Using more paste thickeners for dry tailings has been beneficial from an environmental aspect, as less water is required to transport the tailings, says environmental solutions company I-CAT operations manager Alex McHaffie.

“This allows for dewatering ponds to be eliminated or reduced considerably. As is the case in Gauteng, the seepage of tailings water is of great concern, and the implementation of dry tailings could, in effect, reduce issues relating to seepage. With dry tailings, the risk of an embankment breach is also lowered,” he adds.

Water pollution, considerable dust fallout and reduced air quality are some of the environmental risks and impacts associated with tailings storage and waste facilities. McHaffie notes that these risks are amplified for the environment’s – whether populated or secluded – surrounding tailings dams.

Further, one of the main challenges of mining in Africa is the cost of production and its impact on mining companies’ profitability margins. Subsequently, mining companies are increasingly looking to tailings reclamation to boost existing revenue streams or create new ones.

“As technology and equipment are constantly improving, it seems that mining companies that are solely focused on tailings reclamation are reaping the benefits. However, they also have to deal with more challenges in terms of environmental factors, which, in turn, present their own challenges.”

He says a site’s labour complement, the communities surrounding the reclamation site and government are becoming more aware of the environmental and health impacts of tailings facilities, which engenders increasing scrutiny.

Although, McHaffie notes that “the industry is doing all that it can to better the situation”.

He adds that, “with increased levels of innovation and experience from service providers in the environmental sector, mining companies that operate in the mining and minerals reclamation market are constantly being educated on relevant solutions that can assist them with their operations. It is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Each operation should have a tailored solution”.

I-CAT Offering

I-CAT has been actively involved in the environmental sector since 2007, and has 12 years’ experience in tailings storage facilities.

The company’s dust solutions division prides itself on being a leader in the dust suppression market, with a constant drive to pursue new technologies and products to ensure the best possible results for clients, McHaffie points out.

“We do not just offer a product or a service – we focus on providing a solution to interlink with a client’s operation. As all operations differ, it does not make sense to provide a simple product and so we propose a solution that could cover their entire operation, from dust management on roads, processing plant and tailings facilities to monitoring and reporting on dust levels.”

McHaffie says the company takes it upon itself to control its client’s challenges, thereby ensuring a long-term relationship. In the tailings sector, I-CAT can adjust its dosages to client requirements, offering short-, medium- and long-term solutions.

“I would say the biggest benefit for our clients is their cost saving, as it is very expensive to rehabilitate a tailings storage facility. Using our TDS2000, they can ensure that their tailings storage facility dust fallout is managed within reasonable costs for the medium term,” he enthuses.

McHaffie notes that, while the rehabilitation of tailings storage facilities is a long-term solution and a costly exercise, it cannot be ignored as it is a legal obligation.

He stresses that I-CAT’s product does not replace rehabilitation processes, but rather extends the time required before full rehabilitation is required. The product can also be sprayed in conjunction with the rehabilitation of a tailings storage facility, he adds.

Additionally, McHaffie notes that the company prides itself on using local community members at the sites where it is active.

“With some of the solutions, teams are trained by our staff members and supervised during the project. After completion of the project, we hand it over to the small local business so that it can handle the maintenance contract directly with the mine.”

The company is focused on growing its footprint in the Southern African Development Community region, with interesting prospects in the Australian market.

“We are doing research and development on a new product that we feel could be revolutionary in terms of tailings dust suppression, as the product will have little to no impact on the environment. It will also have a longer life span than our existing solution, with field tests set to start next month,” McHaffie concludes.