It has been just over four years since the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) was launched, and much is being learnt as mining companies and professional experts continue to maintain compliance, SRK Consulting experts are reporting.
The experts – Franciska Lake, Partner and Principal Environmental Scientist; Philippa Burmeister, Partner and Principal Environmental Scientist; James Lake, Partner and Principal Environmental Scientist; James Dutchman, Associate Partner and Principal Engineering Geologist; Kavandren Moodley, Principal Environmental Scientist; Andries Fourie, Principal Technologist in Disaster and Risk Management; Lindsay Shand, Partner and Principal Environmental Geologist; and Mondli Mazibuko, Senior Civil and Tailings Engineer – saw the GISTM has brought a more integrated approach to the design, construction, operation and closure planning of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs). This has meant that an even wider range of disciplines now need to engage collaboratively in projects that relate to TSFs – from Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) specialists to practitioners in mine closure, climate change, hydrology, geochemistry, water stewardship and disaster management.
Integration
There was initially the need to raise awareness about the high level of integration required between the ESG aspects and the traditional, technical aspects of tailings management. The importance of trust and understanding between the mine and project-affected people also needed to be emphasised. Building cooperative relationships between mines and their stakeholders remains a continuous challenge but has been a crucial ingredient in meeting GISTM standards.
There also still potential misalignments between local regulatory requirements and the GISTM. In building the environmental knowledge base that the GISTM requires, additional information is often needed beyond what local regulations or historical legislative conditions may have demanded. In many cases, mines have focused solely on their project development areas, paying limited attention to the broader risks of a tailings breach. Closing these gaps requires collaboration between regulators, the mine and other stakeholders.
People at Risk
Significant work and innovation have been dedicated in recent years to helping mines effectively comply with the GISTM. One of the key lessons learned from this process is the critical importance of ongoing engagement and relationship building with project-affected people throughout the lifecycle of a TSF. This approach fosters an environment where meaningful dialogue can take place around decisions that impact project-affected people, including the risks and potential consequences of a TSF failure.
SRK has observed that mines can significantly enhance their engagement and communication efforts when they have a well-established and effective stakeholder engagement plan in place. In contrast, strained communication with project-affected people makes it more difficult to deliver critical messages, often delaying the implementation of GISTM requirements. This in turn heightens the risk for people in the inundation zone, who are often the most vulnerable.
The basis for identifying which people are particularly at risk is determining the inundation zone, which the GISTM requires to be accurately modelled. This forms a key component of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP), which is also a GISTM requirement. Good communication channels need to be in place, she said, to allow not only for messaging from the mines on the risks associated with TSFs, but to clearly and effectively communicate during emergency situations.
