Modern society is highly dependent upon mined materials. A by-product of mining, however, is the generation of large quantities of mine waste. Mining companies, communities and governments recognize that mine waste can damage the environment and impact lives and livelihoods. To facilitate successful mining practices, they are committed to work together to minimise the impact of the industry.
While this report focuses predominantly on the issues associated with tailings storage facilities and their associated failures, the recommendations and other comments also apply to mine waste. Despite many good intentions and investments in improved practice, large tailings storage facilities, built to contain mine tailings can leak or collapse. When such events occur, they can destroy entire communities and livelihoods and remain one of the biggest environmental threats related to mining. These incidents may become more frequent due to the effects of climate change, as extreme weather events become increasingly commonplace. There is also a trend to larger facilities that can increase the impacts if a failure event occurs.
The mining industry has acknowledged that preventing catastrophic tailings dam incidents with zero fatalities and environmental protection is fundamental and achievable. For decades, companies, industry bodies and regulators have been continually improving best practice regulation and guidance for the construction and management of tailings facilities. However, eliminating all catastrophic incidents remains a challenge yet to overcome.