JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – In a bid to help make mine tailings safer for people and the environment, a global institute has been launched in South Africa which has also been selected as the location of the independent, multi-stakeholder governed Global Tailings Management Institute (GTMI).

GTMI has been founded by CEO-led leadership organisation ICMM, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) - the same three organisations that established the global industry standard on tailings management (GISTM) in 2020 – a year after the catastrophic dam collapse at Brazil’s Corrego de Feijao mine in Brumadinho, which Global Tailings Review chairperson and a former International Union for Conservation of Nature director-general Dr Bruno Oberle described as “a human and environmental tragedy that demanded decisive and appropriate action to enhance the safety and strengthen the governance of tailings facilities across the globe”.

Now, GTMI is the latest transformative ICMM-UNEP-PRI initiative, guided by an international advisory panel representing multiple stakeholders.

On selecting South Africa as its location, ICMM president and CEO Rohitesh Dhawan had this to say: “South Africa is an effective and appropriate location for the institute due to its significant mining sector, skills and experience in tailings management, and legal and professional expertise.

“The country has at various times been at the forefront of mining practices and technology globally and GTMI will benefit from that positive legacy, while contributing to the future growth and sustainability of the mining industry in the country.”

Dhawan also expressed gratitude to South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and its Minerals Council for their role in the establishment of the institute of GTMI, which will drive the responsible management of tailings facilities throughout their lifecycle.

The goal is to achieve zero harm to people and the environment, by overseeing an independent assessment process through which tailings facilities worldwide will be audited and certified.

Overseen will be conformance with the GISTM.

Companies seeking to meet the standard are required to prioritise safety and enhance accountability through public disclosures at all tailings facilities.

GTMI will be responsible for managing the assurance framework through which tailings facilities will be independently audited and certified against the GISTM by qualified third-party assessors.

THE MISSION

The core function of GTMI is to manage the assurance framework by encouraging the adoption of the GISTM, sharing knowledge and best practices for responsible tailings management, and transparently disclosing auditing outcomes.

It is seen as a vital part of the global architecture to deliver the goal of zero harm from tailings dams.

Updates will be made to GISTM as lessons are learned from implementation, and public disclosure of auditing outcomes will ensure that interested parties are always kept informed, Church of England Pensions Board chief responsible investment officer and PRI representative Adam Matthews pointed out in a release to Mining Weekly.

ELECTION OF BOARD ON WAY

A critical first step for GTMI is to elect a board of directors who will represent the entire ecosystem of communities and industries impacted by tailings facilities.

Applications are being invited from mining, potentially affected communities, indigenous peoples, the investment community, the insurance and banking sector, the technical and academic community, environmental experts, the mining workforce, and regulatory authorities.

Once the board is in place, GTMI will recruit a CEO and chief technical officer who will establish a committee to oversee all technical matters. Independent auditors will also be recruited, trained, and accredited to evaluate and certify tailings facilities.

STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT

Mining companies will be called on to become signatories, therefore committing to GISTM implementation and agreeing to independent auditing and certification.

Other interested parties will be invited to become supporters and to participate in collaborative efforts to improve tailings management.

Becoming a signatory will not only demonstrate a commitment to responsible tailings management, but can help strengthen relationships with regulators and affected communities, boost investor confidence, and potentially provide access to preferred insurance coverage.

UNEP is working towards making the mining and metals value chain more sustainable and to minimise its impact on the environment and human health, the organisation’s resources and markets chief Elisa Tonda explained.

Tonda regards the GTMI’s multi-stakeholder governance as being critical to “ensure transparency, accountability and ultimately build trust among all actors, which will contribute to a more responsible mining sector”.