The project aims to fast-track full re-use of mine tailings and refinery residue to upscaling and commercialization, with a focus to achieve reduced mine waste footprints, develop a new resource for raw materials and help the mining and other industries to improve their operational model.
It includes development of a decision support tool and practical guidelines for sustainable mine waste management that can be applied by the mining industry at large, which will also address technical, collaborative, environmental, regulatory, community and legislative aspects.
The benefits from sponsoring this project include:
- Demonstrating the possibility of non-mining industries using mine waste as a new resource for raw materials with new collaborations and partnerships forged.
- Reduction of the mine waste footprint by significantly reducing the amount of waste stored on site and then limiting the site’s environmental impact and risk category. At the same time, the mine will significantly improve its regulatory approval process for expansion as the construction of tailings dams will no longer be required. Local communities and investors are more likely to approve new projects or expansions without tailing storage facilities. Bonds for closure are likely to be reduced. The waste will be recovered from existing storage areas and the process plants and then moved to the new recycling plant. The Circular Mine Consortium or a third party could directly finance and/or operate the recycling plant, which will further reduce the need for the mine to manage waste and lower its overall operating costs.
- Potential to fast-track the re-use of large volumes of mine tailings to upscaling and commercialisation with a focus of creating a profitable activity, achieve reduced mine waste footprints, develop a new resource of raw materials, help the industry become more sustainable and develop a circular economic model between the mining industry and other industries.
- Development of a decision-support tool and practical guidelines for sustainable mine waste management that can be applied by the mining industry at large, which will address technical, collaborative, environmental, regulatory and legislative aspects of the circular economic model.
For more information, please contact Program Manager Dr Silvia Black at silvia.black@amira.global
