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Sustainable development and the challenges of the 21 st century Minerals and Energy

Sustainable development and the challenges of the 21 st century Minerals and Energy Mining – not just a hole in the ground Francess Perrett 3/10/2007. www.nt.gov.au/dpifm. Mining - not just a hole in the ground. Miracle pit Tanami Desert. Talk outline. Work Groups

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Sustainable development and the challenges of the 21 st century Minerals and Energy

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  1. Sustainable development and the challenges of the 21st century Minerals and Energy Mining – not just a hole in the ground Francess Perrett 3/10/2007 www.nt.gov.au/dpifm

  2. Mining - not just a hole in the ground Miracle pit Tanami Desert

  3. Talk outline • Work Groups • Departments Functions • Avoiding Legacy Issues • Mining in the NT • Current Economic Climate • Major NT Resources • Major NT Projects • Types of Mining Activities • Environmental Considerations • Mining Legislation

  4. Mining in the NT 1841 Lead Glen Osmond SA 1870 Gold Pine Creek/Adelaide River Planting the first pole on theOverland Telegraph line Underground gold mining

  5. Current Economic Climate Northern Territory’s economy is growing at 6-7% p.a. Mining and Petroleum sectors are major economic drivers accounting for > 50% of NT growth. Mining and Petroleum sectors comprise 26% of economy. Australian commodity export earnings are expected to rise by 4 per cent to almost $145 billion this financial year.

  6. Current Economic Climate 6 new mines in last 18 months 4-5 more projects expected to commence operations in next 12-18 months. The 5 major existing mines have expansions or extensions underway or proposed. 27 new Authorisations for exploration activities issued in the 2006\2007 financial year.

  7. Major NT Resources • Uranium • Gold • Diamonds • Dimension stone and Mineral sands • Iron, Bauxite and Manganese • Base metals(Copper, Lead, Zinc) • Tin, Tantalum, Rare earthsand Magnesite

  8. Major NT Projects WorldRanking Alcan 4th ERA 1st Newmont 4th Gemco 1st McArthur River 4th

  9. Extractive Industry • Sand and Gravel • Hard Rock • Lime

  10. Exploration Activities • Tracks • Drill holes • Drill benches • Costeans • Sample bags • Camps

  11. Environmental Considerations Landscape changes • Stockpiles • Waste rock dumps • Tailings dams and reservoirs • Pit void

  12. Environmental Considerations Landscape changes • Stockpiles • Waste rock dumps • Tailings dams and reservoirs • Pit void

  13. Environmental Considerations Water management • Re-use/ release • Effect on downstream environment

  14. Environmental Considerations Rehabilitation • Life of mine planning • Self sustaining Flora and fauna • Threatened species • Ecological values

  15. Relocation of Threatened Species

  16. Mining Legislation The Mining Management Act 2001 (MMA): “ provide[s] for the regulation of mining activities, the management of mining sites and the protection of the safety and health of persons and the environment on mining sites, and for related purposes” • Co regulatory • Non-prescriptive • Continual improvement • Best practice • Whole of life mine planning • Risk assessment approach • Environmental consequences • Efficient cost effective manner • Cover all operational aspects

  17. Mining Management Plans As a basis, the Mining Management Act requires that the Mining Management Plan includes: • A description of the mining activities to be carried out • Safety, health and environmental issues relevant to the mining activities • Plan and costing of closure activities

  18. Work Groups hydrologist biologist researchstaff equipmentengineers Mining and Petroleum Authorisations and Evaluations electricalengineer fieldmonitoringteam Authorisations and Evaluations Compliance Environmental Monitoring Unit (EMU) plantengineer chemist geologist spatialscientist auditofficers ecologist

  19. Authorisations and Evaluations The Authorisations Team of the Minerals and Energy Group is the initial coordination point for guiding the Northern Territory’s mining operators in: • adopting recognised best practice • due diligence environmental management • workplace safety • occupational health • radiation safety

  20. Authorisations and Evaluations • The Evaluations Team’s work includes: • development of monitoring programs • provision of technical advice to support regulation • evaluation of monitoring of aspects of the environmental performance of mine sites in the NT under the Mining Management Act

  21. Environmental Monitoring Unit The Environmental Monitoring Unit is an on the ground unit that physically samples water from selected mine sites in the Northern Territory.  • The analysis of this data enables: • monitoring of mine site environmental performance • verification of the mining company supplied environmental data

  22. Avoiding Legacy Issues • The Northern Territory Government is supportive of development projects that result in net material benefit for the community. • However the protection of the communities interest and the prevention of environmental harm, particularly in the event of project failure, remain a high priority. • One method available to the Government to protect the community interest should a mining project fail to fulfill its obligations is to hold a financial guarantee or security.

  23. Mining - not just a hole in the ground THE END

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