Tailings Dam Safety

Tailings Dams

All Fresnillo plc’s tailings dams are specifically designed to meet the demands of the mine site, while also ensuring the strictest of safety and environmental standards. The Brazil dam disaster led to increased focus on the issue of tailings dam safety across the global mining industry. While the safe management of our tailings facilities has always been a priority for Fresnillo, we have taken the opportunity to renew this focus, and to conduct a thorough review of our tailings facilities and processes. 

• Tailings Dam Safety Statement »

Fresnillo remains committed to updating TSF governance practices to meet all industry standards;

• Internal annual peer review
  
  
• Water quality monitoring and control
  
  
• Third party risk review
  
  
• External consultants for design, analysis and construction
  
  
• Environmental reviews and certification by regulators
  
  
• Incorporation of international design criteria in designs for new TSFs
  
  

A series of initiatives were launched to align governance practices with current best practice;

• Updating TSF inventory and validating data register
  
  
• Starting a programme of third party (Wood PLC) Dam Safety Inspections (DSIs) and TSFs
  
  
• Establishment of an Independent Tailing Review Panel (ITRP)
  
  
• Accerlerated programme of Independent expert site reviews of all sites
  
  

Fresnillo has engaged ITRP to advise on design and implementation of a new governance standard and organisational structure;

• The new governance standard based on ICOLD, CDA, MAC and ICMM guidelines, is being formalised and implemented
  
  
• Overarching organisational structures are being implemented
  
  
• Currently identifying and engaging Engineers of Record (EoRs) for all sites
  
  
• Initiating programme of Dam Safety Reviews (DSRs) for all sites (to be combined with engagement of EoRs where possible).
  
  
• Intensified initial period of participation by ITRP