Reporting 

To evaluate our community activities, the Foundation uses the internationally acknowledged London Benchmarking Group (‘LBG’) standard. The LBG model provides a comprehensive and consistent set of measures for companies to evaluate their contribution to the community, including cash, time and in-kind donations, as well as management costs. The model also captures the outputs and longer-term impacts of community contribution projects on society and the business itself.

CSR Overview 2010 Brochure of NWR NV (PDF, 2,3 MB)

Case Studies

Restoring the Beskydy fountains

The Beskydy fountains is a unique source of water in the protected Kudlacena wetland meadow, which has been preserved by conservationists from Valasske Mezirici, with support from the OKD Foundation.

Kudlacena is a typical Wallachian peat or “sihla” meadow found at the foot of the hills, one of the few remaining today. Covering an area of less than five and a half hectares, it is home to many protected plant and animal species.

In October 2009 a new fountain was opened and provides water to local cottages. The water is sourced from a spring that flows under a nearby tourist footpath. As part of the restoration project, the spring was cleaned, a new base wall was built, a top cover fixed and a wooden trough attached.

Additionally the Czech Union for Nature Conservation in Valasské Mezirici gathers valuable data on fountains, springs, deep pools and wetland meadows to support the need to protect and restore such areas. The current database contains 229 localities in the Valassko region alone.

Safety as a priority

In September 2009, NWR hosted an international conference for leading mine rescue experts from around the world.

Around 160 leading mine safety specialists from over 20 countries attended the International Mine Rescue Conference in Ostrava to discuss safety and ways to improve mine rescue.

Hosted by the Central Mine Rescue Station, OKD, HBZS, a.s, a subsidiary of OKD, the experts shared international experiences and innovations. OKD received great recognition for the SAFETY 2010 programme and POP 2010 equipment, described by one high profile delegate as ‘amongst the world’s leading mining innovations’.

The principal theme of the conference was the effectiveness of underground rescue missions. Delegates also discussed setting up an international network for mine safety and health protection.

The more advanced equipment is also better suited to handle the irregularities that deep-level mining can present. POP 2010 also encompasses an extensive training programme, which has subsequently played an integral role in improving the overall corporate culture of the Company.

SAFETY 2010 is a EUR 17 million investment programme aimed at improving health and safety across our mining operations, including upgrading personal equipment. More powerful and lighter lamps, stronger boots, clothing with reflective strips and the latest self rescue devices are being issued to every miner.

Each mining business unit sets specific objectives to reduce its accident rate and the number of emergencies. Weekly safety audits have been introduced, along with a programme of regular safety meetings - for example, regular daily 10-minute staff training session before each shift.

New reservoirs for reclaimed land

Concerns about possible contamination meant that in the past, use of water plains were restricted. However, tests undertaken by the Institute of Geological Engineering of the Technical University in Ostrava in 2001 found that the water left in the subsidence basins and slurry ponds was of good quality.

The best results came from small subsidence basins in a forest environment, which showed properties very similar to those of water resources in a natural environment. These findings have led to the successful development of new reclamation areas including the planting of new forests in areas with the potential for lakes and reservoirs.