SUSTAINABLE COMMITMENTS

Meeting the highest international standards in the field of health, safety, social and environmental responsibility is a strategic priority for KATCO.

KATCO is a joint venture of two of the world's leading nuclear companies, French Orano and Kazakhstani Kazatomprom, and is an example of a successful partnership between the companies committed to sustainable development. KATCO follows the transparency standards of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), of which Kazakhstan is a member, and complies with the policies and practices of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), of which Orano is a member.

KATCO publishes a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) report every 2 years as part of its compliance with its sustainability program.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY

At KATCO, occupational health and safety are core principles and top priorities. The commitment to safety at KATCO extends both to its employees and to the entire team of contractors and suppliers the company works with. The company goal is to achieve an absolute zero accident rate.

An annual Safety Day is held at production sites and in the head office in Astana, and special drills are conducted to increase the safety knowledge of employees and contractors - to establish a positive safety culture.

RADIATION PROTECTION

Due to natural radioactivity of uranium ores, special measures are taken to limit the exposure of KATCO employees and contractors. KATCO is committed to minimizing the level of exposure of its employees to radioactive exposure by applying the ALARA principle (the principle of as low as reasonably achievable risk).

Radiological monitoring is carried out on a regular basis. Employees in contact with radioactive substances have individual dosimeters, which are checked quarterly by independent accredited laboratories.

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Environmental protection is an integral part of KATCO business strategy. The Company objective is to maximize control and mitigate the environmental impact of its operations by increasing the use of renewable energy resources and recycling and reusing materials wherever possible.

KATCO long-term goal as an ISR mining company is to return the ecosystem of mined areas to their original state, wherever possible. Employees must act responsibly, conduct monitoring activities and endeavor to improve the company environmental achievements.

So, employees plant trees, regularly participate in clean-up days and sort waste. Also, every year employees conduct awareness-raising activities in schools in the neighbouring villages, telling schoolchildren about the importance of taking care of the environment and environmental protection projects.

ENGAGEMENT WITH LOCAL COMMUNITIES

KATCO strives to be a highly civic-minded organization ready to openly interact with local communities. The company employees live in Kazakhstan, and the vast majority of them, about 53%, are residents of Sozak district of Turkestan oblast, and 98% of the workforce as a whole are citizens of Kazakhstan.

KATCO is one of the largest employers in Sozak district of Turkestan oblast. As part of its community interaction program, the company has entered into agreements with district and regional authorities. Annually, KATCO, together with the Sozak District Akimat, approve a social project plan as part of its commitment and implement projects aimed at making a long-term impact on the local communities. Every year, the company finances more than 30 initiatives in support of socially vulnerable groups of the communities, as well as those aimed at the development of the region infrastructure.

Another area of the company social activities is to meet residents of local villages to tell them about KATCO operations, current projects, ISR technology, environmental and social activities of the company.

COMMITMENT TO EMPLOYEES

People are the main capital and core value of KATCO. The company makes every effort to provide its employees with the opportunity to develop their professional skills and grow within the company.

KATCO goal is to make employees proud of working for the company. The company works steadily to be recognized as the best employer in Kazakhstan in order to hire even more talented employees.

The majority of KATCO employees come from the surrounding villages where they grew up and where they live with their families. Approximately 55% of the company managers come from the local community.

INNOVATIONS

KATCO is a leader in use of innovations in the uranium industry of Kazakhstan and around the world. The Company has a unique opportunity to combine the extensive applied knowledge of the Kazakhstani side with the large-scale approach to global leadership of the French parent company. KATCO has its own high-performance research and development center, which has been a source of innovation for both companies.

KATCO objective is to improve the efficiency and sustainability of its operations through development and implementation of innovative health, safety and environmental projects.