“Social and Environmental Impacts of Mining-Australian Lessons on Mitigation”

Khondkar Abdus Saleque

Recently the author had opportunity to read a report on Phulbari Open pit Coal Mining of Bangladesh, “Open Pit Mining for Coal: Horror Feeling Shrouds Northern Bangladesh.” It will not be prudent to challenge the contents of the report. But there are ways to mitigate the social and environmental impacts associated with coal mining, any mining. Exploration and exploitation of any natural resource has some form of impacts. These need to be managed and mitigated. A country like Bangladesh with finite natural resources cannot have the luxury to keep its resources buried for ages and continue to suffer from energy crisis. Some sacrifices need to be made unfortunately for greater gains of community. Some decisions need to be taken from head keeping the heart open.

Bangladesh as we all know is on the grip of the worst ever energy crisis. For various reasons its predominantly monofuel energy generation, supply is on the verge of collapse. Industrial growth has almost become stand still; authorities are struggling to meet the demand of existing consumers. Crisis still persists even after making various load management and adjustments. Government does not have many options. It is extremely difficult for a developing economy like Bangladesh to import all its energy needs from very expensive and competitive world energy market. Extensive exploration and development for Petroleum may discover a few more gas reserves or expand the existing reserves. But these may not be enough to ensure the long term energy security of a country which can achieve a double digit growth for several years if only smooth supply of energy could be ensured. Bangladesh is believed to have about 65-70 tcf equivalent very high quality (High heat content, low ash content) bituminous coal reserve in the northern part of the country. Some of the discovered mines are at relatively shallow depth.

The prevailing geology (water saturated Dupitilla Overburden above coal layer) makes these ideal for surface — open pit mining. The other traditional option underground mining may be risky, uneconomic and not viable. We all know that surface mining can produce 85-90% coal in place while underground mining can produce only 20-25%. Both options have extensive environmental and social impacts. Surface mining will obviously impact the people of the region. They will need to the relocated, adequately compensated, properly rehabilitated. Other environmental concerns and impacts are to be appropriately mitigated.
Bangladesh, a resource constraint country has very limited capacity of its own to take up mining with its own technical and financial resource. What can Bangladesh do? Can it wait and let its economy suffer irreparable damage or should it start mining in the most appropriate and economic method to explore most of its coal addressing all environmental and social issues as far as practicable? Bangladesh is not the one and only country of the world where these kinds of issues exist which complicate decision-making. But the countries have taken initiative to mine and mine economically taking the most appropriate economic mining options addressing all social and environmental impacts. Environmental groups are stronger in other countries. But government is also pro active and very alert to the people’s well fare. Mining proceeds without much fuss and national economy benefits from appropriate mining methods. But in Bangladesh government remains perplexed, hesitates to take decision, national energy security continues to go from bad to worse. Why the government is not trying to learn?

Many non-resident Bangladeshis are engaged in appropriate research in reputed universities on environmental and social impacts of mining; few Bangladeshi professionals are also working in similar active mines. Instead of hearing from horses mouth why Bangladesh Government is getting confused from various myths and propagandas of a motivated section of society when business community and local entrepreneurs are urging government to take immediate decision on coal mining? The author has talked with few line professionals and some researchers in Australia and is presenting the lessons learned about the impacts of mining and mitigation measures.

A unique readiness to develop and deploy new technologies has enabled Australian minerals industry to endure the tough times, reap the benefits of the current resources expansion, and confront the industry’s pressing environmental responsibilities. The Australian mineral industry does more than use of technology to mine smarter. It is a world leader in the actual development of new mining technologies aimed at improving the industry’s performance. Beyond the discovery of the more effective and efficient ways of finding and extracting minerals, this innovation results in better ways of reducing environmental impacts, more effective ways of rehabilitating areas disturbed by mining, safer an healthier ways of working in the mines and more efficient ways of marketing and exporting products and services.

Mining & Sustainability
Some people say that the concept of “sustainability is increasingly emptied by unsustainable activities such as mining. Mining provides number of goods but it is base on the extraction of non-renewable resources and is unsustainable. Despite opposition from anti-mining campaigners, mining has been officially declared as “sustainable” in the world summit on Sustainable development. Humanity definitely needs certain amount of minerals to satisfy basic needs and it is also equally true that over consumption in one part of humanity may cause adverse impact on the livelihoods and environments of the other humanity, at the receiving en of mining. What is required is a perfect balance. Mining is an activity that needs to very properly planned with all probable and possible impacts identified, evaluated and mitigation planned. Mining is an activity that needs strict monitoring and control at every stage. People living in mining areas should have the capacity to take fully –informed decisions on the permissions to mine in the territories or decide on how to carry out activity and ensure environmental conservation and social justice.

What is Mining?
Mining refers to the discovery and extraction of n minerals, metal or non metal , lying under the surface of the earth .Metals are mixed with many other elements , but occasionally large quantities of certain metals concentrate in a relatively small area are as deposit. The impacts of mining are related to mining itself, which frequently involves or produces hazardous substances.
Mines vary in size according to extraction/ production per day. The method of mining specific mineral depends on the type, size and depth of the deposits and economic and financial aspects of the undertaking. Underground mining used to be the most commonly use method to extract large deposit until the middle of the 20th century. Technological progress and development of larger and more powerful machinery after the Second World War promoted opencast mining. The underground mines generally have less visible impacts on the environment than opencast mines. There is less disturbance of the grounds surface but it can affect the water by contaminating with acids and metals and by intercepting aquifers. The workers are exposed to more hazardous situations than those working in opencast mines. Progressively underground mining is being abandoned due to problems of profitability. Presently 60% of the materials mine in the world is extracted by opencast method causing devastation of ecosystem.
Opencast mines look like a series of terraces arrange in great deep wide pits in the mile of a desolated and stark landscape, lacking any living resources. Quarries are surface mines, very similar to open cast mines, resulting in a desolated landscape with deep trenches between wide steps. Chemicals are used in leach mining to dissolve the metals from the mineral containing it, obtaining a very high rate of recovery. The chemical contaminates the surface and ground water.

Environment and social Impacts of Mining
Mining is short-term activities with long-term effects. It is carried out in various stages, deposit prospecting and exploration stage, mine development and preparation stage, mine exploration stage and treatment of mineral stage-each involving specific environmental impacts. Preparation of access routes, topographic and geological mapping, geophysical work, hydro-geological research, deforestation of the land and elimination of vegetation affecting the habitats of hundreds of endemic species, consequent erosion and silting of the land, reduction of water table, contamination of the air, water and the land by chemicals such as cyanides, concentrated acids and alkaline compounds and air pollution caused by dust, gases and toxic vapour can have diverse affect on the environment and health and social life of the local communities.
Sulphur dioxide released from the mine causes acid rain, carbon dioxide and methane released by burning fossil fuels are the two greenhouse effect gases causing climate change. The sound of the machinery and the blasting in mining conditions that may become unbearable for local people and the forest wildlife.

The Impacts of Mining on Women:
Mining also has distinct impacts an added burden on women. The women are deprived of the access to the benefits of mining developments, especially money and employment. Women become marginalised as the traditional roles of food gatherer, water providers, care – givers and nurturer are very much affected. Many women are pushed to enter into informal economy to find additional sources of income as the adverse impact to the environment caused by large –scale mining decrease the productivity of the fields and poisoned wild foods, marine life and animals. Alcohol abuse, drug addiction, prostitution, gambling, incest and infidelity increase in many mining communities which worsen cases of family violence against women, active and often brutal discrimination of the women in the workplace that is sanctioned or ignored by judicial and political institution.

Lessons To Be Learnt From Australia:
Mining of coal and other mineral resources are one of the major backbones of Australian economy. Australians are no less environmental conscious nation than any. This is a country where freedom of speech, independent press, very transparent policies, and equal rights are prevalent. So it should not be considered irrelevant if one prescribes to follow Australian way of addressing and mitigating the social and environmental impacts of mining. Bangladesh can be immensely benefitted if it learns from Australian experience and trains its mining professionals in Australian mining industry.

Let us have an insight into the sustainable planning for managing the impacts of mining at Moranbah and Bowen basin in Queensland, Australia.

Coal Reserve in the Bowen Basin

• The Bowen Basin coalfield is one of Australia’s primary coal mining areas.
• Sufficient known reserves exist in the Bowen Basin for over 200 years at current extraction rates.
• The coalfield has some 20 operational mines, with a further 10-15 under consideration or in the early development stage.
• Future development activity over the next 5-10 years is likely to be concentrated in the Moranbah and Nebo areas.

Issues to be Managed

• Expansion of mining operations
• Increase in workforce to support expansion
• Rapid increase in Moranbah’s population — permanent and transient
• Accommodating the workforce/population growth
• Constraints on town expansion — coal reserves
• Balancing local and State interests – valuable coal resources versus town expansion
• Immediate, short, medium and long term management issues.
• Mine expansion issues:

– Environmental Impacts
• Air quality
• Noise
• Water
• Land disturbance
• Mine rehabilitation
• Mine subsidence
• Methane gas emissions

Managing the Issues

Ÿ The Minister for Environment, Local Government, Planning and Women decided that the State will assist the Belyando Shire Council in resolving the issues associated with growth at Moranbah by:

– establishing a Moranbah Growth Management Group (MGMG); and
– preparing a Mining Town Sustainable Management Framework.
The main task of the Moranbah Growth Management Group is to assist the Belyando Shire Council to prepare and achieve broad agreement to a Master Plan for short, medium and long-term options for sustainable management at Moranbah.

• Membership of the Group is to comprise

– Jim Pearce, MP (Chair);
– Belyando Shire Council;
– Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation;
– BMA;
– Anglo Coal;
– Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Water;
– The Office of the Coordinator-General; and
– Others as required.

• The Moranbah Growth Management Group will identify issues, policies and options, which may be taken to the Coal Industry Taskforce for consideration. The Coal Industry Taskforce regularly reports to Cabinet Budget Review Committee on the progress of the Coal Infrastructure Program of Actions and will incorporate reporting on the Moranbah Growth Management Group into these reports.

Issues identified by MGMG

– The need to identify options to manage immediate and short term growth
– The timing and sequencing of development options to manage growth, which may also influence a correction in the housing market
– The need to consider medium and long term issues to ensure sustainable management of Moranbah
– Water supply
– Management of the cumulative impacts of the current expansion of mining operations and any future plans to establish open cut mining operations in close proximity to Moranbah

Sustainable Management in Mining Towns

Planning for Sustainable Communities

– Managing the cumulative social, economic and environmental impacts
– Managing cultural impacts
– Managing the urban lifecycle - stages of growth (urbanization), decline (suburbanization), and rejuvenation (reverse urbanization)
– Managing risks
– Collaborative approach
– Corporate Social Responsibility
– Balancing a productive mining industry and sustainable and vibrant communities
– Capacity for economic diversification

Sustainable Management Outcome Statement

Protecting social, economic, cultural and environmental values and economic growth for the State for future generations in meeting community and mining industry interests. Through the State and local governments, the mining industry and communities are working collaboratively to support sustainable and vibrant communities and a productive mining industry.
Sustainable Management in Mining Towns
Planning for Sustainable Communities

– Managing the cumulative social, economic and environmental impacts
– Managing cultural impacts
– Managing the urban lifecycle - stages of growth (urbanization), decline (suburbanization), and rejuvenation (reverse urbanization)
– Managing risks
– Collaborative approach
– Corporate Social Responsibility
– Balancing a productive mining industry and sustainable and vibrant communities
– Capacity for economic diversification

In the past, Australian mining industry has had to overcome problems associated with harsh physical conditions and remote locations. Advanced technologies have been employed to reduce the high cost of operating in such adverse circumstances. A powerful motivating factor encouraging the use of new technologies has been the need to minimise the environmental impact of minerals industry activities. Such adoption and adaption of innovation has enabled the mining industry to survive decades of tough times, when it barely recovered the cost of investment capital. The industry has been able to employ technology to increase supplies even when prices were down, environmental and social stewardship responsibilities increased.

Advanced Technology in Exploration

Air borne geophysical techniques are important in modern exploration. Remotely sensed data obtained from platforms in space and in air provide high-resolution images of the earth’s crust. When these are combined with other data in sophisticated imaging and modelling softwares, they enable the identification of targets for detailed ground investigation.

Innovative Technology for Extraction and Processing

In mining and mineral processing, Australia is leading the world in harnessing new technologies such as biotechnology, ICT and e-commerce.
Examples includeThe continual refinement of mine shapes and designs using advanced computer-modelling software. Use of intelligent robotic ore loaders in mining processes. Australia is also a world leader in the development of a comprehensive industry wide policy to improve heath and safety, both mineral operation and surrounding communities. Projects have aimed to improve the safety of drilling equipment, examine wear and tear of plant and equipment, develop risk analysis methods for the running of mine side operation and employ behavioural studies to examine issues such as fatigue management and impact of shiftwork on sleep management.
Environment Impact Mitigation Measures
The Australian mining industry is committed to achieving continual improvement in its environment management performance. This is demonstrated through strategic leadership initiatives such as “Enduring value- the Australian Minerals Industry Framework for Sustainable Development”
Some of the key technologies assisting the industry to minimise resource use and mitigate contamination risks are:Dust suppression and soil stabilising products, which save up to 80% of the water normally used while also reducing labour and equipment costs.Oxygen probes develop by CSIRO, capable of assessing levels of gaseous or dissolve oxygen concentrations in soil, ground water, bioreactors and tailing storage facilities in order to monitor potentially toxic waste.Bio -fixation treatment system, which remove most contaminants and pollutants from waste water, effluent or soil, minimising environmental impact and providing a low n-cost treatment for the removal of suspended solids, ammonia and nitrogen.Gas, ground water, aquifer and subsidence management in minesNew technology for the revegetation and rehabilitation of mined environments, such as Ecosystem Function Analysis technique developed by CSIRO.
Bangladesh sooner or later will have to start coal exploration. Given the geological, geophysical reality of the mine belt underground mining at least in Barapukuria and Phulbari will never become economically viable. Pursing this will be waste of time, energy and money. The population directly impacted can be relocated, compensated and rehabilitated. There are proven technologies to address all the perceived environmental impacts. Bangaldesh must realise the domestic coal industry will take 20 years to develop skills and capacity to even plan, manage mining and operate. We have to engage major mining companies, which have greater skills, appropriate technologies and greater all-round capacities to address and mange all challenges of mining in Bangladesh. Our policy must have adequate incentives to encourage major mining companies. Small companies with inadequate resources and technology will take us for rides like the Chinese company in Barapukuria .It will benefit a particular section of society to squeeze benefit. Delay in coal mining will frustrate our efforts to attain energy security. It will benefit the coal importers and smugglers and their beneficiaries who want our coal to remain buried. Will facilitate neighbouring country to continue dumping poor quality coal to pollute our environment. Will Bangladeshi patriotic politicians judge the situation in its truest perspective?

Source:Energy & Power, Bangladesh

Date : 20/10/08

Link : http://www.ep-bd.com/news.php?cat_id=9&archive=11&namee=ARTICLE
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