The Cyanide Code is one of the minerals sector’s most mature and established standards and certifications schemes, which serves as an assurance mechanism for the industry’s stakeholders. The initial implementation by the Cyanide Code by 14 companies in 2005 has evolved to the Code being formally implemented today by over 200 companies at over 300 operations around the globe. These operations can be found on six continents and in 50 countries, operating in varying climates and geographic settings.
Nearly 140 mining operations around the world are adhering to the Cyanide Code’s detailed requirements for managing cyanide. The Cyanide Code requires mining operations to purchase cyanide from certified producers participating in the program, and to have that cyanide transported using similarly certified transport operations and supply chains. Certified producers and transporters are managing this transport of cyanide across supply routes that can stretch from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers, often through multiple jurisdictions, including those without mining operations.
Support for the Cyanide Code comes from all segments of the commercial gold and silver mining industry. Today, a majority of the world’s top gold producers are Cyanide Code signatories. Equally important is that the mining companies on the other end of the spectrum, some producing as little as 25,000 ounces of gold annually have also successfully implemented the program and achieved certification at their operations.
