Water Recycled and Reused

The mining industry is very conscious of the damage caused by open-pit mining and any associated activities. Efforts are therefore being made to approach such projects with a coordinated and sustainable longer-term vision.

Companies and governments are pulling their resources to restore former mining sites and, whilst doing so, take full advantage of the restoration process to try and improve the biodiversity of the affected area.

Restoring open pit mines

One example of mine restoration is the Gillervattnet reclamation project run by Boliden. The former tailings pond is undergoing reclamation work to stabilise the sulphur-rich sand, and transform the part of the site into a wetland habitat for wildlife. The company has taken on this challenge with a long-term view of trying to imagine what the mined area should be like in 1000 years time – a true landscape vision.
More about this project – Watch the movie Thanks for the loan

Creating nature reserves

Rio Tinto Kennecott has transformed acreage once dominated by over-grazed lands, salt evaporation ponds and illegal dumps into a 3,670-acre shorebird and waterfowl reserve along the south shore of Great Salt Lake. In 2004, the area became an Important Bird Area (IBA) and is now part of BirdLife International’s IBA Program. The purpose of the program is to identify, monitor and protect a global network of IBAs to conserve birds and other biodiversity – birds being one of the most vital indicators of a healthy environment.
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Protecting the desert

The Gobi desert is one of the world’s last great deserts, home to abundant wildlife and people with a strong connection to the land. Change is coming quickly to Mongolia, especially the South Gobi. The region’s rich natural resources have made the country increasingly attractive for many mineral development projects. This creates tremendous opportunity for the people and their standard of living. However, it also places significant pressures on the natural environment. The region’s mining and infrastructure projects are supporting economic development, but they also have the potential to impact wildlife and traditional communities that live off the land. Decisions are being made today that will affect this landscape forever and addressing this challenge in a piecemeal way, project by project, is not enough. What’s needed to support a more sustainable Gobi is a vision that takes into account the full scope of potential projects and their cumulative impacts to the landscape.
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“In Mongolia, we need to find a way to collaborate with industry, government and communities so we can create a balance between conservation and development. Development by Design gives us a solution to this dilemma.”

Gala Davaa, the director of conservation for the Conservancy’s Mongolia programme

Restoring water quality and woodland

Another example of a company with a long-term sustainable vision is KGHM. At present the company is carrying out two reclamation operations: at the Podolsky mine in Canada, and the Carlota mine in the USA. KGHM completed the reclamation of the Gilów tailings pond in Poland, which was the main tailings facility for over two decades, and today is a home to animals and plants. Moreover, since Gilów’s closure in 1980, it has become a sanctuary for wetland birds. Similarly, the mining sites in the so-called Old Copper Basin in Poland, such as Lena or Konrad, have been reclaimed for the natural environment, with the water quality and previous areas of woodland being restored. The company also nurtures the areas around its facilities. For over 20 years, KGHM has developed the areas of the former protection zones of the Głogów and Legnica smelter/refineries, and thanks to consistent efforts, most of these areas are now classified as woodland.

Modern societies are reliant on water and energy, and these two life essentials are interlinked. While energy production depends heavily on water, the overwhelming use of water globally goes to watering fields to grow food. Limiting water for agriculture reduces food security. However, if we cut water for industry we stifle economic growth.

So what are we to do?

The answer is, to do what we can in a systematic and planned manner with set goals and measurable outcomes.

WATER AS A SCARCE RESOURCE

Mining needs large amounts of water. Anglo American alone consumed 201M m3 in 2013, and this is already mitigated by recycling and reusing around 70 per cent of the water required. However, most operations are located in water-stressed areas making water conservation even more important. Water scarcity can pose a substantial threat to resources, communities and business. Anglo American is acutely aware of this risk and has introduced industry-leading water and energy management programmes to minimise the environmental impact of what we do.

AMBITIOUS PLANS TO CUT WATER USAGE

In 2010 Anglo American established a 10-year Group Water Strategy with requirements to have site water action plans and targets to deliver a 14 percent reduction in water usage by 2020. The company has achieved a 15 percent reduction and now expects to exceed 20 percent of savings by 2020. The proactive approach to water management has so far allowed savings of 35 million cubic meters of water.

A large company, such as Anglo American, with a clear objective and commitment, can make a big difference to its stakeholders and their livelihoods. It can have an even greater impact by working in partnership with governments, other business, NGOs and local communities.

In Chile, Anglo American has built a US $100m desalination plant to use seawater for activities rather than competing for groundwater that is also used for agriculture. This provides water security for operations and for local farmers situated in the same areas. Anglo American is investing in projects intended to enable us to run water-neutral mines by 2030. This is a major commitment. Providing infrastructure that delivers water and energy is hugely expensive, needs maintenance and long-term commitment from all participants. Companies can take a lead, but cannot do it alone.

The alternative is not worth contemplating, that without water and energy, companies – like communities – can wither and die.

Sustainable Mining With A Long-Term Vision