New institute to assess the implementation of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management
Published by Will Owen,
Editor
Global Mining Review,
The Global Tailings Management Institute (GTMI) has been launched as an independent, multi-stakeholder governed organisation dedicated to improving the safety of mine tailings facilities worldwide.
The GTMI’s founders include: the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).
Based in South Africa, the GTMI will drive the responsible management of tailings facilities throughout their lifecycle. The goal is to achieve zero harm to people and the environment, by overseeing an independent assessment process through which tailings facilities will be audited and certified.
The GTMI will oversee the implementation of, and conformance with, the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). Companies seeking to meet the standard are required to prioritise safety, and enhance accountability through public disclosures at all tailings facilities. The GTMI will be responsible for managing the assurance framework through which tailings facilities will be independently audited and certified against the GISTM, by qualified third-party assessors.
The development of the institute was informed by comprehensive guidance from an international advisory panel representing multiple stakeholders.
Aidan Davy, Co-COO of ICMM, comments:
“The devastating Brumadinho dam collapse in Brazil which killed 272 people in 2019 was a stark wake-up call for the entire industry and marked the beginning of a vital journey to make these facilities safer for people and the environment. ICMM, UNEP, and PRI convened the Global Tailings Review shortly after, and in August 2020 we published the GISTM. The establishment of the institute is the next transformative step. As a non-profit, multi-stakeholder governed initiative, we believe it will provide communities, investors, and the mining industry with confidence that effective measures are being put in place to prevent future failures.”
Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/environment-sustainability/22012025/new-institute-to-assess-the-implementation-of-the-global-industry-standard-on-tailings-management/
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