Modern Mining April 2022

COPPER/COBALT

integrity of the dam to determine what contained in the tailings dam could potentially be harmful to the environment and people, to better quantify the risk. Often step one is to reduce and isolate, where pos sible, the pollutants in the dam from its environment.” For soluble minerals, like certain copper or cobalt minerals, which are prevalent in many of Zambia’s tailings, this is particularly important. This effectively was Jubilee’s role. During this consultation period, which spanned the next two years, Jubilee inves tigated a large number of tailings facilities, their analysis focusing on the environmental and health risks stemming therefrom, as well as the commercial viability of their remediation. These investigations assisted Jubilee in priori tising approximately 14 tailings dams that held the potential to yield economic value as part of an inte grated remediation process. It was on this basis that Jubilee secured a commercial transaction with the holders of the rights to the dams, who appointed Jubilee to extract the metal value and oversee the remediation of these tailings facilities. Local partnerships are paramount to the suc cess of this initiative. With communities often living very close to the tailings dams, their support and involvement in the project are fundamental, and the projects offer tangible near-term benefits to their various stakeholders. Upfront efficient com munication between all parties is vital to the project success. Jubilee prioritises local sourcing of goods and skills and the support of local businesses in the implementation and operation of the projects, which

several enterprises owned by local communities and stakeholders. The ideal outcome is to have a positive commercial impact on the community, while reduc ing the risk of contamination. In terms of economic gain and environmental regeneration, the commu nities on the ground are significant beneficiaries of Jubilee’s operations. Outside of commercially-viable tailings dams, the World Bank has progressed with rehabilitation of targeted tailings dams to ultimately fully secure and cap them by introducing vegetation to regenerate biodiversity. For the tailings to be processed, Jubilee has built dedicated processing plants and re-commissioned mothballed refineries, creating local industries that employ hundreds of local staff, and has entered into commercial contracts with local support ser vices. In a country like Zambia where, according to latest available figures, over 12% of the population is unemployed, the creation of jobs is key to local partnerships. Of course, historic tailings dams are not only a Zambian phenomenon. The Global Tailings Review – a joint initiative between the International Council on Mining & Metals, the United National Environment Programme and Pr inciples for Responsible Investment – estimates there are at least 8,500 active, inactive and closed tailings storage facilities located across the globe, weighing in at 282.5 bil lion tonnes. If all the tailings in the world were in one pile it would be 6 km high and growing at 12.3 km 3 per year. Mount Everest in 9 km high. These figures demonstrate there is significant scope for the work that Jubilee and the World Bank do to be replicated globally. In many jurisdictions around the world envi ronmental and social regulations have evolved, meaning that historical practices and their legacies, such as toxic tailings dams, are no longer accept able. As Coetzer says, this presents a “significant opportunity for Jubilee and the owners of the tail ings dams to jointly play a leading role in creating a safer, healthier and more sustainable environment for mining communities the world over.” 

There are about 8,500 active, inactive and closed tailings storage facilities located across the globe.

Historical practices and their legacies, such as toxic tailings dams, are no longer acceptable.

often extend to enter ing into joint venture agreements with local stakeholders and gov ernment. The projects are used as incubators for local businesses to create new small and medium enterprises. Jubilee holds a proud record for the incuba tion and launching of

42  MODERN MINING  April 2022