~Extracting Raw Materials with Minimal Environmental Impact~

With over a century of mining operations, we deeply value our natural resources. We are committed to responsible mining practices that prioritise sustainability and environmental stewardship.

Tata Steel has captive coal mines at Jharia and West Bokaro in the state of Jharkhand, located within a 200 km radius of Jamshedpur. The iron ore units in Noamundi, Joda, Khondbond, Katamati, Koida, and Vijaya II in Jharkhand and Odisha produce 38 million tonnes annually. The Ferro Alloys and Minerals Division (FAMD) is Tata Steel's largest non-steel business unit, operating chromite and manganese ore mines in Odisha.

All our key mining locations are certified under EMS ISO 14001:2015, the international environmental management standard.

The Company has adopted a strategic approach to mine safety, natural and shared resources (primarily water, air, and land) management, and DE&I (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) in the workforce. Tata Steel also promotes social and environmental sustainability through inclusive growth and biodiversity management, aligning these efforts with the Company's business objectives.

Tata Steel is India's second-largest iron ore producer and one of the most efficient coal producers in India and South Asia. It is also the leading ferrochrome producer in India, the seventh largest globally and stands among India's top 10 manganese alloy producers.

All Tata Steel mines and collieries have Biodiversity Management Plans (BMPs) developed and Knowledge Centres established to upgrade employee skills and productivity. In the remote operation areas, a large part of our budget and efforts goes towards creating infrastructure for agricultural development and sustainable livelihoods through check dams, irrigation canals, new water tanks, etc.

Our relationship with the local community, our responsibility towards protecting the environment and minimising impact, and ensuring a healthy and safe working environment on our sites are essential components of our vision and our day-to-day activities.

Corporate Approach for Sustainable Mining Practices of Tata Steel

Tata Steel has been practising sustainable mining for over 100 years. The foundation of their practices relies on various non-negotiable aspects. One critical step is conducting comprehensive social baseline studies before mine development, aimed at identifying and understanding the existing socio-economic conditions of communities in and around the project area. This includes studying demographic, social, economic, cultural, and environmental aspects.

By integrating mine closure planning right from the start, we uphold the principles of sustainable mining. Setting closure objectives, crafting comprehensive plans, securing the necessary financial resources and guarantees, and engaging stakeholders ensure responsible and sustainable mine development, benefiting the environment and the community.

We ensure that mine closure plans are in place for all our operated mines. Our approach involves creating a detailed feasibility report with measurable performance targets as part of the mining plan, incorporating input from all stakeholders. This report thoroughly evaluates the project's economic, environmental, and social viability. We review the feasibility every five years or whenever the mine plan is modified. Additionally, we regularly assess long-term reclamation and closure liabilities and integrate concurrent reclamation during operations

We are committed to enhancing local communities' skills and knowledge while our mines operate, as it is a fundamental aspect of Tata Steel's corporate citizenship. Embracing the values set forth by our founder, we firmly believe that the community is not just another stakeholder in our business but the very reason for our existence within the free enterprise. Our primary goal is to ensure the comprehensive development of the communities in and around our mining facilities. This encompasses providing vocational training, educational initiatives, and support for entrepreneurship, thereby empowering the communities to actively engage in and reap the benefits of the mining activities. We are enthusiastic about positively impacting and fostering growth within these communities

We always strive to work with local governments and other stakeholders to support and promote economic diversification programmes during mining operations. This will help build sustainable livelihoods for communities beyond the mine's life

An essential part of our commitment to sustainable mining practices is conducting comprehensive social impact assessments before mine closure. By doing so, we gain insight into the potential impact and can create tailored social closure plans to address any concerns. This process entails meaningful engagement with local communities to understand their needs and make provisions for community resettlement, livelihood restoration, infrastructure maintenance, and social support programmes.

We are dedicated to maintaining open and transparent communication with all stakeholders, emphasising the importance of closure planning and execution throughout the mine's lifespan. We eagerly engage with communities, government agencies, and other stakeholders, ensuring their concerns are heard and involving them in the closure process.

We also implement closure-related mitigation plans to address the environmental impact of the mine closure. These plans include land rehabilitation, plantation and revegetation, eco-restoration of the mined-out area, and other pollution control measures.

Tata Steel's Corporate Sustainability department oversees the sustainability practices across its mining operations, allocating resources to social and environmental programmes related to mine development and closure. We collaborate with external experts and regulatory bodies to guarantee the effectiveness of its social closure initiatives and regularly monitor the progress and outcomes of its sustainability approach, making continuous improvements. This strategy guides the Company's efforts to ensure sustainable mining, responsible development, minimising negative social impact, and promoting long-term sustainable growth.

Tailings Management

Tata Steel Limited is committed to implementing the new Global Industry Standards on Tailings Management (GISTM) by 2025 for all tailing storage facilities (TSF) at its Noamundi, Joda East, and Khondbond iron ore mines.

To implement GISTM-2020, the Company has engaged competent consultants with international expertise for necessary guidance. To ensure appropriate governance for various implementation phases, a competent consultant has also been employed to work as EOR (Engineer of Record) as per GISTM. As per GISTM guidelines, a Dam Safety Review has also been conducted to ensure the safety and integrity of all tailing storage facilities.

To manage our TSFs, we consistently examine our tailing management systems to ensure the adoption of best-in-class technology for tailing disposal, such as Paste Thickening implemented in our Joda East and Khondbond iron ore mines. The safe operation of all tailing ponds is ensured through periodic physical inspection and monitoring through various instrumentation.

The mine plans, approved by the Indian Bureau of Mines, contain the details of all TSFs and their utilisation till the life of the mine. Emergency preparedness and response plans are prepared for each mine. The decommissioning and closure of tailings facilities are based on the risk matrix per the guidelines and procedures adopted after implementing GISTM

Details of Tailing Storage Facilities at Tata Steel Limited (as of July 1, 2024)

A. Active TSFs

• Noamundi Iron Mine: In-pit Slime Dam
• Joda East Iron Mine: In-pit Slime Dam

B. Inactive TSF

• Noamundi Iron Mine: Western Pit, Central Workshop
• Joda East Iron Mine: Magazine, Jharan & Manmora
• Khondbond Iron & Mn Mine: Pit-7

C. Planned Facilities

• Noamundi Iron Mine: Hill-4 (in-pit)
• Khondbond Iron & Mn Mine: Pit-2 & Pit-3

The GISTM implementation is in process, after which our facilities will be classified in risk categories according to the GISTM Standard.

Acid Mine Drainage Management

Acid Mine Drainage does not apply to any of our mining sites as no acidic material is present in the mining area, which is confirmed during the preparation of our mining plans. Moreover, we are proactive in initiating mine closure activities from the early stages of our operations while strictly following the approved closure plans. Closure activities are divided into two parts – progressive and final. Significant stress is placed on progressive mine closure to facilitate the final closure process.