The requirements of the Global Industry Standards on Tailings Management (GISTM) will have significant impacts on tailings dam management and engineering, raising the bar for corporate responsibility and opening the door for significant improvements in performance.
Meeting the new benchmarks has already meant many thousands of hours being dedicated by major mining houses, designers, and operators to considering how best to implement the new demands.
Following the publication of the GlSTM in August 2020, work has been ongoing on at least three different levels. Firstly, all members of the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) — who include the major mining companies operating in South Africa —are working towards meeting GISTM requirements by 5 August 2023.
Secondly, other mining firms are following a similar route in terms of meeting their GISTM obligations; it should be remembered that financial institutions now also require compliance with the GISTM for project finance and insurance.
The third level relates to national standards; while the GISTM requirements are clear, the practical process of meeting them requires that country~specic standards are detailed in all major mining areas. Such standards must also align with the more detailed engineering requirements provided in the ICMM, ICOLD, and other documentation. This process is currently underway.
