The controversial issue of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSF) construction and management following a spate of disasters over the last 24 months was unpacked during a breakfast discussion by leading mining services companies Fraser Alexander, Knight Piesold and Webber Wentzel on the sidelines of the annual Investing in Africa Mining Indaba event in Cape Town this week.

Hosted by leading, African-focused mining trade journal Mining Review Africa, the discussion focused on the importance of integrated TSF management and attracting investment while containing risk.

A TMF/TSF is a storage area for post-processed ore at a mining operation. It typically comprises a fine-grained material with uneconomic mineral content that is often transported and deposited there as a slurry, from which excess water is recovered. The method of impoundment varies for each mine.

The mining industry will never be the same again following an iron ore tailings dam failure in Brazil in January 2019. As a result, far greater transparency is being requested by investors and insurers with regards to TSF management structures, in addition to requirements by regulators and broader stakeholders.

Regulators are reviewing their guidelines and minimum requirements for design, operation and closure of tailings facilities. This includes international groups such as the International Commission of Large Dams (ICOLD) and the International Council for Mining and Metallurgy (ICMM).

Building on and unpacking this topic in far greater detail, the TSF breakfast discussion was led by:

• John Wates, Chairman, Fraser Alexander
• Andrew Copeland, Technical Director, Knight Piésold Southern Africa
• Rashaad Carrim, Partner, Webber Wentzel
• Le Roux van den Berg, Loss Adjuster, Lloyd Warwick

The discussion focused specifically on the following aspects:

• strategic risks facing organisation executives
• factors to determine appropriate executive level oversight
• potential shareholder liability
• investor interest and compliance oversight
• role of insurers in limiting risks

Highlights from discussion:

John Wates, Chairman, Fraser Alexander: “Public awareness of the risks associated with tailings dams is at an all-time high and stakeholders are now, more than ever, interested in the way in which the mining industry is going to respond.

The response is certain to include tighter standards but these standards will not, in themselves, be sufficient. Stakeholders expect improved performance and a reduction in the frequency and severity of failures.

This will require elevation of tailings risk management to board level in order to position mining companies to demonstrate tangible and visible reduction in risk levels.”

Andrew Copeland, Technical Director, Knight Piésold Southern Africa stressed: “The Consulting industry has an important part to play in ensuring that TSFs are properly designed and then in partnership with the operator, that they are correctly constructed, commissioned, operated and closed.

Many Tailings guidelines have been revised to improve holistic management of TSFs, including technical, social, environmental and governance responsibilities, with ultimate responsibility at an executive level.

“The key risks for achieve safe and stable tailings facilities are extreme rainfall and seismic events. These are infrequent events, but if they do happen, the TSF must be designed to withstand them, in particular the possibility of liquefaction. Dam breach assessments are now mandatory, to understand the potential zone of influence of a failure. KP is well positioned to undertake such tasks.”

Rashaad Carrim, Partner, Webber Wentzel, explained: “Socially responsible investing is not just a passing fad! This may have been initiated by institutional investors, however, this has resonated and taken hold with the new generation of ordinary investors. Brumadinho was not just a landslide of waste material but an avalanche of investor activism!”

The poor legacy mining often leaves will take some time to reverse, largely because it has been impacted by unscrupulous operators who take short-cuts in less regulated countries.

This can be stopped by withholding investment to such companies and/or by stopping the purchase of their concentrate or mineral.

It is up to the industry to pull together internationally on this count and Fraser Alexander, Knight Piesold and Webber Wentzel have positioned themselves to bring the mining industry into an era that reduces risks associated with TSFs.

TSF discussion: Mining Review Africa
The live discussion will be recorded and available for online viewing on the Mining Review Africa website from Thursday, 6 February at 12h00. Click here to access the recording.

About Fraser Alexander:
Cousins Fraser and Fred Alexander formed Fraser Alexander in 1912, as a tailings deposition service to the Witwatersrand’s emerging gold mining industry. Even then, our innovative nature was obvious, as we were the first to use cocopans to remove tailings from processing plants. Soon we were managing 70% of the dumps in the region.

Over the following century, we raised the practice of residue and tailings management to a science, delivering best-practice solutions to locations across Africa, the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. In this time, we also expanded our service offering and in 2006, we were acquired by Royal Bafokeng Holdings, the investment arm of the Royal Bafokeng Nation.

Today, Fraser Alexander is a fully Black-owned and proudly South African group, growing our innovative business across the globe.

About Knight Piesold:
The key risks for achieve safe and stable tailings facilities are extreme rainfall and seismic events. These are infrequent events, but if they do happen, the TSF must be designed to withstand them, in particular the possibility of liquefaction. Dam breach assessments are now mandatory, to understand the potential zone of influence of a failure. KP is well positioned to undertake such tasks.

About Webber Wentzel:
With over 150 years of experience and industry knowledge, Webber Wentzel is the leading full-service law firm on the African continent. We combine the collective knowledge and experience of our firm to provide clients with seamless, tailored and commercially-minded business solutions within record times. Our alliance with Linklaters and our deep relationships with outstanding law firms across Africa provide our clients with the best expertise wherever they do business.

About Mining Review Africa:
Mining Review Africa is the leading monthly magazine and digital platform in the African mining industry. Every month, MRA reaches an audience of over 50 000 influential mining authorities and key decision makers through a variety of channels, including an interactive website, videos and print distribution at all major mining conferences in Africa and across the globe.

Media contact:
Mining Review Africa:
Senior communications manager: Annemarie Roodbol
Telephone: +27 21 700 3558
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