Organised by: SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd
Effective and safe disposal of mine wastes presents significant environmental and technical challenges to mining operators worldwide. This workshop will concentrate on review of the current EU requirements/initiatives related to mineral waste management and Best Available Techniques (BAT) related to safe operation of mine waste facilities.
The workshop will comprise three interactive sessions covering the following topics:
Mineral waste management aspirations – Outline of the EU Mine Waste Directive requirements and BAT guidance, comment on how this aligns with best practice defined in other OECD countries and trends influencing future visions of best practice. Mineral waste characterisation – The EU approach to mine waste characterisation, how characterisation of waste can impact the design of mines in general and the challenges associated with re-use of mine wastes in certain settings. Design, operation and stewardship of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs) – Embankment breach incidents at large TSFs around the world have led to an increased emphasis on mine waste facility design, operational management, effective monitoring systems and technical stewardship. This session will focus on the key elements required to minimise risk through the tailings storage life cycle from conceptual design to closure. A key emphasis of this session will be on design and management of hydraulically placed tailings in the EU and other OECD jurisdictions.