cleaning up after mines long gone: understanding the ... business dialogue 2017/5 s... · science...
Post on 16-Sep-2018
216 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
L I N K I N G S C I E N C E , S O C I E T Y, B U I S N E S S A N D P O L I C Y F O R
S U S TA I N A B L E U S E O F A B A N D O N E D M I N E S I N S A D C R E G I O N
Cleaning up after mines long gone:
Understanding the complex dimensions
for inclusive development
Dr Shingirirai S Mutanga
28 - 30 November 2017
Senior Research Specialist
Science & Technology Programme
AISA-HSRC
S C I E N C E B U I S N E S S D I AL O G U E C O N F E R E N C E , I N D AB A H O T E L
Outline
• SDGs: Nexus
• Input for mineral Beneficiation
Introduction
• Impacts of Mining
• Emerging Trends
• Broadening the understanding: Complexity Science, Systems Thinking
The Challenge
• Land reclamation
• Water Resource Management
• Deriving benefits
Mine Clean Up Strategies
• Policy recommendation
Conclusion
Sustainable Development Goals
CLEAN WATER
&
SANITATION
More than 40%
of the global
population is
affected by
water scarcity
(UNDP, 2016a)
1.7 billion people are
currently living in river
basins whose water
use exceeds the
basin’s recharge
capacity
protect, restore and
promote sustainable use
of terrestrial ecosystems
• unprecedented
land degradation
and loss of arable
land at 30 to 35
times
• 15 to 30% Loss
in agriculture land
LIFE ON LAND
Post Mining Challenges
Land Destruction Sinkholes damage to
household, loss of life & Infrastructure.
Costly: Estimated in excess of R1 billion in South Africa.
6,000 abandoned and
ownerless mines and
their associated dumps
across.
Platinum Group Metals
(PGM) & Dumps.
Post mining challenges
Acid Mine Drainage Water Quality
About 62 mega litres per
day post-closure decant
coal mines Highveld
Mpumalanga.
Approximately 27 Ml/d of
AMD need to be treated
to attain, Environmental
critical level (ECL)
Mining related legislation in South Africa 1903-2004
Mines, works and
machinery
regulations
Minimum distances
to structures
Mines & Works Act
Rehabilitation plan
Topsoil treatment &
vegetation recovery
Minerals Act
EMP
Financial provision
Consultation on
closure
Monitoring
Closure plan
Life cycle planning
Guidelines
MPRDA
Social and Labour plan
Integration with NEMA
and NWA
Sustainable development
principles
1931- 1951 1956 1991 2004
Transvaal Mining
laws
Fence and backfill
1903
Only the “safemaking” of
operations considered
Basic planning for
environmental
recovery
Rising awareness
of the environment
Society is an integral
part of ‘the
environment’
Complexity Science
Socio-technical System: A relatively stable configuration ofinstitutions, technologies, policies, practices and networks ofcooperation that determine the evolution and use of technology (RipKemp 1998• Interdependencies amongst sectors and actors in the production,
distribution and consumption systems render a coordinated action of the system sectors necessary.
Systems Thinking: Systems thinking is a structured way of analysingcomplex interrelationships that are problematic or simply of interest to mankind.
o Factors behind the problematic situations are interdependent, that causal effect between these factors is often two-way, and that the impact of action is neither instantaneous nor linear.
o The methodology is strong in increasing understanding of the observed phenomenon, and in establishing consequences of different options available.
o It has both techno-economic and techno-social implications.
Complex Dimensions
Complexity: Systems Thinking Approach
?? Systems
Thinking
Causal Loop Diagrams
Vensim Software
Legal Instruments
Mineral
ResourcesMining
Exploration
Production
Environment
Alternative
Strategies for Post Mining Reclamation
“The difficult we do immediately. The impossible takes a
little longer.”
Motto of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during World
War II.
Strategies for Post Mining Reclamation
Land Reclamation
Sustainable ecological systems theory
Afforestation
Focus on 2nd Generation opportunities
economic evaluation,
environmental authorisation
and engineering.
NB: Inter-disciplinarity.
Strategies for Water Resources Management
Water Resources Management
Passive treatment systems
Wetlands. (Constructed or natural)
Challenges: Policy, finance, Geo-technical, climate
variability.
Active treatment systems
Chemical amendment approach to the treatment of
AMD.
Chemical precipitation, ion exchange, solvent extraction,
electrolytic techniques, membrane technologies and
adsorption processes.
Strategies – Finance
Financing Abandoned Mines
Challenge
Who takes the responsibility?
Uncertainty of rehabilitation strategies.
Need for long term sustainable mining.
Mine Closure model- Project management
Rule based model- Costing-Quantum of financial
provision.
Private and public- funding models.
Deriving Opportunities-Post Mine areas
Deriving Benefits from Mine Clean Up
Opportunities
Upscale the 2nd generation of products.
treated water and by-products exceeds the treatment cost, it
is feasible to create enterprises that could provide economic
benefits while solving environmental problems
Examples .
Recovery of drinking water from gold mine effluent -CSIR
Utilising lime-treated AMD for agricultural crops.
Recovery of metals i.e. Calcium or Barium Carbonate and
Sulphur
CONCLUSION
Ecological and socio-economic systems are complex, adaptive systems,
integrating phenomena across multiple scales of space, time and
organizational complexity.
Enormity of the Challenge, Complex Dimensions,
Liabilities apportionment-. Posits need to advance collective or shared
responsibility-to attain restorative environmental justice
Integrated holistic approaches are required to face the multiple
challenges .
Way forward- Way forward- Reimagining the business model
top related