Reinforcing Australia’s global leadership on tailings safety

The Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) will support the communique, developed by MCA member companies after a workshop earlier this year, with a programme of training, research and governance actions currently in development.

Tailings are fine grained solid residues left after minerals and metals have been extracted and are commonly transported as slurry and ‘thickened’ (to minimise water) prior to storage in tailings storage facilities or dams, either above or below ground.

Opportunities will be identified to build industry expertise and enhance technical capacity on tailings management for the minerals workforce.

Tragic incidents around the world over the past decade reinforce the need for ongoing vigilance, review and change and raise legitimate questions about tailings management practices from governments, investors and the community.

Australia’s minerals industry met earlier this year to review governance, culture and risk management for tailings storage facility management.

While current tailings management practices in Australia are highly regulated and at the forefront of global best practice, the industry is committed to continual improvement as part of its culture of safe and responsible resource development.

There is no room for complacency and honest and transparent communication and engagement with the workforce, host communities, governments, investors and other stakeholders is central to the industry’s approach.

The MCA is proud to be working with member companies, universities, community and its international counterparts to ensure the safety of its workforce is the number one priority on all mine sites.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/27092019/reinforcing-australias-global-leadership-on-tailings-safety/