Events
About CRIRSCO - Committee for Mineral Reserves International Reporting Standarts
2017-02-10
Gerlee Bayanjargal, Executive Director of MPIGM
Brief history
CRIRSCO, which was formed in 1994 under the auspices of the Council of Mining and Metallurgical Institutes (CMMI), is a grouping of representatives of organisations that are responsible for developing mineral reporting codes and guidelines in Australasia (JORC), Brazil (CBRR), Canada (CIM), Chile (National Committee), Europe (PERC), Kazakhstan (KAZRCA), Mongolia (MPIGM), Russia (NAEN), South Africa (SAMREC) and the USA (SME). The combined value of mining companies listed on the stock exchanges of these countries accounts for more than 80% of the listed capital of the mining industry.
The international initiative to standardise market-related reporting definitions for mineral resources and mineral reserves had its start at the 15th CMMI Congress at Sun City, South Africa in 1994. The mineral definitions working group (later called CRIRSCO) was formed after a meeting at that Congress, and was made up of representatives from Australia [Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM)], Canada [Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM)], South Africa [South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (SAIMM)], UK [Institution of Mining and Metallurgy (IMM)] and United States [Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME)], with the primary objective of developing a set of international standard definitions for the reporting of mineral resources and mineral reserves.
In 1997, the five participants reached agreement (the Denver Accord) for the definitions of the two major categories, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, and their respective sub-categories Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, and Proved and Probable Mineral Reserves.
In 1999, agreement was reached with the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN-ECE), which had, since 1992, been developing an International Framework Classification for Mineral Reserves and Resources (UNFC), to incorporate into the UNFC the CMMI-CRIRSCO resource / reserve definitions for those categories that were common to both systems. This agreement gave true international status to the CMMI-CRIRSCO definitions.
Following these agreements, an updated version of the JORC Code was released in Australia in 1999 (and more recently, in 2012), followed by similar codes and guidelines in South Africa, USA, Canada, UK / Ireland / W Europe, Chile and Peru. The JORC Code (Joint Ore Reserves Committee of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Australian Institute of Geoscientists, and Minerals Council of Australia) has played a crucial role in initiating the development of standards definitions for these codes and guidelines.
The similarity of the various national reporting codes and guidelines has enabled CRIRSCO to develop an International Minerals Reporting Code Template. This can act as a “core code and guidelines” for any country wishing to adopt its own CRIRSCO-style reporting standard, after including provisions for country-specific requirements such as those of a legal and investment regulatory nature.
Following discussions over a number of years, CRIRSCO published Standard Definitions in October 2012. These fifteen definitions have been incorporated in International Reporting Template of CRIRSCO dated November 2013 and in the Codes and Standards of most of the CRIRSCO Members in their own updates.
CRIRSCO and Mongolia
In 2010, Ministry of Minerals and Energy of Mongolia planned to develop internationally accepted Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve classification and reporting code. This project was funded by the MSISTAP project of the World Bank. There were over 10 mining consulting companies applied to consult for this project and SNOWDEN MIC was selected. SNOWDEN MIC has been working on this project from 2011 to 2014 and completed successfully with Mongolian working group.
Successful completion of this project was depending on the membership for CRIRSCO. Therefore SNOWDEN and Mongolian Working group contacted several times with CRIRSCO and resulted to sign a MOU in London during CRIRSCO Annual Meeting. MOU was signed by Oyunbaatar U., Chair of Professional Council for Mineral of Ministry of Minerals and Energy and Deborah McCombe, Chair of CRIRSCO.
MOU was drafted what should do to become a member of the CRIRSCO and preparation based on the MOU was continued until when the Mongolian Professional Institute of Geosciences and Mining (MPIGM) established and development of Mongolian Public Reporting Code for Exploration results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (MRC Code) was completed.
During 14th to 18th October 2014, CRIRSCO Annual Meeting was organized by MPIGM, Ministry of Minerals and Energy and MSISTAP in Ulaanbaatar. There were observing delegates for Turkey as well.
First day of the meeting was opened by Edmundo Tulcanaza, Chair CRIRSCO and Jigjid R., State Secretary for Ministry of Minerals and Energy. Following those opening speeches CRIRSCO member organisations presented their updates, activities. Also, Bat-Erdene D. and Oyungerel B. were presented how Mongolia prepared to become membership form CRIRSCO.
After open session of the CRIRSCO meeting, CRIRSCO voted for Mongolian membership and officially announced positive result. Then Membership signing ceremony was organized to sign a memorandum and announced MPIGM on behalf of Mongolia is an 8th Member of the CRIRSCO and it indicated first country from Asia become Mongolia.
The next 2 days of the open session, there were 2-day closed session to discuss each members presentation in detail. Starting from these sessions Mongolian representatives Bat-Erdene D., Chair MRC, and Oyungerel B., Vice Chair MRC, were officially involved into CRIRSCO activities.
During CRIRSCO meeting in Ulaanbaatar, a mine site visit to OyuTolgoi Copper-Gold mine was organized with interesting outcomes.
“Excellent Geologist” honored medal was awarded to Harry Parker, Deputy Chair for CRIRSCO, during Ceremony Banquet for 75th Anniversary of Geologist Day of Mongolia for honor of the contribution to Mongolian Geology and Mining sector. CRIRSCO members congratulated to all Mongolian geologists and sang the song a Mongolian song “Song of Explorers”.
CRIRSCO member delegates presented technical presentations for full day workshop under “Modifying Factor” topic on 18th of October 2014 to Mongolian professionals. That workshop was the last day activity for the meeting.
CRIRSCO 2015 Annual meeting was organized in Brasilia, Brazil and 9th member of the CRIRSCO became CBRR on behalf of Brazil. China and Kazakhstan attended as observing delegates to this meeting. On the last day, KINROSS “Morro Do Ouro” gold mine tour was organized interestingly.
CRIRSCO 2016 Annual meeting this year was organized in Jaipur, India. There were CRIRSCO member delegates and observing delegates from China, Indonesia and Philippines. Meeting was organized by open and closed sessions and presented interesting presentation from CRIRSCO members for their updates, observing delegates and Indian professionals. Meeting was broadly organized by Indian mining sector with over 100 delegates of Indians.
An MOU was drafted and signed between CRIRSCO and Indonesia during open session if the meeting and Indonesia expressed their interest to organize next meeting of the CRIRSCO in Indonesia.
The MRC Committee of the MPIGM has been actively involved CRIRSCO activities since 2014. One of the gest activity was worked for CRIRSCO working group to support Kazakhstan to become a member for CRIRSCO. Then KAZRA become 10th member for CRIRSCO on behalf of Kazakhstan last June 2016.