The Global Action on Tailings is connecting technical experts to advance discussions and solutions relating to tailings management, tailing reprocessing, repurposing and ultimately driving toward tailings elimination.
Background
With declining grades, the rate of waste generation, including tailings has steadily increased. This increased volume of waste has resulted in a significant growth in the size of tailings impoundment structures. At the same time over the past few decades, the rate of serious tailings dam failures has risen. Half (33 of 67) of serious tailings dam failures in the last 70 years occurred in the 20 years between 1990 and 2009, and larger and more serious failures are projected (Bowker and Chambers, 2015).
The rate of tailings dam failures is related to the increasing number of tailings impoundment areas larger than 5 million cubic meter capacity. Losses of human life, as well economic and ecological impacts, either permanent or non-recoverable, are often immense. The average cost of these catastrophic tailings dam failures is $543 million.
To compound this, climate change and ageing mines have made the problem more pressing, with precipitation levels increasing in many parts of the world, and older dams with designed with out-dated specifications. Today, tailings management is the most pressing issue facing our sector.
Following the catastrophic failure of a tailings dam at Brumadinho, Brazil in January 2019, the Global Action on Tailings (GAT) Initiative was launched by the GMPA to address challenges concerning tailings disposal and storage.
Approach
An international taskforce is building awareness and knowledge of tailings management through three areas of focus (1) Building trust through collaboration and engagement, (2) Workforce planning focused on current and emerging gaps in tailings expertise, and (3) Enhancing access to tailings information.
The GAT Resource Center provides access to standards, guidelines, professional development, information, and research collaborations.
If you're interested to know more contact Laurie Reemeyer Taskforce Chair or, email gmpa@ausimm.com.