On 15 February, the International Aluminium Association released a newly revised Guide to Sustainable Bauxite Mining, which highlights the management of tailings dams and the long-term community impact related to bauxite mining.
The International Aluminium Association has updated its guidelines on sustainable bauxite mining to elaborate on tailings management and the long-term impact and initiatives of the community. At the same time, many new case studies of bauxite around the world have been added to the guide.
The revised guidelines focus on the efforts of the aluminum industry to ensure sustainable bauxite mining and to minimize social and environmental impacts after operation and closure.
The guidelines identify key considerations for sustainable bauxite mining, including good governance, community impact, health and safety, and environmental management. For each factor, information, resources and case studies are covered to promote sustainable approaches to bauxite mining.
In response to the newly revised guidelines, Pernelle Nunez, Deputy Secretary-General and Director of Sustainable Development of the International Aluminium Association, commented: "Sustainable bauxite mining is not an one-size-fits-all prescription. It involves every risk in the use of the best available technologies and strategic management that are appropriate to the situation. These will be affected by local climate, geographical and environmental conditions, government policies, regulatory frameworks and important community factors. The mining process may bring a large area of interference to the land, and the selection of a suitable mining method during the mine operation is conducive to gradual reclamation. Therefore, the aluminum industry must develop guidelines to help ensure sustainable mining in all operating mines, using lessons learned by others in the industry to minimize environmental and community impact. I hope that all bauxite producers who strive to operate sustainably, including bauxite mines that are still in the exploration stage, will adopt these guidelines.
For every ton of primary aluminum, about 4 to 6 tons of bauxite is needed. The demand for primary aluminum is increasing. According to the International Aluminium Association, the demand for aluminum will increase from 64 million tons in 2020 to 88 million tons by 2050, while the demand for alumina and bauxite will further increase.
JanainaDonas, Executive Chairman of the Brazilian Aluminium Association (ABAL), said: "as a resource-intensive industry, the industry plays a greater role in building a sustainable future as a driving force for positive change. Developing emerging economies such as Brazil can benefit from world-class bauxite assets. these resources are operated by companies committed to high performance, implementing innovative solutions for mine reclamation, and focusing on integrating climate change risks into tailings management and planning processes. These guidelines demonstrate successful examples of responsible mining, including bauxite mine operations in sensitive areas such as the Amazon, which shows that a business strategy that brings value to society can be implemented. at the same time, the impact on the environment can be reduced. "
In 2018, through the efforts of global and national aluminum associations and corporate alliances, the International Aluminium Association developed the first edition of the guidelines for Sustainable Bauxite Mining. This time, some new examples of sustainable operation and management have been added.
The updated Indonesian, Chinese and French versions of the guide are being translated and will be released soon.
