WATER in MINING Cover Image Image Courtesy of Earth Systems
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WATER IN MINING Cover image Image courtesy of Earth Systems This page Image courtesy of GHD Back cover Image courtesy of CSIRO DISCLAIMER Austrade does not endorse or guarantee the performance or suitability of any introduced party or accept liability for the accuracy or usefulness of any information contained in this Report. Please use commercial discretion to assess the suitability of any business introduction or goods and services offered when assessing your business needs. Austrade does not accept liability for any loss associated with the use of any information and any reliance is entirely at the user’s discretion. © Commonwealth of Australia 2017 This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced by any process without prior written permission from the Commonwealth, available through the Australian Trade & Investment Commission. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Marketing Manager, Austrade, GPO Box 5301, Sydney NSW 2001 or by email to Marketing-Comms- [email protected] Publication date: October 2017 2 WATER IN MINING AUSTRALIA – A GLOBAL LEADER IN WATER MANAGEMENT ACROSS THE MINING LIFE CYCLE Image courtesy of Earth Systems. Image courtesy WATER IN MINING 3 INTRODUCTION Your partner in sustainable water management for INDUSTRY all mining and mineral processing needs. OVERVIEW Australia is a global leader in water Water must be managed at all stages of the mine management and innovation across the life cycle including: KEY CAPABILITIES mining life cycle. Australia has a mature • exploration mining industry built on nearly 200 years of COMPANIES AND experience spanning coal, iron ore, nickel, • project planning and design CAPABILITIES copper, bauxite, zinc, gold, silver, uranium • mining and minerals processing and rare earths. The exponential growth in • rehabilitation mining has seen the rise of water challenges • closure and post-closure. FURTHER which the Australian industry has met INFORMATION through the early adoption of technologies Water management decisions made at any stage of and innovation. the life cycle may have effects on the subsequent stages. For example, mine planning dictates volumes Ensuring continuous water supplies during and quality of surplus water generated by the mine, mine operations is a baseline requirement. which may affect water treatment requirements Today, the Australian mining industry during mining, rehabilitation and post-closure. is at the forefront of sustainable water management recognising that environmental Australia has mines at all stages of the life cycle - accountability, social responsibility and from mines in current planning, to operational mature commercial success are now inseparable mines over 90 years old, to closed and abandoned goals. The protection or enhancement of mines that are still being actively managed to water resources for the environment and protect the environment. for communities – before, during and after Australia’s long history of overcoming the challenges mining – has become an established part associated with mining in a difficult geographical and of Australian practice. Increasing stress social context has led to the development of specific on water resources means that mining, in water-related expertise. Australia and globally, will continue to rely This Industry Capability Report provides an overview on expertise and innovation in effective and of these key capability areas and includes examples sustainable water management. of Australia’s specialist expertise. Talk to your local Austrade representative for tailored advice and information on connecting and partnering with the Australian mining industry. 4 WATER IN MINING INTRODUCTION WATER IN THE MINING LIFE CYCLE INDUSTRY End Of Life Use/Community EXPLORATION OVERVIEW Engagement & Benefit Environmental Impact RESOURCE ASSESSMENT KEY CAPABILITIES Assessments/Studies Acid Mine Drainage COMPANIES AND Water Supply and Sourcing CAPABILITIES Treatment Solutions FURTHER Wastewater Remediation Ground Water (Aquifer) INFORMATION & Management & Surface Water MINE Mine Rehabilitation CLOSURE MINE DESIGN Water Stewardship & Closure Planning & PLANNING Water Harvesting/Storage Water System Design/ Engineering MINE CONSTRUCTION MINE Water Recovery, OPERATION Pipes, Water Machinery Recycling & Reuse & Trucks Water Conservation Water Storage Tanks/Dams & Alternative Sources Water Resource/Asset Water Asset Construction Management Management Bore Water Treatment/ Mine Site Dewatering/ Aquifer Re-injection Systems Tailings Management Water Treatment WATER IN MINING 5 Australia has an abundant supply of This wealth of mineral resources, through training the next generation of INTRODUCTION mineral resources, including the world’s underpinned by billions of dollars mining leaders and undertaking research largest reserves of lead, nickel, uranium of investment in research and into all areas of the mining life cycle. and zinc. development, has generated a skilled INDUSTRY The mining industry is one of the most industry of professionals and cutting- A world leader in the production of efficient and productive water users in OVERVIEW edge technology. Australia’s mining key mineral commodities, Australia is Australia. The contribution of the mining sector has built a reputation as a ranked as:1, 2 industry to the Australian economy, KEY CAPABILITIES world leader in the development and per gigalitre of water consumed, is • the world’s leading producer of manufacture of mining equipment, around fifty times that of agriculture.3 bauxite, alumina, rutile, zircon and technology and services (METS). COMPANIES AND This is largely due to the high water tantalum Australian firms are competitive across efficiency of Australian mines, which CAPABILITIES the supply chain, including exploration, • the second largest producer of gold, in total consume approximately 760 engineering, minerals processing, iron ore, lead, manganese and lithium gigalitres of water per year, only 4.4 per environmental management, mine FURTHER • the third largest producer of ilmenite, cent of Australia’s total.4 Along with its safety, research and development, and INFORMATION nickel, uranium and zinc low national water footprint, Australia’s education and training. The METS sector mining industry has adapted to more • the fourth largest producer of black is complemented by world-leading regulatory requirements around water coal and silver educational and research institutions, than most other economic activities. • the fifth largest producer of aluminium, which support the mining industry brown coal, diamonds and copper. 6 WATER IN MINING INTRODUCTION WATER MANAGEMENT IN MINING INDUSTRY OVERVIEW precipitation evaporation KEY CAPABILITIES COMPANIES AND CAPABILITIES REUSE FURTHER open pit INFORMATION rock dump MINE SITE tailings dam other industry RECYCLE water treatment REDUCE surface water agriculture community sea groundwater groundwater Courtesy of the International Council of Mining and Metals WATER IN MINING 7 The Australian mining industry makes Australian water capabilities across the • the drive for environmental INTRODUCTION strong national economic contributions mine life cycle include: performance has led to Australian through billions of dollars of investment leadership in alternative mine water • Australia is seen as a global leader in water infrastructure and protection sources like recycled water and INDUSTRY in water stewardship and integrated while enhancing cultural, social and the development of water recovery water resources management related OVERVIEW environmental standards. technology ensuring long-term safety to mining resources, including building of tailings dams KEY CAPABILITIES Australian companies take pride in resilience of mining value chains to exporting this success to help other climate and weather disruptions • Australia is a leader in education and training programs for improved established and emerging mining • Australia’s economic reliance on mine environmental performance and COMPANIES AND nations improve water performance in groundwater requires high standards social responsibilities. CAPABILITIES their mining industries. A proven track and innovation in groundwater record of delivering projects on time management and on budget underpins this capability. FURTHER • Australia has developed technologies INFORMATION to suit specific water and wastewater treatment needs of individual mines 8 WATER IN MINING Earth Systems delivers safe, efficient water treatment to mines worldwide Case Study In Australia, Earth Systems provided a flocculant directly into a large water Neutra-Mill rapidTREAT 7000 (a portable body, allowing the discharged water to Earth Systems is an environmental reagent mixing and dosing system) meet water quality standards. consultancy with offices in Australia, in Western Australia to treat reactive China, Laos, England, Rwanda and earthsystems.com.au sulfide material. When exposed to air Senegal. Formed in 1993, the company due to dewatering or mining, acid and has executed over 500 projects in metalliferous drainage is generated Australia, Asia, the Pacific region, Africa during the operational life of the mine and South America. Its clients include and post closure. Earth Systems perform Glencore, BHP, Rio Tinto, Barrick, routine and emergency treatment in the Harmony Gold and various Australian event of high rainfall associated with a state and federal government agencies. tropical