Increasingly scarce resources, environmental responsibility, etc. The challenges facing the mining industry
As the grade and quality of deposits decline, the mining industry is forced to use more resources to extract the same amount of ore. Water, energy and waste management combine to form a significant expense line for mines, which are often located in arid and remote areas. In addition, the waste generated is potentially hazardous.
In addition, stricter environmental regulations and increased public pressure make it difficult for mining companies to maintain their operating permits. They need to develop strategies to limit their exposure to risks, and implement best practices to cut clean-up costs. It is also by reducing the impact of mining on land and the environment, and by improving cooperation with local communities, that mining industries can ensure the sustainable acceptability and therefore the productivity of their business.
We work with more than 100 mining sites worldwide. With a global market share of almost 8%, we are the leading supplier of environmental services to the mining industry.
Our solutions to combine productivity and responsibility
We reduce mining costs. By developing unique synergies between water, waste and energy, we help create more value. For example, we have implemented a comprehensive waste strategy in Australian iron ore mines. We sort waste and recycle oily wastewater on site to minimize disposal costs. The result is a savings of AUD1 million each year.
We maximize mine production. We make the most of a mine's potential, reclaiming valuable resources. At a copper mine in Chile, we process three million cubic meters of waste each year to recover residual copper and feed it back into our client's production process.
We help maintain operating permits, with solutions that ensure plant uptime and avoid shutdowns. In Ghana, we upgraded a gold mine's wastewater treatment plant to maintain compliance with waste disposal standards.
We minimize the environmental impact of mining and give mines a second life. In Australia, for example, we converted a former mine site into a facility to produce bioenergy from municipal waste. The site now provides electricity to 2,500 homes.
To find out more,
explore our solutions by industry
Find out how we help our industrial customers to reduce their environmental impact, while addressing their specific challenges. For example:
- Sustainable development in the oil and gas industry: How to limit costs, optimize industrial tool efficiency and improve the ecological footprint
- Construction and the environment: How to combine increased construction needs with a reduced environmental footprint
- Environmental impact of the agri-food industry: How to improve energy efficiency, adopt renewable energy and optimize waste management.
- Pooling resources at industrial parks: What’s involved?
- Industrial cooling circuits