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How can mining become more environmentally sustainable?

Mining can become more environmentally sustainable1 by developing and integrating


practices that reduce the environmental impact of mining operations. These practices
include measures such as reducing water and energy consumption, minimizing land
disturbance and waste production, preventing soil, water, and air pollution at mine sites, and
conducting successful mine closure and reclamation activities.

Background
Although a number of variations exist, sustainable development is most commonly defined
as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of
future generations to meet their own needs2. [1] The principles of sustainable development
involve integrating economic activity with environmental integrity, social concerns, and
effective government systems. [2] These principles have had a growing influence on the
development of environmental and social policy in recent decades, and have been adopted
and promoted by a number of international organizations, including the United Nations and
World Bank. [1]

A number of industry associations, including the International Council on Mining and Metals,
and the Mining Association of Canada, have endorsed the principles of sustainable
development and have developed their own guidelines to promote sustainable practices
among their member organizations.

Environmentally sustainable mining


The continued discoveries of new oil, coal, and mineral reserves, improved recycling of
materials, and advances in technology in recent years have largely lessened the fears of
running out of non-renewable resources. [3] For instance, the development of technologies
including froth floatation for processing certain metal sulphide ores, the Solvent Extraction-
Electrowinning process for obtaining copper, and the use of cyanide in gold extraction have
all made previously uneconomic grades of ore suitable for mining, thus increasing
economically viable mineral reserves. [4]

However, although mining itself may occur on a relatively small land area, the associated
infrastructure and pollution from mining activities have the potential to affect the health of
ecosystems and reduce their ability to provide the goods and services necessary for human
and environmental well-being. [3] These services include the purification of air and water
and the decomposition of waste materials, which can be compromised where the
ecosystems are overwhelmed by high levels of pollution. The importance of a healthy
environment to future generations is recognized as a “pillar” of sustainable development.

In order to be more environmentally sustainable, mining operations are increasingly


conducted in a manner that minimizes their impact on the surrounding environment, and
leaves mine sites in an acceptable state for re-use by people or ecosystems. A number of
management strategies and technologies are being developed and used by the mining
industry to reduce the environmental impacts of mining, and are discussed below.

Reducing inputs
Water
Water is used in a number of applications at mine sites. By diverting surface water and
pumping groundwater, mining operations can reduce both the quantity and quality of water
available downstream for aquatic ecosystems and other industrial and municipal water
users, especially in areas with arid climates.

In response to water scarcity in many mining regions, a number of innovative water


conservation practices are being developed and implemented to reduce water use. In
Canada, mining has one of the highest water recycling rates among the industrial sectors,
and between 1996 and 2005 reduced its total water intake by 33%. [5] This drop in water
use occurred at the same time as the value of production increased 48%, meaning the water
intake per dollar of production (or water-use intensity) has also declined.

Energy
Mining and metal processing can be very energy-intensive processes. For instance, diesel
fuel is used by trucks and excavators during mining, electricity is used to grind ore and refine
copper and aluminum, and coal is required in order to smelt iron ore and make steel. [1] The
extraction of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas), and the construction of infrastructure required
for energy generation have their own environmental impacts, including the production of
greenhouse gases and increased risk of environmental contamination along the energy
supply route. Reducing energy consumption at mines can reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and extend the life of fossil fuel reserves in addition to reducing operating costs
and therefore the cost of the commodity being mined. [1]

Some examples of ways mining companies are reducing their energy consumption include
Alcoa’s RopeCon transport system at its Jamalco Operations in Jamaica, which generates
electricity while transporting bauxite ore downhill from the mine to the rail station, and
Kennecott Utah Copper’s haul truck idle management project, which was recognized by
the Utah Pollution Prevention Association with an Outstanding Achievement in Pollution
Prevention Award in 2010. Mining companies are also investigating renewable energy
sources to reduce costs and reliance on external energy sources including solar power in
Chile and wind turbines at the Diavik Diamond Mine in the Northwest Territories.

Land disruption
Mine sites currently disturb a small fraction of the Earth’s total land surface. For instance,
less than 0.01% of Canada’s land area has been used for the production of minerals and
metals since mining began over 100 years ago. [6] However, mining activities use land at
every stage of the mine cycle, including exploration, construction, operation, closure, and
post-closure. [7] Vegetation is cleared for the construction of buildings, roads, and
powerlines, open pits or tunnels are dug to gain access to the ore, and waste storage
facilities such as tailings ponds are expanded over the life of the mine, potentially leading to
habitat loss and deforestation. [7]

There are a number of ways to reduce the land-use impacts of mining. [7] These include
reducing the overall footprint of the mining area, minimizing the amount of waste produced
and stored, maintaining biodiversity by transplanting or culturing any endangered plants
found on site, and planning mines around existing infrastructure where possible. [7] Although
current technology requires ores to be excavated in order to produce metals, research in
areas such as biomining offers the possibility of mining with minimal land disruption in the
future.
Reducing outputs
Waste
Mine waste includes solid waste, mine water, and air particles, which can vary significantly
in their composition and potential for environmental contamination. In addition to preventing
soil, water, and air pollution, waste management plans are required in order to select and
design appropriate storage facilities for the large volumes of waste produced at most mine
sites.

It is generally recognized that preventing pollution is more economic and effective at


reducing environmental impacts than cleaning it up later on (i.e., leaving a legacy of
environmental degradation for future generations). [4] Methods for minimizing and
eliminating wastes in the production of minerals and metal commodities include [1]:

 Using cleaner production techniques

 Environmental control technologies

 Using waste as raw material, and

 Reducing the amount of waste produced through process re-engineering.

Water management strategies are used to reduce the volume of waste water produced,
and if necessary, to treat it to an acceptable quality before it is released. Over the past 30
years, most countries have passed formal environmental legislation describing acceptable
standards of human impacts to air, water, and land. As a result, mine waste management
plans are increasingly required in order to obtain a mining permit in many parts of the world.
[4, 8]

Acid rock drainage


Acid rock drainage (ARD) forms when sulphide minerals in waste rock and ore at a mine
site are exposed to air and water. ARD can pollute surface and groundwater with acidity and
dissolved metals, which can adversely affect aquatic organisms and water users
downstream. A number of strategies are used to predict, prevent, and mitigate ARD at mine
sites, and are described in further detail here.

Restoring environmental function at mine sites


Mining is a relatively temporary activity, and mine sites have finite operating lives which are
determined by the size and quality of the ore deposit being mined. Mine site
reclamation and closure activities aim to restore land disturbed by mining activities to an
acceptable state for re-use by people or ecosystems.

Case Study: The Mining Association of Canada’s “Towards Sustainable Mining”


program
Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) is a program developed by the Mining Association of
Canada (MAC). It was launched in 2004, and is based on a set of guiding principles and
performance elements that govern key activities of companies in the mining and mineral-
processing industry. [9] TSM has been acknowledged as a leader in the field of corporate
social responsibility (CSR), and has earned a Globe Award for Environmental
Excellence.

Participation in the TSM program is a requirement of membership in the MAC. Specific


performance indicators are reported annually by members for each mining facility, and
reports are externally verified every three years. [10] In 2010, 19 member companies
reported their facility-level performance, and 10 of those companies went through the
external verification process. [10] While TSM is only mandatory for member facilities in
Canada, many members have adopted the initiative at their international facilities as well.
[10] In May 2011, the Mining Association of British Columbiabecame the first provincial
mining association to adopt TSM.

As of 2011, MAC members have been reporting their performance in four areas: tailings
management, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions management, external outreach,
and crisis management planning. [10] The average performance of MAC member
companies has increased in all the performance areas between 2006 and 2010. [10] Three
new performance elements were introduced in 2010, and will be integrated into TSM by
2013; these elements include biodiversity conservation management, safety and health, and
Aboriginal and community outreach (which will replace external outreach). A protocol to
address mine closure is also under development. [10] More information on the TSM program
and performance is available on the MAC website.

While there is no single definition for sustainability, the Brundtland Report (1987) ‘Our
i

Common Future’ is often cited and defines sustainable development as “development that
meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs”.

ii
Based on the definition given by the 1987 World Commission on Environment and
Development known as the Brundtland Commission.

Show References
References
1
Rankin, W.J., Minerals, metals and sustainability: meeting future material needs, 2011,
Collingwood, Vic.: CSIRO Pub.
2
Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development (MMSD) Project, Breaking New Ground:
Mining, Minerals, and Sustainable Development, 2002, Earthscan for IIED and WBCSD.
3
Rajaram, R., Chapter 3: Issues in Sustainable Mining Practices, in Sustainable Mining
Practices -- A Global Perspective, V. Rajaram and S. Dutta, Editors. 2005, A. A. Balkema
Publishers, a member of Taylor & Francis Group: Leiden, The Netherlands. p. 45-89.
4
Rajaram, R. and K. Parameswaran, Chapter 1: Introduction, in Sustainable Mining
Practices -- A Global Perspective, V. Rajaram and S. Dutta, Editors. 2005, A. A. Balkema
Publishers, a member of Taylor & Francis Group: Leiden, The Netherlands. p. 1-11.
5
National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy. Charting a Course:
Sustainable Development of our Natural Resources Requires Sustainable Water Use, 2011
[cited 2012 September 04]; Available from: http://nrt-trn.ca/charting-a-course-sustainable-
water-use-by-canadas-natural-resource-sectors.
6
Canada, Natural Resources Canada [NRC], Background Paper on Land Access, Protected
Areas and Sustainable Development, 1998, NRC.
7
International Council on Mining & Metals. The Role of Mining and Metals in Land Use and
Adaptation, In Brief, 2011 [cited 2012 September 05]; Available from:
http://www.icmm.com/library/inbrief-the-role-of-mining-and-metals-in-land-use-and-
adaptation.
8
Rajaram, R. and R.E. Melchers, Chapter 6: Waste Management, in Sustainable Mining
Practices -- A Global Perspective, V. Rajaram and S. Dutta, Editors. 2005, A. A. Balkema
Publishers, a member of Taylor & Francis Group: Leiden, The Netherlands. p. 193-230.
9
The Mining Association of Canada. Towards Sustainable Mining, 2011 [cited 2012 March
6]; Available from: http://www.mining.ca/site/index.php/en/towards-sustainable-
mining.html.
10
The Mining Association of Canada, Towards Sustainable Mining 101: A Primer, 2010.

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