Managing the Salt Deposit
A multi‑year program is underway to restore ICL Iberia’s salt deposits while paying close attention to the issue of wastewater drainage and sludge treatment. ICL Iberia has implemented numerous measures to control and manage its salt deposits at Suria and Sallent. Our goal is to improve water quality by preventing salt water from reaching and mixing with freshwater. \
In 2015, in accordance with the provisions of the Spanish Waste Management regulation, ICL Iberia submitted to the Government of Catalonia a mining site restoration plan for its two production sites at Suria and Sallent, which includes a plan for handling the salt deposits and dismantling facilities.
Our goal is to improve surface and groundwater quality.
ICL Iberia has implemented numerous measures, preventative in most cases, to environmentally control and manage its salt deposits at Suria and Sallent. The company has constructed new collection points, has implemented groundwater control measures and has established multiple control points for quantitative and qualitative water analysis. A new salt deposit zone was waterproofed and research trenches and boreholes were drilled in order to evaluate and assess soil quality at the Suria site.
The restoration plan for the Suria site is scheduled to extend until 2094, and for the Sallent site, until 2070. In 2016, following discussions with the authorities about the Sallent site salt deposits treatment plan, requirements were updated to include necessary changes to the water pumping process, which constitutes part of the removal plan. For additional information, see Note 21 to our Audited Financial Statements.
