Mining and Environment in the Western Balkans

Mining and environment in the Western Balkans www.envsec.org This study was initiated by the Environment and Security Initiative (ENV- SEC), a partnership between UNDP, UNEP, OSCE, NATO, UNECE and REC. Disclaimer: The views expressed in this study are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect views of neither UNEP nor ENVSEC partner organizations or their member-countries. The designations employed and the presentation of material in this study do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of the organizations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authority, or delineation of its frontiers and boundaries. “Mining and Environment in the Western Balkans” is also available as in- teractive map and information film for further insight in this subject. Both are available at www.envsec.org UNEP promotes environmentally sound practices globally and in its own activities. This report is printed on 100% recycled paper, using vegetable-based inks and other eco- friendly practices. Our distribution policy aims to reduce UNEP’s carbon footprint. Mining and environment in the Western Balkans Editor This study was prepared by Zoi Environment Christina Stuhlberger Network on behalf of UNEP Vienna in the framework of the Environment and Security Ini- Cartography tiative - South Eastern Europe with support of the Matthias Beilstein Austrian Development Agency (ADA) and the www.zoinet.org Produced by Zoï Environment Network Christina Stuhlberger Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. Photography A special “thank you” to the many members of UNDP Montenegro the ENVSEC - South Eastern Europe family and Philip Peck friends of the Balkan who contributed through- Christina Stuhlberger out the years with passion and dedication to the topic. We are in particular grateful to UNDP Contributors Montenegro and its Western Balkan Environ- Harald Egerer ment Programme (WBEP) for the continuous Philip Peck backstopping in preparation of this study and Pier Carlo Sandei fruitful cooperation in the programme imple- Otto Simonett mentation on the ground. Stewart Williams Supervision by UNEP Vienna: Copy editing Harald Egerer – Head Harry Forster Pier Carlo Sandei – Associate Programme Officer Contents 11 17 25 Mining and Policy Environmental environment requirements problems at The Mining for mine sites Closure principles 12 18 26 Mining and environment Policy requirements Environmental problems at 19 mine sites What is Mining for Closure? 29 21 Mine structures – tailings Why governments benefit management facilities from Mining for Closure 32 practices Contaminated mine water 22 37 Why business benefits from Remediation approaches Mining for Closure practices 41 91 Mining in the CASE STUDIES Remediation Western Balkans exercise Emergency risk reduction at tailings management facilities in Albania 42 54 92 Mining in the Western Balkans Elbasan Practical approach 45 65 93 Situation today Bucim Rapid risk-reduction 49 68 interventions Albania Lojane 96 56 74 Selection criteria Bosnia and Herzegovina Mojkovac-Brskovo 98 60 80 Selected sites Former Yugoslav Republic of Bor complex Macedonia 86 72 Trepca – Artana/ Montenegro Novo Brdo 77 88 Serbia Trepca – Stan Terg/ 82 Stari Trg mine Kosovo (UN administered Territory under UNSC 1244) Preface Over the last few years UNEP and its has prepared and supported pilot re- ENVSEC partners have been working mediation projects in the region which to identify and reduce transboundary reduce environmental risks at mining environmental risks from hazardous sites. In addition, these practical mea- mining operations in South Eastern Eu- sures help build local capacity in techni- rope, with the focus on Albania, Bosnia cal, managerial and administrational ap- and Herzegovina, the Former Yugoslav proaches to tackle other mining sites of Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo (Terri- environmental concern. tory under Interim UN Administration), Montenegro and Serbia. This document seeks to provide an over- view of the results and experience cre- This has been achieved by collecting, ated over this period to facilitate related analysing and distributing valuable en- work in the future and ensure broad vironmental data, facilitating knowledge dissemination of the lessons learned to exchange, and creating partnerships guarantee that the efforts made so far can within the region and beyond. Our team be sustained. 6 Executive summary Mining and Environment European countries and international partners transferring relevant knowledge Practically all human societies depend on to assist local Governments in adopting the availability and use of mined products. suitable mechanisms and approaches has But the expansion of mining operations been shown to be highly valuable. into environmentally sensitive and fragile areas has increased the level of environ- Policy requirements – mental destruction and the impact on the Mining for Closure basic ecosystem services and biodiversity. principles The mining industry has been involved All around the world there are examples in some of the most widely publicized of mines that were not properly “closed”. environmental disasters. Well-known Some ran out of money before completing examples of mining-related environ- a cleanup and rehabilitating land, others mental accidents and long-term dete- had to struggle with ownership issues and rioration include Rio Tinto, a river in consequently liability and so forth. Regard- southern Spain, the colliery spoil heap less of whether mine legacies were left by failure at Aberfan, Wales, or the Baia private or state-run operations, it is usually Mare cyanide spill in Romania. governments which must pay for respon- sible mine closure and rehabilitation where Mining and mineral processing has played no clear regulations for such sites exist. a vital part in the history and economy of the Western Balkans. Richly endowed New practices have shown that these with mineral resources such as copper, problems and the associated financial chromite, lead and zinc, it boasts some of and human costs can be avoided by a the largest deposits in Europe. Capitaliz- process of intelligent planning prior to ing on such mineral assets will be a prior- mining – or at least well in advance of ity for South Eastern Europe in order to cessation of mining activities. We call the boost local economies and attract foreign avoidance of future mining legacies via investment. To secure the environmental, good planning “mining for closure”. Oth- economic and social sustainability of such ers call it “best environmental practice new or restarted operations, the region will for mining”, “integrated mine planning” need to define and enforce a legal frame- or “sustainable mining practice”. work for sustainable mining practices. Mining for closure involves addressing Good practice, research and experience the following issues: in policy making, enforcement and tech- • defining a vision of the end result for nical approaches are all available. Infor- mining land with concrete objectives mation exchange between South East for implementation; 7 • ensuring that the mine closure plan is importance. A third important vector an integral part of the project life cycle; appears to be toxic-particulate pollutant • preparing a mine-closure plan early in transport as dust, which has a largely lo- the process of mine development and cal or sub-regional effect. in consultation with the regulatory authority and local communities; Tailings management facilities • explicitly including environmen- Tailings are the fine-grained waste mate- tal, social and economic issues when rial remaining after the metals and min- planning mining operations; erals have been recovered (extracted) • allowing for review and change ex- from mineral ores via various technical tending from the pre-mine planning processes. Tailings management facili- phase, through construction, mining, ties (TMF), also often referred to more and mine closure to post-mine stew- simply as tailings dams, tailings ponds or ardship. tailings impoundments, are waste storage sites for milling and extraction residues Environmental problems and some of the most common sites of at mine sites concern in relation to mining activity at a site. TMFs are associated with two main • Waste, areas of risk for the environment. The first • Air pollution, is the potential for losing large volumes of • Adverse impact on land use and bio- water and/or tailings in a large-scale fail- diversity, ure. The second relates to the eco-toxicity • Water pollution and availability, of the tailings themselves. • Hazardous materials, • Noise and vibration, Common technical problems at tailings • Energy use, management facilities comprise: • Visual impacts. • Water-diversion structure failures, • Overtopping failures, Transboundary impacts • Chronic leakage of pollution. It has been demonstrated that waterways (fluvial transport) are the dominant vec- Contaminated mine water tor for exposure, at all levels of interest. The potential toxicity of mine water and Airborne toxic emissions from smelters its adverse affects on the environment can transported in the atmosphere, which be ascribed to four characteristics com- constitute a second vector, also have mon in such effluents: acidity, iron and its been a very significant issue in the past. precipitates, trace metals (e.g. cadmium, However, in the Western Balkans nu- zinc, copper, lead etc.) and turbidity. merous smelter operations have ceased operations. In general the regional and Mine water

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