Tailings Facilities have the potential to be one of the most significant safety and environmental risks for the mining industry. CAML are committed to minimising this risk by ensuring our facilities are designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with industry best practice and standards.

As part of CAML’s governance management strategy for the tailings dams at Sasa, the following processes are in place, which align with GISTM:

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• Accountable Executive – CAML has appointed its CEO as the Accountable Executive is accountable for the safety of tailings facilities and avoiding or minimising the social and environmental consequences of a tailings facility failure.

• Responsible Person – At Sasa we have appointed a Responsible Tailings Facility Engineer (‘RTFE’), to ensure ownership and appropriate management of the tailings facility. The RTFE consults with the Engineer of Record (‘EOR’), the Accountable Executive as well as the internal site teams such as operations, regulatory affairs, social performance and environment. The RTFE is an appropriately qualified and experienced individual who is based full-time at the operation.

• Engineer of Record – Sasa has appointed an independent and appropriately qualified, experienced, and licensed EOR. The EOR has responsible charge over the design of the facility and provides ongoing support during operations and through the lifespan of the facility.

• Inspections – The tailings facilities at Sasa are regularly inspected by our appropriately qualified operational staff daily. Additionally, an external Independent Tailings Engineer is responsible for monitoring, reviewing and reporting on Sasa’s TSFs on a monthly basis. The Independent Tailings Engineer produces a monthly report and presents the report findings to Sasa’s management and TSF Stability Committee.  Key aspects reviewed include:

  • • levels in the piezometers in the dam wall

    • TSF drainage flow rates and water quality

    • survey levels

    • grain size analysis from the cyclones

    • height of the dam wall relative to pond levels etc

    • dam slope angle relative to design

• TSF Stability Committee – the Committee meets on a monthly basis and is attended by members of the TSF operational team, EOR, RTFE, Independent Tailings Engineer, Sasa Technical Director, Sasa Environment Manager and chaired by the Sasa General Director. The Committee remit is to review monitoring data from the Independent Tailings Engineer and other key aspects of TSF management including compliance with GISTM

• Independent Audits – Independent audits of the facilities are undertaken annually to assess whether the design, construction and operation of the facilities meets international best practice standards.  The Audit will also provide recommendations to reduce risks associated with the TSFs going forward. The results of the audit and the implementation progress of any recommendations are conveyed to the Board of Directors via our quarterly Sustainability Committee meetings.