WALTHAM, Mass. & PERTH, Australia--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd (GAM), a leading producer of tantalum has been certified conflict-free through the EICC/GeSI Conflict Free Smelter Program (CFSP) following successful audits of its Aizu, Japan and Boyertown, PA-USA facilities. GAM is the first smelter of any metal to be certified conflict-free in four consecutive years.
This CFSP certification signifies GAM’s commitment to provide customers and other U.S. publicly traded downstream participants in its supply chain, a reliable source of responsibly procured tantalum products. This certification is also a validated process through which these companies can complete their Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry (RCOI) and determine their conflict-free status as required by Dodd-Frank Act Section 1502 reporting requirements.
GAM takes a comprehensive approach to its due diligence for conflict minerals that includes partnering and collaborating with government, NGO and industry partners who are committed to responsibly sourced tantalum. As downstream companies involved in the tantalum supply chain prepare to submit their first conflict minerals reports to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May 2014, GAM will support their due diligence efforts in accordance with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) 5-steps Guidance.
“As part of our commitment to the Central Africa region, GAM continues to work with in-region, dedicated organizations like the Public Private Alliance (PPA) and the ITRI Tin Supply Chain Initiative (iTSCi) to promote the emergence of a responsible and verifiable mine-to-market channel” said Andrew O’Donovan, GAM CEO.
In order to obtain the CFSP certification, a company must successfully undergo a rigorous third party audit of all its smelting operations. The audit includes providing evidence of a reasonable country of origin evaluation, mine of origin and chain of custody, and verification of scrap sources among others.
“GAM’s due diligence efforts cover the supply chain from the mine to our facilities, and this certification reaffirms our commitment that the tantalum sold to our customers is sourced responsibly”, said Jean-Paul Meutcheho, GAM Director of Corporate Sustainability - Conflict Minerals.
About Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd
Global Advanced Metals
Pty Ltd owns the world’s largest known resource of tantalum ore in its
Western Australia mines, is actively engaged in exploration and resource
development throughout the world, and processes tantalum ore into
finished products at its facilities in Japan and the USA. GAM is a
global leader in the production, development and sustainable supply of
tantalum to a range of industries including electronics, aerospace,
automotive and chemical processing. GAM smelting facilities were first
officially declared “Conflict Free” in 2010 under the EICC/GeSI Conflict
Free Smelter (CFS) audit process, and continue to maintain that status
today.
