ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL ASPECTS OF FEASIBILITY STUDIES, MINING OPERATIONS AND CLOSURE; BALANCING REALITIES AND EXPECTATIONS FROM DIFFERENT ANGLES

摘要

The mining industry itself and government bodies have long recognized the importance of environmental and social aspects of mining, especially over the last three or four decades. These aspects must be considered from the earliest stages of exploration, and importantly through project definition, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies. Otherwise promising projects have been delayed or cancelled due to social and environmental concerns, both real but also perceived. Conversely, a socially and govemmentally supported project, meeting all necessary environmental aspects, should not proceed without a genuine orebody and sufficient knowledge that it can be mined, processed and sold economically for an acceptable income to the miner, government and community. Some projects start poorly on environmental and social aspects; they must then fight to gain trust and counteract adverse aspects of their environmental and social impacts, real and perceived. How much better is it to get off to a good start, maintain it and end with a closure acceptable to all?This is, of course, easier said than done. This paper looks at incorporating environmental and social aspects into mining projects from planning through operations to closure, and in particular the 'mainstreaming' of these aspects, rather than as an add-on or merely a publicity exercise. After a general and international introduction the emphasis will be on the environmental and social aspects of planning and feasibility. Another emphasis is on uranium mining, which both is and is not 'just mining", but the principles have broad application.