Global Advanced Metals Pty Ltd (GAM), a leading producer of tantalum products, was recently recertified conflict-free through the Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) of the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) and Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) following successful audits of its Aizu, Japan and Pennsylvania, USA facilities.  GAM is the first smelter of any metal to be certified conflict-free under this program for eight consecutive years.

This certification illustrates GAM’s continued commitment to provide its direct customers, and other downstream supply chain participants, a reliable source of responsibly procured tantalum products. This smelter certification process also simplifies the Reasonable Country of Origin Inquiry documentation as called for by the Security and Exchange Commission’s reporting requirements under Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act for tantalum-consuming issuers.

 “This renewed conflict-free certification complements GAM’s other responsible business practices such as our employee safety focused Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) certification, and puts GAM in a unique position to help drive alignment of responsible business practices throughout our supply chains. We will continue to work with organizations dedicated to improving living conditions and livelihoods in conflict regions such as PACT, the Public-Private Alliance for Responsible Minerals Trade (PPA), and the ITRI Tin Supply Chain Initiative (iTSCi) to promote the continued growth of responsible and verifiable mine-to-market channels for tantalum ore,” said Andrew O’Donovan, GAM CEO.

In order to obtain the RMAP certification, a company must successfully undergo a rigorous third party audit of all its smelting operations. The audit includes providing evidence of adherence to the 5-steps Due Diligence Guidance of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), acceptable reasonable country of origin evaluation, mine of origin and chain of custody, and verification of scrap sources among other criteria.

“By integrating conflict minerals due diligence requirements into its contract terms with feedstock suppliers, GAM continues to ensure that its business performance objectives are aligned with responsible business practices,” said Jean-Paul Meutcheho, GAM Director of Sourcing and Corporate Sustainability.

About Global Advanced Metals (GAM)

A leading conflict-free tantalum producer, GAM has exclusive rights to the world’s largest industrial resources of tantalum ore located in Western Australia and is actively engaged in tantalum resource development throughout the world.

GAM produces conflict-free tantalum powders and metallurgical products at its Pennsylvania, USA and Aizu, Japan plants  for a range of industries including electronics, aerospace, automotive, medical and chemical processing.

GAM’s smelting facilities in Japan and the USA were first declared “Conflict-Free” in 2010 under the EICC/GeSI Conflict Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI) audit program, and continue to maintain this status.

About RBA, RMI and RMAP

Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) was formerly known as the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC), Responsible Minerals Initiative (RMI) was formerly known as the Conflict Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI), and Responsible Minerals Assurance Process (RMAP) was formerly known as the Conflict Free Smelter Program (CFSP).

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Global Advanced Metals (GAM)

Global Advanced Metals (GAM)

About Global Advanced Metals (GAM) A leading conflict-free tantalum smelter, GAM owns the world’s largest known resources of tantalum ore at its Western Australia mines and is actively engaged in exploration and resource development throughout the world. GAM produces conflict-free tantalum powders and metallurgical products for a range of industries including electronics, aerospace, automotive and chemical processing.

GAM’s smelting facilities in Japan and the USA were first declared “Conflict-Free” in 2010 under the EICC/GeSI Conflict Free Sourcing Initiative (CFSI) audit program, and have maintained that status since.

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