You're a mining engineer facing an environmental challenge. What's the best way to address it?

Do not be afraid to shut things down. At times with operations the pressure of knowing what the short term financial costs can influence peoples decision making. It is important to take balanced approaches and to ensure we also consider what is the probability adjusted liability of not acting now. As with everything, decision making is never as straightforward as it is in hindsight.

In response to the environmental challenge at the mine, you must first make an assessment that will be accompanied by a Mine plan on how to run the mine, because this is what will tell how much the environmental challenge will be according to the environmental impact that will be done by the mine's activities. And if you have already started a mine without doing any assessment, it is also not bad to stop for a while and conduct an assessment so that you can understand the real situation.

In my experience as a Metallurgical and Chemical Engineer, the first and most important step to addressing any environmental issues is understanding the source, kind, severity and nature of the challenge. You will achieve this by designing and performing rigorous sampling, testing and analyze. This gives you a very fair knowledge of the situation at hand hence you can develop a concrete solutions and/or provide recommendations on the needed solutions. Also, you can call on government agencies and/or an independent expert to also access the situation, take samples, do analyzes and provide recommendations. When there's enough evidence and data then you create a control measure, monitoring points and measures to prevent future occurrence.

Mining engineers can address environmental challenges by assessing the issue, complying with regulations, engaging stakeholders, and conducting Environmental Impact Assessments. They should adopt sustainable practices, manage water and waste responsibly, and rehabilitate mined areas. Embracing eco-friendly technologies, monitoring environmental parameters, and promoting continuous improvement are crucial. Training personnel on sustainability and having an emergency response plan ensures a comprehensive strategy to minimize the environmental impact of mining operations.

In addition to the initial assessment, ongoing commitment and implementation of sustainable practices are key in mitigating environmental impact in mining operations. This involves complying with environmental regulations and engaging with local communities to ensure a harmonious coexistence. Mining engineers play a crucial role in adopting technologies that minimize ecological footprints. This could include the use of renewable energy sources, advanced waste management systems, and innovative water conservation methods. Regular monitoring of environmental parameters helps in early detection of issues, allowing for prompt corrective actions.

Every issue that put the environment at risk must not be undermined. As a result, I would have a deep conversation on the issue with my team(including environmental team) in order to know the knitty-gritty of it. A problem well understood is halved-solved. Afterwards, a pragmatic approach will taken to address the problem. Additionally, open house to the public will be made possible if the problem would have a significant impact on the fauna and flora of the ecosystem.

The initial study before starting a project is critical. Correct mining methodology to be selected to minimise waste of material. One of the issues of old mining projects is extracting high concentration materials without considering the rest of material with lower concentration. A long term sustainable plan to be developed, considering the correct methodology to minimise the wastage. Location of the crushers and floatation factory if applicable is important to minimise the transportation costs and reduce the carbon emission. These all require a comprehensive planning in advance.

Going back is always costly, even when you are expanding. A proper FEASIBILITY STUDY needs to plan for variation in objectives and in management. However, containment is always better than dilution. Dust and contaminated water are problems you will never resolve, they just get bigger.

Training personnel on sustainability practices not only ensures adherence to environmental guidelines but also fosters a culture of responsibility within the organization. An emergency response plan is essential to address unforeseen incidents promptly, minimizing potential environmental damage and ensuring a rapid return to sustainable operations.

It is important to communicate the issue with relevant stakeholders, regulatory bodies and specialists to ensure the best and most effective remediation or solution is implemented. Open communication is critical.

You cannot do everything by yourself. You need to train others not only in what has to be done but why. This is where human planning so greatly exceeds AI, AND ALWAYS WILL. When people understand the concept and consequences, they will be more willing to commit resources and do the job correctly.

Registering the issues, communicating with stakeholders and regulatory bodies and sharing the lessons learnt with other projects can improve the industry as a whole.

In my perspective, innovation and using new technologies can minimise the problems in mining. Not only the pollution can be controlled but also the cost control and quality of production can be achieved easily. Using the cutting edge technologies, the mining sector can be converted into safe, smart and sustainable.

The conclusive outcome of the study/task/situation, of any study or task, should always be discussed and conclude with recommendations and shared with the team

Just explore it.... And implement it. Put nursery of same tree which are found in that mine area and see our beautiful chapter of excavation...... 🙂🙃

Seed does not grow unless it is spread and irritated. Whatever our rank we can always learn from others. Conferences can be expensive and simply distract one from the objective, but sometimes you meet someone who has already “been there, done that”, and help you avoid unforeseen pitfalls. Or perhaps you have the solution others are looking for, so it important to learn how to focus, and not try solving every problem overnight.

Furthermore, the emphasis on continuous improvement encourages mining operations to evolve towards more environmentally friendly practices. This could involve researching and integrating cutting-edge technologies or refining existing processes to reduce resource consumption and emissions. By adopting a holistic approach that includes thorough assessment, sustainable practices, technological innovation, ongoing monitoring, and a commitment to continuous improvement, mining operations can strive to minimize their environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.

The first person you need to educate is your boss. He may lack some of the information you have, or consider the time and probability of success to be unrealistic. But he will ALWAYS remember the time you went behind his back to senior management. This is especially true in environmental and contamination issues as rules are constantly changing. And doing it as we have always done, is no solution at all.