The CEEC, which encourages companies to share best practice on improved blasting, crushing and grinding techniques that lower project costs and improve energy efficiency, has welcomed Centerra's decision.

"We are thrilled with Centerra's decision to become a CEEC sponsor. Our sponsors work collaboratively to accelerate energy-efficient, productive mining processes. That's vital for our industry and communities as we reduce impact, tackle costs and improve shareholder value," said CEEC chief executive Alison Keogh.

Centerra vice president and chief operating officer Daniel Desjardins said CEEC was behind important ESG actions, adding that his company was willing to share information to advance business goals.

"Centerra's financial and operational objectives are underpinned by a fundamental commitment to ethical and sustainable practices," said Desjardins. "We look forward to collaborating with like-minded organisations on shared challenges such as energy and water use. …We see value in sponsoring CEEC and contributing to the network. Not only can we and others in industry access best practice case studies of improvement, it is an avenue for open collaboration and knowledge sharing."

Sweden's Lundin Mining joined as a sponsor in January, while wear solutions company ME Elecmetal and consumables supplier Molycop joined a month later.  Precious metals miner Hudbay Minerals and supply solutions company Thermo Fisher Scientific became sponsors in July.

Centerra produced 783,308 ounces of gold and 3220t (71.1m pounds) of copper in 2019. The firm's major assets include the Kumtor Mine in the Kyrgyz Republic, which has produced more than 12.6 million ounces of gold between 1997 and the end of 2019, and the long life, low-cost gold/copper Mount Milligan Mine in British Columbia, Canada. The third operating mine, the Öksüt Gold Mine in Central Anatolia, Turkey, poured gold for the first time on January 31, 2020 after 22 months of construction.