Session 2
Abstract:
Mining in Australia is a strategic activity that significantly contributes to the economy, and as such local governments must ensure it remains a sustainable industry and does not constitute a threat to the environment and communities. Tailings arguably are perceived as the highest risk element of a mining operation, therefore license to operate has a substantial dependency on how safe tailings are
managed.
Safe management of TSFs in WA is regulated by DMIRS; regular audits are conducted, at a frequency established by their license conditions, where a High Impact Function (HIF) is evaluated to assist operators in meeting safe operational criteria of their TSFs; in addition, ANCOLD’s 2012 (and 2019 addendum) tailings
guidelines provide a technical base that can be referred to when evaluating safety of TSFs in Australia.
In 2020, three well-reputed independent institutes convened to prepare a Global Industry Standards for Tailings Management (GISTM, 2020), to provide a holistic and sound base to assure safe operations of TSFs with a focus in developing confidence to communities, investors, and other stakeholders on the viability of the
mining industry.
The question is how this initiative would change the way WA TSFs are perceived?
This presentation will explore how our WA TSFs benchmark against
GISTM from the basis of current compliance to DMIRS and the
assumption these are designed and operated according to ANCOLD
guidelines.
