Analysis of the benefits and challenges of implementing environmental regulatory programmes for mining: Tanzania case study

All mining activities in Tanzania are regulated according to the Mining Act, 1998, and associated regulations. The enactment of the 1998 mining legislation and thus the repeal of the 1979 Act was a result of the overall restructuring of the country's economy. In order to encourage the private sector to take a leading role in economic development, the Government identified priority segments of the economy, which included the mining sector. With the mining sector identified as one of the priority sectors, it was thought imperative to put in place a transparent and competitive legal and regulatory framework, an effective and conducive fiscal regime, and an environmental framework. A new Mining Act, which incorporated the mining legal and regulatory, fiscal and environmental frameworks, was enacted in August 1998. The Act was then equipped with the regulations which provide clear guidance for administration and enforcement.Since the enactment of Tanzania's new mining legislation, the mineral sector has been the fastest growing sector of the economy, which has posed numerous managerial challenges. This paper discusses the benefits of the current environmental legislation and the challenges facing the Government in meeting the demands of a rapidly expanding mining sector. The paper examines the institutional set-up, its capacity to execute tasks (financial, technical, working facilities, etc.), the roles played by related institutions in managing the mining sector, and the interaction between mining and other sectors of the economy.     

中外“小矿”法律概念比较研究——写在我国《矿产资源法》修改之际

"小矿"是"小型矿山"的简称,因规模小、投资少、见效快等特点在发展中国家普遍存在,是各国矿业和农村经济的重要组成部分。但同时,它又因浪费资源、破坏环境、安全事故频发等问题而受到国际社会的高度关注。然而,到目前为止,国内外对小矿尚无一个公认的概念。论文基于对现有"小矿"定义以及与小矿相关概念的细致比较,试图给小矿下一个定义,籍此为我国修订中的《矿产资源法》献计献策。笔者以为,小矿是"以谋生或营利为目的,采用简单或基础的采掘设备与技术,在有限的矿藏范围内从事某种矿产品采选活动的小规模、劳动密集型矿山企业。其中包括开采规模达到国家规定的小型矿山标准的小型矿山企业和开采规模在小型矿山上限1/10以下的小矿山企业(含零星个体采矿)。小矿是采矿业最基本的构成部门。"     

Climate change and mining in Canada

Climate is an important component of the operating environment for the Canadian mining sector. However, in recent years mines across Canada have been affected by significant climatic hazards, several which are regarded to be symptomatic of climate change. For the mining sector, climate change is a pressing environmental threat and a significant business risk. The extent to which the mining sector is able to mitigate its own impact and adapt to climate change will affect its long-term success and prosperity, and have profound economic consequences for host communities. This paper draws upon case studies conducted with mining operations in Canada involving in-depth interviews with mining professionals and analysis of secondary sources to characterize the vulnerability of the Canadian mining industry to climate change. Five key findings are discussed: i) mines in the case studies are affected by climate events that are indicative of climate change, with examples of negative impacts over the past decade; ii) most mine infrastructure has been designed assuming that the climate is not changing; iii) most industry stakeholders interviewed view climate change as a minor concern; iv) limited adaption planning for future climate change is underway; v) significant vulnerabilities exist in the post-operational phase of mines. This paper argues for greater collaboration among mining companies, regulators, scientists and other industry stakeholders to develop practical adaptation strategies that can be integrated into existing and new mine operations, including in the post-operational phase.     

Overcoming environmental problems in the gold panning sector through legislation and education: the Zimbabwean experience

Although small-scale mining is often associated with ruinous effects on the natural environment, Zimbabwe’s experience in gold panning demonstrates that though that may be true, the sector, can, through appropriate measures, be encouraged or enticed to develop environmentally friendly methods for gold mining and recovery. A combination of legislation, education, and the promotion of appropriate technology has enhanced the environmental management within the ever-growing gold panning community in Zimbabwe. This paper evaluates the success of attempts to minimise the environmental impacts of gold panning in Zimbabwe through legislation, education and the promotion of appropriate technology.     

Ecological rebuilding and land reclamation in surface mines inShanxi Province, China

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Pollution prevention and cleaner production in the mining industry: an analysis of current issues

This paper examines the major pollution prevention and Cleaner production (CP) issues in the mining industry. Past problems with pollution has made waste minimization an issue of enormous importance for many mining companies. Since the advent of the first major environmental legislation circa-1970, there has been substantial improvement in environmental performance at the mine sites of these firms, including a reduction in noxious air emissions, a decrease in levels of toxic contaminants in effluent discharges, and a major upgrading in land management. All of these improvements are directly attributed to a corporate abandonment of conventional, end-of-pipe apparatuses, and subsequent integration of cleaner technologies and strategies, including highly efficient environmental equipment, heavily retrofitted control systems, and comprehensive environmental management plans. Although hundreds of mining districts have already benefited from installing systems that foster pollution prevention and CP, in select instances, these have not proven to be realistic waste management remedies. Major barriers, particularly economic, technologic, and legislative ones, have both individually and collectively impeded the implementation of pollution prevention and CP strategies in such cases. Many of these barriers appear insurmountable but improved planning, employee education, and increased government intervention would spell continued success in an industry that has already made enormous strides in the arena of environmental management.     

中国西南地区矿业活动与环境保护

中国西南地区矿产资源丰富,矿业已成为地区经济发展的支柱产业。由于人为和自然多种因素影响,矿业活动引起环境污染、资源破坏和地质灾害等一系列矿山环境地质问题,制约了西南地区人口、资源、环境协调发展。文章在论述西南地区矿产资源开发利用概况和矿山环境地质问题及其危害基础上,分析了矿山环境保护现状,指出西南地区矿山地质环境恢复治理率总体很低,需加大治理力度,并提出了下一步的恢复治理措施。     

Environmental management in small scale mining in PNG

Although small-scale mining has developed rapidly in Papua New Guinea (PNG), it is only recently that formal recording has been carried to gain insight on employment and production totals, and environmental difficulties. This paper examines the state of small-scale mining in PNG, with special emphasis on its environmental impacts. In recent years, the PNG Department of Mining has become a proactive source of educational activities and information gathering for small-scale mining, its effort directed at devising a comprehensive development plan for the sector. The result has been a tripartite program with active participation from a number of donor agencies and the private sector that promotes integrated rural development and takes into account the important economic and environmental aspects vital for effective poverty alleviation.     

金属硫化物矿山环境地球化学研究述评

矿业活动对矿山地球化学环境及周围的生态系统带来了巨大的环境影响。金属硫化物矿山开采过程中释放出大量的酸性废水,浸滤出大量的重金属离子,它们和固体废弃物已成为金属矿山采选业的三大环境公害和重要的环境污染源。文章述评了这三种污染源的环境地球化学效应,提出需要进一步加强矿山环境的矿物转化过程中环境地球化学信息的提取和识别,揭示复杂条件下酸性矿山废水中金属的形态、转化过程及其生态效应,建立相应地球化学演化模型,为矿山环境治理提供理论依据。     

The mining industry and the regulatory framework in Madagascar: Some developmental and environmental issues

This article offers a critical analysis of some of the issues associated with the emerging mining sector in Madagascar, within the context of the redefinition of the role of the State. First focusing on the development model elaborated by the World Bank and its influence on the adoption of a new mining code in Madagascar, the analysis demonstrates that it is difficult for the sector's new legislation to allow the Malagasy State to manage the social and environmental aspect of the mining industry.     

Development of environmental management system in China's financial sector

The establishment of the environmental management system in the financial sector can be effectively promoted through the introduction of the environmental protection concept and its implementation by the financial sector. The impact of a sustainable development system on the sector is analyzed in this article from three aspects: environmental risk assessment, financing support for environmental protection projects, and financial services to environmentally friendly corporations and individuals. Influential factors on the development of the environmental management system in China’s financial sector are discussed from the perspective of various entities such as financial institutions, financial regulation authorities, environmental protection departments, corporations, and the public. It is pointed out that China’s financial sector is now in the transitional phase from a defensive attitude to a preventive attitude. Strengthening governmental guidance, the supervision of regulators as well as public awareness of environmental protection should be used to enhance the initiative in the development of the environmental management system in the Chinese financial sector.     

Corporate environmental management and regulation of mining operations in the Cyclades,Greece

The mining industry plays an important role in the local economy in many islands of the Cyclades, contributing significantly to overall growth. However, it has simultaneously caused many environmental problems and has had adverse impacts upon other important economic activities, such as tourism. As a result, questions have been raised as to whether mining should be allowed to continue. This paper assesses the mining operations of the Cyclades, examining the corporate environmental management of mining companies and the process of granting permission for mining operations. Specifically, the regulatory and environmental problems of mining operations are assessed, and the process of obtaining a ‘social licence to operate’ is explored. A number of recommendations are made in order to overcome regulatory inefficiencies and promote corporate environmental management in the mining sector of the Cyclades.     

A project-based Mine Closure Model (MCM) for sustainable asset Life Cycle Management

Responsible Life Cycle Management (LCM) of mines has received much attention in the South African legislation. However, there is currently a mis-alignment between the mining industry and the various government authorities pertaining to the issue of mine closure or end-of-life management. The main reasons for this are unclear and unformulated approaches to rehabilitation with a subsequent legacy of unsuccessful mine closures that have wrongly been issued by the government from a sustainability perspective; this has posed an excessive economical burden for the mining industry. In this paper, a Mine Closure Model (MCM) based on project management principles, including risk management and concurrent engineering, is proposed to manage the closure process and assist the governing body with the effective evaluation of closures and the issuance of certificates. Mine closure or rehabilitation objectives can be achieved whilst managing the resources (of industry) optimally and aligning the closure process to meet the end requirements of stakeholder groups.     

Gold mining in Australia: linking historical trends and environmental and resource sustainability

The mining of gold has been and continues to be an important aspect of Australian industry. Gold mining moved quickly from fossicking and alluvial sources in the 1850's to hard rock mining. This paper presents, arguably for the first time, a detailed historical compilation of Australian gold mining production data. This data is then analysed in the context of sustainability, focussing particularly on mineral resource sustainability and the broader aspects of environmental impacts now commonly reported by some mining companies in annual sustainability performance reports. The key trends which are demonstrated by the data include a long-term decline in ore grade, increased open cut mining, substantive increases in tailings and waste rock production, as well as showing the impact of new technologies and economics on available gold resources. The available environmental data on material and energy inputs to and pollutant emissions from gold production is also presented, showing a clear sensitivity to ore grade. In terms of sustainability, these relationships raise significant issues such as increasing greenhouse footprint per unit gold produced, potential impacts on energy and water consumption, as well as overall gold resource sustainability. The paper presents a unique case study of the resource and environmental sustainability of the Australian gold mining sector with major implications for sustainability policy and reporting.     

Towards a sustainability criteria and indicators framework for legacy mine land

Sustainable development practices have become an integral part of most major mining companies’ business activities. However, the history of mining and the negative impacts it has had on the natural and social environment mean future mining activities, rightly or wrongly, will be judged against the legacies of the past and current poor performers. Legacy mine land, defined here as land which has been mined and is now being used for another purpose, or is orphaned, abandoned or derelict and in need of remedial work, is one management challenge that will be judged in the context of sustainable development. Globally, millions of such sites exist. Having criteria against which to measure progress toward or away from sustainable development goals is a key to delivering results. The aim of this research was to develop a sustainability criteria and indicators framework to suit the particular needs of legacy mine land. The resulting framework consists of 14 criteria and 72 indicators.     

淮南煤矿沉陷区建（构）筑物保护治理工程探讨

煤炭资源的开发带动了淮南经济快速持续发展,但由于煤炭资源采出后,开采区周围岩土体的原岩应力平衡状态遭到破坏,出现位移和变形,诱发的开采沉陷可导致一系列环境问题,甚至引发重大的地质灾害事故,如建筑物的裂缝与崩塌,铁路钢轨的悬浮,高速公路路基的沉陷,水体的流失与矿井的淹没等都将造成巨大的经济损失及严重的社会问题。因此,开采沉陷区内建（构）筑物的保护治理一直是矿区亟待解决的问题。针对煤炭地下开采活动对沉陷区内地表建（构）筑物的影响,探讨了合理开展煤矿沉陷区建（构）筑物保护治理工程的方法。     

长江经济带涉矿生态环境协同治理对策

矿产资源开发生态环境保护与恢复治理是山水林田湖草生态保护修复的重要组成部分,也是区域/流域生态安全屏障建设的重要内容。本文面向长江保护修复的环境管理需求,梳理了第一批中央生态环境保护督察的长江经济带涉矿问题,探讨了矿产资源开发生态环境问题,提出了协同治理对策。结果表明:(1)长江经济带有8个省份发现涉矿生态环境问题,涉及石英砂矿、稀土矿、磷矿、锡矿、石灰石矿和石煤矿;有3个省份出现保护地采矿生态破坏严重问题,涉及自然保护区内违规设置的采矿权、探矿权和违法生产,以及国家级风景名胜区内以治理地质灾害之名开采磷矿。(2)11个省市中均发现了涉保护地违规管理问题,包括饮用水水源保护区、湖滨湿地、长江岸线和重要湿地、海洋保护区、风景名胜区。矿山生态环境协同治理对策包括:(1)科学制定矿山生态修复目标;(2)定期开展矿山生态保护修复成效评估;(3)提高矿山生态环境监管执行力。     

Trends in the small-scale mining of precious minerals in Ghana: a perspective on its environmental impact

Small-scale mining in Ghana is defined to include both the exploitation of mineral deposits (1) using fairly rudimentary implements and/or (2) at low levels of production with minimal capital investment. While the large-scale mining—of particularly gold—has become predominant, small-scale mining, which predates such operations, has continued to be an important economic activity, particularly within the remote and poorer areas of the country. The environmental impacts of such small operations have, however, varied, depending on methods and the scale of operation. The factors that have contributed to aggravating these environmental impacts are economic, technical, legal, and operational in nature. Although mitigation efforts have had a limited impact, it is expected that the measures now being considered for adoption will improve the efficacy of the Government of Ghana’s drive towards improving environmental management in resident small-scale precious metal mining operations.This paper examines the environmental impacts of small-scale mining in Ghana—with particular emphasis on precious minerals and metals extraction—and outlines a series of initiatives for improving environmental performance in the industry.     

Chile's environmental momentum: ISO 14001 and the large-scale mining industry – Case studies from the state and private sector

Since Chile's return to democratic government in 1990, the environment has taken on a greater significance in policy making activities. This article examines the progress Chile has made in this area with particular reference to the large-scale mining sector and the overall environmental performance of its environmental management systems (EMSs). Many large-scale mines operating in Chile have already attained ISO 14001 certification, and those that have not, are either working towards this or have an alternative system in place. Evidence of improving environmental performance is presented, and many of the challenges which lie ahead for the country and its mining industry are highlighted.     

影子工程法计算矿山生态经济损失

矿山开采生产主要的环境影响是生态影响,以抚顺新宾榆树铁矿为例,利用影子工程法对矿山开采进行环境经济损失分析,包括生态资源的经济损失和生态系统功能受到影响的经济损失,可用于矿区环境经济损益分析并作为相关建设项目的借鉴。