PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Australian mining companies have committed to the safe and responsible management of tailings storage facilities, with members of the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) releasing a communiqué detailing a programme of training, research and governance actions currently in development.
The MCA on Monday said that opportunities would be identified to build industry expertise and enhance technical capacity on tailings management for the minerals workforce.
“Tragic incidents around the world over the past decade reinforce the need for ongoing vigilance, review and change and raise legitimate questions about tailings management practices from governments, investors and the community.
"Australia’s minerals industry met earlier this year to review governance, culture and risk management for tailings storage facility management,” MCA CEO Tania Constable said.
“While current tailings management practices in Australia are highly regulated and at the forefront of global best practice, the industry is committed to continual improvement as part of its culture of safe and responsible resource development.
“There is no room for complacency and honest and transparent communication and engagement with the workforce, host communities, governments, investors and other stakeholders is central to the industry’s approach.”
The communiqué outlined a number of actions that miners would focus on, including communicating and engaging with host communities and other key stakeholders, continuing to actively share and promote industry-leading practice and lessons learned, build industry expertise and offer Australian expertise to help build global initiatives on tailing management.