Developing new framework to achieve better tailings dams’ governance and management

With a focus on tailings dams and associated risks that could lead to failure, Keith has been working to bridge the gap between a blend of guidelines requirements and existing company policies and applied governance systems by helping operators get processes that promote compliance with the Global International Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).

“What we have found is most of the operators or the clients we are servicing don't have most of the documentation that's required to meet the criteria set by the Standard,” he said.

“It’s not a feat that can be achieved overnight, but we are focusing on helping all mining stakeholders have a higher degree of involvement with tailings facilities and the requirements needed to manage their facilities effectively so they'll be able to comply with the Standard’s guidelines.

Keith has been part of a working group with the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA).

“The IRMA’s Chapter 4.1 on Mine Waste and Materials Management was developed through an expert working group consisting of mining industry representatives, the Mining Association of Canada, which has its own Tailings Management Protocol, and technical experts representing civil society interests,” Keith said.

“One of the goals of this working group is to discuss the potential alignment between the Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance (IRMA Standard) and the GISTM, focusing on bridging the gaps in the Global Standard.

“IRMA aims to produce a best-practice standard and is committed to revising its requirements over time to be consistent with internationally agreed best practices. It's another initiative to develop a standard for tailings dams’ management and governance.”

“In my experiences working with tailings in different parts of the world, we need to have one system that guides and regulates the industry on how to manage tailings and how the governance should be applied rather than several guidelines being used in a blended approach,” he said.

“Because now there are tendencies to use guidelines favourable to site-specific conditions. That leaves a lot of loose ends in terms of the subjectiveness that goes into picking up what's suitable for a design. Because it's not uniform to adopt a blanket design for all facilities.”

However, Keith stressed a significant issue being echoed across the industry was the need for a national and global commitment to education and training more focused on tailings engineering.

“There is a genuine concern that there are not enough trained tailings engineers to meet the Standard’s requirements set out by GISTM here in Australia and more so globally,” he said.

“We need a national approach to supporting engineers with the necessary global research and practical expertise in tailings engineering.

“We don't have many upcoming engineers taking up the baton or students enrolling as geotechnical or mining engineers. Add on to the skills shortage, passing on some lessons we have learnt along with our experiences or careers becomes very difficult.

“There is already quite a gap between the “grey hairs” going out of the industry and new tailings engineering practitioners coming in.”

But if that gap can be filled, Keith believes the future is bright for the tailings industry.

“With the pushing of the ESG agenda, there is going to be a shift of focus into how we are best managing our tailings facilities in terms of required or expected sustainability goals,” he said.

“There will be a need for high-skill requirements for tailings engineers to manage the high inherent risks associated with tailings dams compared to water dams.

“Also, there is going to be a drive from investor groups funding mining, wanting to see elevated strategies for risk management to fund projects.”

Tailings dams are complex structures, and while they require a high level of risk management and ongoing monitoring, the future need for development, training and upskilling of engineers must not be ignored.

Keith said this, as well as the development of a new overarching framework of how to best design tailings dams, was vital to ensure the future demands of the dams were met regarding governance, safety and compliance.