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Environmental, Health and Safety aspects of gold mining
Health
& Safety aspects
Environment aspects
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Environment
aspects
Mining operations focus on minimising any environmental
effects
in the short, medium and long-term. This means that
sites are
designed not only to have the minimum impact during
operation,
but also the closure and after-care of the site is planned.
Among
the strategic tools to minimise any environmental effects
we find
the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Risk Assessment
techniques, monitoring and follow-up as routinely applied
proced-
ures. Environmental audits are regularly conducted to
review and
improve the environmental management at each site.
Cyanide leaching and the chemical management of cyanide
are
controlled by specific safety measures to prevent incidents
and
environmental impacts. The design of a cyanide leaching
plant
includes a thorough Risk Assessment where technical
solutions
aimed at the prevention of accidents and environmental
impacts
are identified. |
The following features are often included in the design
to prevent any impact on the environment
and on the Health & Safety of operators:
- The incorporation of a cyanide destruction circuit before
the tailings are disposed into the tailings
--pond.
- Secondary containment of leach-tanks to collect any
accidental spillages.
-
Leach-tanks placed outdoors are open. Indoor equipment
is connected
- to a gas extraction
system with a scrubber operating with NaOH- solution.
- Backup power generators are installed.
- Any spills are pumped back to the circuit.
- Well educated and trained operators run the operation.
- Strict environmental monitoring of the entire
site is applied.
- Strict Health & Safety routines.
- Strict management procedures for leachate.
- Strict management of chemicals. |
At all sites in Europe where tank leaching is practised,
the effluent (tailings and tailings water)
undergoes cyanide destruction prior to discharge into
the tailings pond. The treatment results are
very satisfactory. Nevertheless, the water quality in
the tailings pond is frequently monitored and
analysed for cyanide concentration as well as other components
such as heavy metals, pH and
conductivity.
The physical stability of the tailings pond is guaranteed
using conservative design, careful quality
control during construction, proper management during
operation, monitoring and control, dam
safety audits and a proper closure at the end of its operational
period.
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European obligations
At the moment the European Union is developing specific
mine
waste legislation, which will include limit values for
cyanide, as
well as a Best Available Technology document (BAT), which
will
provide recommendations for legislators and industry in
handling
cyanide. The industry is fully supportive of these two
initiatives.
Europe represents a modern and developed society, with
tech-
nology and wealth to a large extent relying on the benefits
of
metals, including gold. Europe today, even as a net importer,
has a significant production capacity for gold, and for
the future,
very promising resources of the metal. European mines
operate
at world class standard with respect to sustainability
criteria, i.e.
environmental protection, economical performance and social
development. Therefore, it is Euromines’ opinion,
that Europe
has a responsibility to, as much as reasonably possible,
support
it’s demand for gold and other metals by supporting
the mineral
industry to operate its mineral resources according to
the highest
available standards.
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