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In the global mining industry, voluntarily opening up to independent audits remains the exception rather than the rule. Yet transparency is a critical benchmark for demonstrating a company's commitment to international standards and alignment with global markets. For Harita Nickel, this openness is expressed through concrete action.
Since 2024, the company has voluntarily undergone the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA) audit process, making it the first mining company in Asia to commit to implementing this standard. This journey is now approaching an important milestone, the verification of IRMA's Corrective Action Plan (CAP), which Harita Nickel will undergo in the near future.
At this stage, the improvements the company has implemented based on previous audit findings will be assessed directly on the ground, marking the culmination of a long journey that began two years ago. But before we go further into Harita Nickel's IRMA journey, let's first look at what IRMA is and why this certification matters to the company.
What is IRMA?
IRMA is a global standard that assesses the operational performance of mining companies across environmental and social dimensions. The standard was established through collaboration among companies, affected communities, workers, non-governmental organizations, and buyers of mined materials. Unlike other standards that focus on specific aspects, IRMA examines the entire management system of a mining operation, from corporate governance to its impact on communities and the environment.
IRMA's evaluation process begins with a self-assessment, in which the company evaluates its own operational practices against IRMA's requirements, followed by a third-party audit conducted by independent auditors. This evaluation includes stage one, a review of document completeness, stage two, an on-site audit, and, if needed, a Corrective Action phase to address identified gaps.
Following these stages, IRMA issues an audit report. However, the assessment does not end there, as the report is reviewed periodically through a Surveillance Audit, followed by a Re-certification Audit. IRMA recognition is granted across four levels: IRMA Transparency, IRMA 50, IRMA 75, and IRMA 100, each reflecting a progressively higher degree of compliance with IRMA's standards.
Why are we pursuing IRMA certification?
As an integrated nickel mining and processing company, Harita Nickel views the IRMA assessment as an opportunity to evaluate its operational practices and identify areas for improvement. This process also responds to growing global expectations for transparency and traceability across mineral supply chains, particularly for the electric vehicle industry. Through the IRMA certification process, Harita Nickel reinforces its position as a credible company in the eyes of regulators and international markets.
"IRMA gives us a framework to assess how well our operational practices align with global expectations. Taking part in IRMA means opening our operations to independent assessment against a global standard. We see this process as an opportunity to keep learning, keep improving, and build trust," said Klaus Oberbauer, Sustainability Manager at Harita Nickel.
Where does Harita Nickel's IRMA audit currently stand?
At Harita Nickel, the IRMA audit process began in 2024 with stage one, the document review, followed by the Stage 2 On-Site Audit in April 2025. The process then moved into an additional document review phase from June through September 2025, with a draft report issued in October 2025.
Harita Nickel is currently in its CAP period, which began in November 2025. During this period, the company is working to address identified gaps, implement improvement initiatives, and strengthen its processes to better align with IRMA's requirements. From here, the next step is CAP verification through document review and a site visit, scheduled for late 2026, ahead of the final report's issuance once IRMA completes its review of the audit outcomes.
"For us, taking part in the IRMA process isn't just about obtaining an audit report. Every requirement we review, and every improvement opportunity we identify, becomes material for strengthening how we operate responsibly," Klaus added.
Harita Nickel's IRMA journey shows that responsible mining practice is not a destination reached once, but an ongoing process of improvement. For Harita Nickel, every stage of the audit is an opportunity to strengthen governance, increase transparency, and ensure that the company's growth moves in step with its responsibility to the environment, workers, and communities.