Amira Collaboration on Tailings
It is well recognised that tailings management is a challenge beyond any single company to solve, and not limited to a region or commodity. It is truly global.
Amira has developed a holistic and interconnected program of work to address this industry mega challenge. The Amira Collaboration on Tailings (ACT) will deliver a step change in tailings volume and risk mitigation of tailings storage facilities.
Amira is responding to industry mega challenges
Amira provides a platform for industry to build global collaborations to deliver breakthrough research, development, innovation, and implementation (R&D+I2) at scale to address mega challenges.
Within this mandate, and in response to the release of the International Council on Mining and Metals Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management, a collaboration of Amira Global Members was formed.
The consortium of Members identified key priority areas that are too large to solve alone and that require concerted collaborative efforts to reach a goal of zero harm tailings targets.
These are:
1. Avoidance of catastrophic failure of legacy and current tailings storage facilities
2. Reduction in tailings volume creation by re-thinking all steps along the tailings value chain
3. Repurposing legacy tailings, current tailings, and tailings volumes ahead of disposal in tailing storage facilities, both reducing volume and increasing value.
ACT – our approach
Amira Members represent around 60 percent of the reported planned tailings volume for 2025. This represents a significant force for change in our industry.
ACT will develop pathways for R&D+I2 to ensure our industry can deliver on the GISTM target of zero harm to people and the environment with zero tolerance for human fatality. Essential to achieving these targets is our alignment with the ICMM.
Members have identified more than 30 projects that span the key themes.
These projects demonstrate linkages across the tailings value chain and span all technology readiness levels. Each of these submissions contributes to the challenge. Individually, these contributions generate incremental progression. Implemented collectively, a multiplier effect is experienced.
Every project will assist in building knowledge and developing transdisciplinary expertise across the globe, with particular emphasis on regional knowledge and capability development.
Demonstrating impact
The image below shows the impact of projects in the current portfolio through a pre-and-post trajectory of technology readiness levels (TRL).
The shift in the curve is the collective result of each research project advancing through the R&D+I2 phases.
Join us
Amira will be releasing a full prospectus containing details about ACT in early 2022. Preliminary projects are starting now.
For more information about ACT, please contact Sean Helm at labol1638428540g.ari1638428540ma@ml1638428540eh.na1638428540es1638428540 or Bev Kubat at labol1638428540g.ari1638428540ma@ta1638428540buk.v1638428540eb1638428540.
Find out a little more about each of the projects.
Selective removal of acid-forming sulphides and passive treatment of AMD Themes: Repurposing and reducing tailings volume Read More
Automated real time monitoring and assurance Themes: Reducing volume and avoiding catastrophic failure Read More
Low-cost solution to avoiding AMD and rehabilitating mined sites Themes: Repurposing & reducing volume Read More
One-stop-shop for reducing tailings volume: RETAIL Theme: Reducing volume, repurposing & avoiding catastrophic failure Read More
Step closer to waterless mining Theme: Reducing volume, repurposing & avoiding catastrophic failure Read More
Alternative tailings management approaches Themes: Reducing volume & avoiding catastrophic failure Read More
The recycling and repurposing of tailings for process applications Themes: Repurposing & reducing volume Read More
Making zero mine waste a reality Theme: Theme: Reducing volume, repurposing & avoiding catastrophic failure Read More
