Indigenous governance and long‑term environmental stewardship. 

The initiative was co‑developed with CIQO to support legal certainty, cultural relevance, and permanence. It ensures meaningful Indigenous participation in decisions related to water, biodiversity, and cultural heritage, delivering lasting community benefits and a self‑sustaining conservation model.