Kinross Gold Delivers $4.9 Billion in Economic Benefits and 33 Years of Zero Tailings Breaches in 2025 Sustainability Report

Kinross Gold Corporation has published its 18th annual Sustainability Report, detailing performance across its People, Planet and Efficiency strategy pillars and reporting $4.9 billion in economic benefits delivered to host countries through payments to governments of $722 million, wages of $809 million, procurement of $3.3 billion and community investments of $19 million. The report highlights 33 consecutive years of zero tailings breaches, a 55 percent waste recycling rate representing a five-year high, and the completion of 38 energy efficiency projects delivering approximately 35,286 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in greenhouse gas savings. Kinross has been included in the Dow Jones Best in Class World Index and Dow Jones Best in Class Index North America as of May 2026, and in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook for the 13th consecutive year.

 

Economic Contribution and Social Investment

 

The $4.9 billion in economic benefits generated in 2025 continues a long-term pattern of substantial value creation for host country economies, with Kinross having contributed $58 billion to its host country economies since 2010. Local employment comprised 99 percent of the company's total workforce and approximately 94 percent of management, while local procurement made up 87 percent of total procurement, demonstrating a deeply embedded commitment to in-country value creation rather than purely extractive operations. Social investment of $19 million reached approximately 1 million beneficiaries through community programmes, the highest social investment spend in the company's history.

J. Paul Rollinson, Chief Executive Officer, said mining responsibly is central to how Kinross operates and that sustainability is a core part of the company's culture, strategy and plans for future growth. He said the values-driven approach guides a strategy prioritising the wellbeing of the workforce and communities, environmental protection and efficient use of energy, water and land. The combination of quantified economic contribution, local employment and community investment provides a comprehensive picture of how Kinross's mining operations generate value that extends well beyond gold production.

 

Tailings Safety and Environmental Management

 

The maintenance of zero tailings breaches for 33 consecutive years represents one of the most significant safety and environmental achievements in the company's 2025 report, particularly given the catastrophic consequences that tailings failures have had for communities and ecosystems in the global mining sector. Paracatu's tailings facilities received the top-level AA classification from the Engineer of Record under Brazil's National Mining Agency's recently introduced dam management and monitoring categories, providing external validation of Kinross's tailings management standards at one of its largest operations. The completion of an updated environment management system and nature strategy aligned with the TNFD framework demonstrates proactive alignment with emerging nature-related disclosure expectations.

A third-party physical climate risk analysis of infrastructure at all sites and projects was completed in 2025, providing an independent assessment of climate-related physical risks across the portfolio. The 55 percent waste recycling rate, achieved through organic waste programmes at Paracatu and Tasiast alongside approximately 20,000 tonnes of steel scrap recycled off-site at Tasiast, reflects systematic circular economy practices embedded across mining operations. Cumulative land protected stands at 13,620 hectares, representing 64 percent of land currently disturbed, with 94 hectares reclaimed at operating mine sites during 2025 alone.

 

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Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Progress

 

Kinross completed 38 energy efficiency projects in 2025 delivering savings of approximately $10.5 million, 12 million litres of fuel and 8,925 megawatt hours of energy, with combined GHG savings of approximately 35,286 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent representing a 2.4 percent reduction from 2024 emissions. The company recorded a GHG intensity rate of 707 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide equivalent per gold equivalent ounce, maintaining progress toward its 2030 intensity target. Renewable sources represented 23 percent of total energy consumption and 67 percent of electricity consumed across operations in 2025.

The renewable energy mix varies significantly by site, reflecting geographic differences in grid carbon intensity and on-site generation investment. At Paracatu in Brazil, approximately 94 percent of electricity and 53 percent of total energy came from renewable sources, benefiting from South America's low-carbon power grids. In Chile, a power purchase agreement provides 100 percent renewable electricity representing 37 percent of total site energy consumption, while the Tasiast solar plant in Mauritania generated approximately 22 percent of electricity from renewable sources. Water efficiency performance included 75 percent water recycling at operating mine sites alongside rollout of the Kinross Water Management Standard across all sites.

 

Workforce Safety and Governance

 

The Safeground Health and Safety programme has generated approximately 14,000 Safety Excellence training completions since 2023, with continued embedding across the company through increased field engagements, leadership development, standardisation and digital transformation. A new Critical Risk Management solution was launched addressing 18 Global Core Risks including 14 for surface mining and four for underground mining, providing a structured framework for managing the highest-consequence hazards across the portfolio. Total workforce turnover improved to 9.8 percent, the best result in the past decade, while female workforce representation reached a company high of 15 percent and Board female representation returned to 30 percent.

On governance, Kinross launched its Mining with Integrity programme to reinforce awareness of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and achieved an 89 percent completion rate for a human rights training course among technology-using employees. The company completed a cybersecurity due diligence assessment and crisis management training at both corporate and site levels, addressing the full spectrum of governance risks relevant to a globally distributed mining operation. Kinross maintained fifth consecutive year conformance with the Responsible Gold Mining Principles established by the World Gold Council and retained top scoring position among mining companies in The Globe and Mail's annual corporate governance ranking.

 

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Outlook for Kinross Sustainability Performance

 

The 2025 report positions Kinross as one of the stronger ESG performers in the global senior gold mining sector, with a combination of strong external ratings recognition, demonstrated operational safety, local economic contribution and renewable energy progress. The company's alignment with SASB, GRI and TNFD frameworks alongside continued progress toward CSRD alignment reflects a disclosure infrastructure that is increasingly positioned for mandatory reporting requirements across its key investor markets. Forward priorities for 2026 include continued Safeground health and safety focus, workforce skills training, community relationship management, nature stewardship and further energy, water and land efficiency improvements.

Whether Kinross can sustain its zero tailings breach record while expanding its operational footprint, continue reducing GHG intensity toward its 2030 target and maintain its renewable energy momentum across diverse geographic contexts will be the key tests of its sustainability performance trajectory. Sustained delivery across all three pillars would reinforce Kinross's positioning as an industry leader in responsible gold mining and strengthen its access to ESG-focused capital. The company's long track record of consistent sustainability performance across multiple economic and commodity price cycles provides a credible foundation for continued progress.

 

 

Source: Kinross