One year on from Brumadinho, public database of TSFs launched

Until now, there has been no central database detailing the location and quantity of the mining industry’s liquid and solid waste, known as tailings. The waste is typically stored in embankments called tailings dams, which have previously failed with devastating consequences for communities, wildlife and ecosystems. The new database will now allow users to view detailed information on more than 1,700 tailings dams, categorized by location, company, dam types, height, volume and risk, among other factors. Professor Elaine Baker from the School of Geosciences is the director of the GRID-Arendal office and has been a driving force in the foundation of the database.

“This portal could save lives,” said Professor Baker.

“Tailings dams are getting bigger and bigger. Mining companies have found most of the highest-grade ores and are now mining lower-grade ones, which create more waste. With this information, the entire industry can work towards reducing dam failures in the future.” Kristina Thygesen, GRID-Arendal’s program leader for geological resources and also a member of the team who worked on the portal, stated that most of this information has never before been publicly available. When GRID-Arendal began in-depth research on mine tailings dams in 2016, very little data was accessible. In a 2017 report on tailings dams, co-published by GRID and the UNEP, one of the key recommendations was to establish an accessible public-interest database of TSFs.

“This database brings a new level of transparency to the mining industry, which will benefit regulators, institutional investors, scientific researchers, local communities, the media and the industry itself,” Ms Thygesen said.

According to the disclosed data, the current tailing volume is around 45.7 billion cubic meters but is expected to increase by 25 per cent to 56.6 billion. Professor Baker said there were only 10 tailings dams from China included in the database because of a lack of response from Chinese companies. “This is the tip of the iceberg in China in terms of the number of tailings storage facilities,” she said.

ICMM remembers Brumadinho

One year on from the Brumadinho dam collapse, Bruno Oberle, Chair of the Global Tailings Review, made the following statement:

Where to from here?

The investor group also used Friday’s event to call for the creation of a new global alert system for tailing dams and further work to identify and close the world’s most dangerous structures. Earlier this week, dam owner Vale announced it was allocation ZAR $24.1b ($16.8b) for reparation costs and indemnities. On the same day, the former chief executive of Vale Fabio Schvartsman was charged with homicide by prosecutors for his role in the dam disaster. Angelica Amanada Andrada, whose sister was killed in the Brumadinho disaster, reiterated the importance of dealing with dam tailings. She said: “We can no longer allow disasters like Brumadinho to happen again. It is unacceptable that death and mass destruction have been happening due to the irresponsibility, negligence and deception of mining companies.” Investors have committed to carrying out further interventions, including establishing a global alert system and a mechanism to remove the most dangerous dams. The Church of England’s pension board director for ethics and engagement and co-chair of the Global Mining and Tailings Safety Initiative Adam Matthews said: “We have established a global database but today we call for the creation of a global 24/7 independent alert system for all tailings dams.” “Much more needs to still be done and removal of the most dangerous dams has to also be the immediate priority. We must ensure that the voices of those communities impacted by this disaster continue to inform our response.”