HIGH PROFILE
The power of collaboration in sustainable change
To coincide with this months water management theme, Dr Hubert Fleming, Anglo American’ s Global Lead for Water Management, outlines the mining group’ s approach to water stewardship and sustainability
Industrial water usage continues to be a hot topic, as people, countries and companies around the world seek to address the challenge facing global water security. It is predicted that by 2025, at least two thirds of the world’ s population will face‘ water stress’ 1; defined as when the demand for water exceeds its availability or poor water quality limits its use. While the future of water security in this sense may seem bleak, it is not foregone and industrial companies are working toward a more sustainable future for the resource.
Water is of critical importance to mining in particular; most mining operations are located in water scare areas and without it, these operations would not be possible. Faced with the conundrum of the need to both use and conserve this precious resource, the responsible management of water by mining companies is more critical than ever. The mining industry is increasingly driving forward to achieve sustainable change and is helping to address the challenge of water shortages faced around the world. Collaboration and investment in innovative technology is key to making a real difference in conserving a source so vital to the world.
Anglo American has long been a leader in water sustainability and is a champion of making its mining operations as environmentally friendly as possible. Since 2012, the company has achieved water savings equivalent to 54,200 Olympic size swimming pools or the annual consumption of drinking water for around 148 million people. 2 As demonstrated in previous reports and its recent 16th annual Sustainability Report,“ Delivering Change, Building Resilience, Working in Partnership”, Anglo American’ s strong sustainability strategy continues this year as the company embraces innovation to ensure its operations are less water-dependent, as well as safer and more energy-efficient.
The power of collaboration
As part of its ambitious sustainability strategy and its drive towards innovative mining, Anglo American is developing partnerships with a number of groups and is seeking to deliver real value and a positive impact to local communities and stakeholders through working together. With 75 % of Anglo American’ s mining operations located in high water-risk regions 3, the provision of water-related infrastructure that directly benefits communities is a priority at several of its operations where water scarcity is a prevalent challenge. This also presents Anglo American with an opportunity to play a leadership role in its water catchments, as demonstrated by its recent partnership with the International Council of Mining and Metals( ICMM).
In 2014, the ICMM developed a new water stewardship framework to create a new catchment-based strategy to mitigate shared water challenges. Collaboration and engagement with all relevant stakeholders was at the heart of this approach. President of the ICMM R. Anthony Hodge has highlighted the power of working together:“ Through collaborating or partnering with others to mitigate shared risks, address shared impacts and effect the responsible management of water resources, the industry has an opportunity to play a leadership role in local water catchments where operations are located.” In 2015, the ICMM selected Anglo American’ s Brazilian operation Minas-Rio to collaborate with them in the first application of this guidance and the project was brought to life in 2016.
The pilot of this project has led Anglo American to develop a new water management standard and water management guidelines in alignment with global best practice and the ICMM water reporting guidelines. A cornerstone of the new standard is a more focused and structured approach to managing catchment-wide water risks in partnership with regional stakeholders. The standard requires that every site identify or appoint a water coordinator to oversee the implementation
At the Quellaveco copper project in Peru, Process Manager Gonzalo Manrique uses a model of the proposed mine and processing facilities to‘ dialogue table’ representatives from the local Moquegua community
of the standards, leading each business to develop and implement its own water plan and in certain high-risk regions, draft regional water plans. The development of these regional water plans means the immediate priorities involve making sure that local needs are not compromised, whilst ensuring that mining operations have access to adequate supplies of water.
This collaboration with ICMM is just one example of how Anglo American is working to ensure its mining operations are sustainable. In fact, Anglo American participates in several important waterrelated fora, such as the Strategic Water Partners Network( SWPN) programme, which is aimed at addressing South Africa’ s water shortages. Also in South Africa, the company participated in a consortium that assesses acid mine drainage in the Olifants driver catchment in Mpumalanga, including the feasibility of applying mine-impacted water for irrigation purposes. It also recently participated in the Olifants River Catchment Management Forum, established with other mining companies. In Peru, the Quellaveco copper project engages local communities in monitoring its water management practices, and is examining options for providing water from its dams.
Anglo American is also working with local governments to build resilience in host communities through the provision of water and associated infrastructure linked to its mining activities, ensuring the mines leave a positive and lasting impact. Two examples of this are Kumba’ s Kolomela and Sishen operations, which pump groundwater, in excess of operational needs, to Sedibeng Water to supply neighbouring communities. The business also provides potable water to communities in drought-stricken areas, including at Mogalakwena platinum mine in South Africa.
Ambitious water saving targets
As part of its commitment to mining sustainably, Anglo American has an ambition to eliminate fresh water from its mining processes where possible, especially in the separation and transportation of
56 International Mining | MARCH 2018