DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Sustainable development and the challenges of the 21st century Minerals and Energy
Mining – not just a hole in the ground
Francess Perrett3/10/2007
www.nt.gov.au/dpifm
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Miracle pitTanami Desert
Mining - not just a hole in the ground
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Talk outline• Mining in the NT
• Current Economic Climate
• Major NT Resources
• Major NT Projects
• Types of Mining Activities
• Environmental Considerations
• Mining Legislation
• Work Groups
• Departments Functions
• Avoiding Legacy Issues
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Mining in the NT1841 Lead
Glen Osmond SA
1870 Gold
Pine Creek/Adelaide River
Planting the first pole on theOverland Telegraph line
Underground gold mining
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
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.
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Current Economic Climate6 new mines in last 18 months
4-5 more projects expected tocommence operations in next 12-18 months.
The 5 major existing mines have expansionsor extensions underway or proposed.
27 new Authorisations for exploration activities issued in the 2006\2007 financial year.
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Major NT Resources
• Uranium • Gold• Diamonds • Dimension stone and Mineral
sands • Iron, Bauxite and Manganese • Base metals
(Copper, Lead, Zinc)
• Tin, Tantalum, Rare earths
and Magnesite
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Major NT Projects
Alcan 4th
ERA 1st
Newmont 4th
Gemco 1st
McArthur River 4th
World Ranking
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Extractive Industry• Sand and Gravel
• Hard Rock
• Lime
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Exploration Activities• Tracks
• Drill holes
• Drill benches
• Costeans
• Sample bags
• Camps
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Landscape changes
• Stockpiles• Waste rock dumps• Tailings dams and reservoirs• Pit void
Environmental Considerations
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Landscape changes
• Stockpiles• Waste rock dumps• Tailings dams and reservoirs• Pit void
Environmental Considerations
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Water management• Re-use/ release• Effect on downstream
environment
Environmental Considerations
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Environmental ConsiderationsFlora and fauna• Threatened species• Ecological values
Rehabilitation• Life of mine planning• Self sustaining
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Relocation of Threatened Species
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Mining LegislationThe 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
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Mining Management Plans
• 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
As a basis, the Mining Management Act requires that the Mining
Management Plan includes:
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Work Groups
Mining and Petroleum Authorisations and Evaluations
Authorisations and Evaluations
Compliance
Environmental Monitoring Unit (EMU)
plant engineer
equipment engineers
electrical engineer
chemist
ecologist
biologist hydrologist
geologist
spatial scientist
research staff
audit officers
field monitoring team
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Authorisations and EvaluationsThe 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
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Authorisations and EvaluationsThe 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
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Environmental Monitoring UnitThe 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
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
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.
DEPARTMENT OFPRIMARY INDUSTRY, FISHERIES AND MINES
Mining - not just a hole in the ground
THE ENDTHE END
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