iQ Industry Queensland recently had the opportunity to interview University of Queensland Professor David Williams, who is a world authority on the design, construction and maintenance of tailings dams.

Related: An overview of conventional tailings dam geotechnical failure mechanisms

He is director of the UQ Geotechnical Engineering Centre and manager of the Large Open Pit Project, which is made up of representatives of the world’s major mining companies.

This is the second in a series of stories with Professor Williams where he highlights some of the most vexed questions facing decision makers when developing mines. 

Professor Williams says despite catastrophic failures, we have the engineering capabilities to future-proof dams.

What is needed, he says, is greater intent. 

Standards for tailings dams on mines have the best chance of improvement by inviting community involvement and developing financial incentives.

The community was demanding higher environment, social and governance standards in the design, construction and maintenance of tailings dams, said Professor Williams.

Higher environmental and social standards written as a clause in mining finance contracts would have a more immediate influence on fit-for-purpose, whole-of-life design, he said.  

“If financiers were to say to mining operations, ‘We’re going to fund your operation provided you demonstrate to us that your, let’s say, tailings dam is safe, stable, and non-polluting in perpetuity,’ you’ll be progressively working on it to make sure that that’s the case,” Professor Williams said. 

“That would change, I think, the approach from something dominated more by the short-term net present value approach to something more like whole-of-life accounting.

“Because the key thing that the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) is trying to push is the design for closure in perpetuity back into the operational phase … and they want people to think about closure right from the outset and continue to work towards a closure plan.”

Tailings dams had a 100 times greater chance of failure than reservoirs said Professor Williams.

Unlike other civil engineering projects, tailings dam design needed to take account of the changing nature of the mine they serve, said Professor Williams.

“A mine is very different,” he said. “It’s changing all the time throughout its mine life. It’s not just a two-year exercise, and then you’re done, then you just operate. 

“We’re changing it all the time. So, we need to incorporate those ideas of what it’s going to look like at the end …”

“That has to involve all of community as well and this is the whole thing about ESG and so on. Involve the whole community in not only the operation, but how it’s going to look at the end.”

Related: Dam wall collapse at Newcrest-owned Cadia goldmine forces shutdown

The International Council on Mining and Metals was pushing a conformance model of dam management backed by science rather than a compliance model which legislated standards said Professor Williams.

“It has to be more than just putting words around the principles and the requirements of the GISTM.” 

“It has to be a recognition of continuous improvement. I mean, the industry has to lift its game, try and win back the confidence and trust that it’s lost through excessive numbers of tailings dam failures.

“But unfortunately, the industry is marred by the worst performer. So, the whole of the industry has to be lifted. But in particular, the bigger companies, the majors, have to lead. 

“They have to demonstrate at a high level. More than just words. Words don’t convince people. Demonstration convinces people. Bring the community along, say, ‘These are the recognized risks. This is what we’re doing about them.’”

Abstracts are being called for the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy’s Mine Water and Tailings conference held in Brisbane July 14-16.

Main photo: Mount Carbine Operations Tailings Dam in far north Queensland owned by EQ Resources.