Author: Inspector. Jose Lopez, August 2, 2023.
Ecological mining, also known as sustainable mining or green mining, is an innovative approach to resource extraction that prioritizes environmental preservation and responsible practices. By examining good practices, impact mitigation measures and rehabilitation, this article highlights the need to balance mining activities with environmental protection.
Environmental impacts of conventional mining.
Before delving into green mining, it is necessary to understand the environmental impacts of conventional mining practices. Traditional mining is associated with several detrimental effects, such as:
a) Deforestation and destruction of habitats due to clearing of land for mining operations.
b) Release of toxic chemicals and heavy metals into surrounding ecosystems, leading to water pollution and loss of biodiversity.
c) Emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from energy-intensive processes, such as the extraction and transport of minerals.
d) Soil erosion and alteration of the ecological balance due to the massive generation of waste.
How does ecological mining emerge?
Growing concern about environmental degradation and climate change has led to the development of ecological mining practices; which aims to address the environmental impacts of mining activities, while ensuring the sustainable extraction of valuable resources.
1) Responsible Practices in Ecological Mining
Energy Efficiency: Green mining emphasizes the adoption of energy efficient technologies and renewable energy sources to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with mining operations.
Biodiversity Conservation: Companies dedicated to the mining sector are committed to ecological practices, carry out comprehensive assessments of biodiversity and develop conservation plans to protect sensitive ecosystems and endangered species.
Water Management: Efficient water use and responsible wastewater treatment systems are key components of green mining, helping to conserve water resources and prevent pollution.
2) Impact Mitigation Measures
Land Restoration: Ecological mining attaches great importance to the rehabilitation of mined areas, restoring ecosystems and promoting the growth of natural vegetation. This helps reduce habitat destruction and soil degradation.
Below is a recent case of environmental restoration of an open pit mine that exemplifies this new type of ecosystem recovery.
Emma, an open pit coal mine that was converted to farmland 1 .
Located in Puertollano and Active from 1972 to 2015, this open-pit coal mine began to be exploited underground in the 19th century. It was mainly dedicated to supplying the Puertollano thermal power plant. During its useful life, it moved more than 350.7 million cubic meters of waste. .
Since 1981, restoration works began to be carried out simultaneously while the mine was in operation through the transfer mining tillage system, which minimized the occupation of the land. But it was in January 2016 when the restoration work on the final shaft and the dismantling of the exploitation began. (Figure 1).
In total, 2.5 million cubic meters have been excavated and poured and 200 hectares of slopes and 100 hectares of platforms have been formed in the final hole. 669 hectares have been recovered for cereal and pasture crops, 126 hectares for the cultivation of 27,950 olive and fruit trees (quince, fig, pomegranate, etc.), 104 hectares for native vegetation and 36 hectares for the lake and wetland areas.
Tailings Management: Proper confinement and treatment of tailings minimizes the risk of water contamination and the dispersion of hazardous materials into the surrounding environment.
Balancing green mining activity with environmental protection
Ecological mining offers a sustainable and ethical solution for resource extraction, emphasizing the need to:
a) Environmental Impact Assessments: Rigorous assessments are carried out before starting mining operations, identifying potential environmental risks and developing strategies for their mitigation.
b) Regulations and Compliance: Governments play a determining role in enforcing environmental regulations to ensure that mining companies adhere to ecological practices, fostering responsibility and minimizing negative impacts.
Recycling and reuse in green mining for future mineral demand.
While mineral recycling and reuse can play a key role in reducing emissions, mining will still need to supply the essential minerals needed to produce these low-carbon technologies, even with large future increases in recycling rates.
The challenge of meeting most of the demand for reuse is due in part to the lack of existing material to recycle and reuse, along with cost and technology barriers (for example, some technologies may not be easily reusable due to design). .
Facilitating reuse is a vital part of the low carbon transition, but policy measures will need to incentivize action in this area while also promoting awareness of the economic and environmental challenges associated with industry processes. extraction.
Future increases in recycling rates can go a long way in mitigating increases in demand for raw materials, as can the reuse of components for energy storage technologies such as lithium-ion batteries, and the renovation of equipment, such as wind turbines.
It will be important for importers of these minerals with ambitious climate goals, particularly in developed countries, to work closely with mineral producers in developing countries to decarbonise and reduce material impacts associated with increased extractive activities.
Smart ecological mining.
Combining smart green mining with an overview of the different mineral demand risks, through the supply risk matrix, provides a framework for climate, energy and mining stakeholders to understand. and mitigate the risks associated with the stable supply of minerals.
The Climate-Smart Green Mining Initiative addresses these challenges by working together with governments, development partners, industry and civil society to minimize new emissions from a low-carbon transition.
In addition to working closely with resource-rich developing countries to responsibly source these strategic minerals for clean energy technologies.
Stakeholders in clean energy.
The energy sector also has an important role to play in ensuring that the low-carbon technologies being implemented are produced in a sustainable and responsible manner, taking into account the management of waste from these technologies once they reach the end of their useful life. , in the next 10, 20 or 30 years.
The mining sector accounts for 2 to 11 percent of the world’s total energy consumption, so it is important that the energy sector work closely with mineral-producing countries and miners to ensure that minerals are produced using clean sources of energy and climate-smart mining practices.
Innovation is needed to reduce the amount of energy, water and land needed to extract these minerals and reduce the carbon and environmental footprint of the mining sector.
Without implementing measures that address these challenges, such as adapting green-smart mining practices, it will be difficult for the mining sector to position itself as a leader and enabler of the clean energy transition.
Ecological mining in the energy transition.
The implications of the growing demand for minerals can be examined through multiple visions. On the one hand, the increase in extractive and processing activities could have serious environmental and social implications.
These activities must be managed responsibly to meet this new demand derived from the greater deployment of alternative energies.
Currently, the mining sector accounts for approximately 2-11% of total energy consumption globally, while 70% of the mining operations of the six largest mining companies are located in countries with water scarcity.
Likewise, the demand for these “strategic” minerals could also provide opportunities for developing countries rich in mineral resources and allow them to contribute significantly to the clean energy transition.
Importance of ecological mining in energy transformation.
The energy transition is, as defined by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a path towards the global energy shift from a fossil fuel base to zero carbon emissions by the second half of this century.
Although it is a notoriously energy-intensive industry with high CO2 emissions, today, the mining sector accounts for 26% of global carbon emissions, green power generation is more infrastructure-intensive, requires much more metals and minerals, and therefore more mining activity.
Renewable energy is rapidly evolving as a major energy source. Mining companies have a great opportunity to use alternative energy to reduce costs, improve safety, reliability and sustainability, and mitigate risks to ultimately gain a competitive advantage.
Reaping the full benefits of clean energy takes more than installing a solar panel or wind turbines, it requires a willingness to rethink operational processes and reconsider the way work gets done.
Innovative technologies to promote ecological mining practices.
New technologies are presented below to promote better green mining practices and reduce the environmental impact of extractive activities.
Bioleaching is an innovative technique that uses microorganisms to extract valuable minerals from ores. This process reduces the need for traditional chemical extraction methods, resulting in lower energy consumption and less ecological impact.
In situ leaching (a technique widely used in extractive metallurgy that converts metals into soluble salts in aqueous media), also known as solution extraction, involves injecting a leach solution into the ore deposit to dissolve the desired minerals.
Phytomining is an innovative technique that uses plants to extract valuable minerals from the soil. Certain plants have the ability to absorb and accumulate minerals in their tissues. After harvest, these plants can be processed to recover the minerals, offering a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative.
It is important to note that while phytomining offers several advantages, there are also limitations and challenges associated with its implementation, such as the slower process due to the time required for plants to grow.
Conclusion:
Green mining is a vital approach to resource extraction that seeks to balance the need for resources with the protection of the environment.
Through the implementation of responsible practices, the mitigation of impacts and the rehabilitation of affected areas, ecological mining aims to preserve the natural habitat during the extraction of Earth’s resources. Governments, mining companies and other stakeholders must work together to ensure sustainable and responsible mineral development.
Sources
- https://www.comunidadism.es/emma-y-as-pontes-dos-ejemplos-de-restauracion-ambiental-de-zonas-mineras/
- Roberto Oyarzun, Pablo Hiigueras & Javier Lillo (2011)
- Book: Environmental Mining: An Introduction to Impacts and their Remediation
- https://www.iea.org/reports/the-role-of-critical-minerals-in-clean-energy-transitions
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