MINING ENGINEERS’ ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (MEAI) Bhubaneswar Chapter Workshop at Sukinda Chromite Mines, Tata Steel 28th Feb'14 Prabhash Gokarn Head Raw Material Projects Tata Steel
May 10, 2015
MINING ENGINEERS’ ASSOCIATION OF INDIA (MEAI) Bhubaneswar Chapter
Workshop at Sukinda Chromite Mines, Tata Steel
28th Feb'14
P ra b h a s h G o ka r n Head Raw Material Projects
Tata Steel
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Disclaimer
The presentation is an amalgamation of author’s own views and thoughts.
Tata Steel does not necessarily subscribe to the views and thoughts expressed in the presentation and should not be held responsible for the same.
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Presentation Structure
1. Three Views on Development v/s Sustainability 4 - 8
2. Mining and Sustainability 9 - 15
3. Rational Development - “fair” to stakeholders 16 - 20
4. Sustainable Development : Need & Reward 21 - 24
2
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
….a developer is one who is yet to
build his house, champions of
sustainability are already well
ensconced in theirs….
3
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel 4
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
First View .….
Mountain Pass Rare Earth Mine in California, United States. The mine, owned by Molycorp Inc., once supplied most of the world's rare earth elements. Chemical processing of ore stopped since 1998 and the mine was fully closed in 2002, in response to environmental restrictions .
5
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Second View …. Description of Rare Earth Mining near near the city of Ganzhou, in in Jiangxi province, China : Miners use a chemical extraction process that involves digging several holes of just a few feet in depth and feeding pipes into the holes. A concentrated mixture of chemicals is then pumped through the pipes, leaching out rare earth metals as it passes. It is incredible that such a low-tech method is used to harvest minerals that are used in some of the world's most technologically advanced products…
at any cost
6
Horrendous levels of pollution at Jiangxi
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
The Confused View….
CLOSED Kerala Mineral & Metals : In God’s own country, water heavily contaminated with monazite, iron fluoride and magnesium, high number of cancer patients.
Unabated Production : Expansion
Kudramukh Iron Ore Company : In Karnataka : mine has one of highest iron ore grades in the world. Not operating since 2005…. 7
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Hope yet, Convergence of the Debate..
MolyCorp has reopened MountainPass Mine since
Aug’13
China Announces $1.6 Billion Pollution Fund….
Government has seized control of rare earth mining after finding widespread illegal strip-mining(Feb-14)
INDIA
?
8
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel 9
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
…. Mining uses up the resources which
promotes it, thus it must catalyze the
development of other economic activities
and also generate enough positive impacts to
assist in sustainable development ….
10
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Mining & Sustainability
Mining necessarily ends up depleting the resource it uses and is characterized by negative impacts.
However, it has significant potential for making positive impact. It is possible for mining to contribute to sustainable development through:
Enhancing the benefits while mitigating the negative impacts both when mining is taking place and subsequently as well as
Improving stakeholder participation in the management of the resources.
This is however easier said than done…
11
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Sustainable development
Sustainable Development is
developing in such a way that
future people will have
“enough and as good”*
* Phrase from John Locke, 1690
12
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Sustainable Development Development that :
meets the needs of the present
without
compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
a) How much into the future
b) Are we underplaying the role of technology?
13
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
2014 2025 2050 2075 2100
D = Development : e.g. Development of a Mine
Must we sacrifice just as much for people in the far future as for people in the near future?
D
Why must we leave as much and as good for future people? What if that requires us to sacrifice money, work, time, satisfaction, etc.
How Much Into the Future ?
14
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Two Views?
Discounters of Future People
Defenders of Future People Earth’s resources belong to all, no matter when they “arrive”. Locke (1690)
We have borrowed the earth from our Children…. - Can’t create new land - Conservation of biodiversity - Population control
Discounters of Future People We should sacrifice “less for them” – not “should totally dismiss”.
Nearer future people are closer relatives of ours, so we have stronger obligations to them.
Future people will be richer than us; poor don’t have to help rich.
They will have technology we can’t predict. Development
4
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel 16
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Rational Development will…. Stay within the capacity of ecosystems to absorb change.
Provide an adequate standard of living for those who do not have enough, in area of influence.
Create conditions in which individuals and groups can develop their potential, enrich lives, advance technology.
Develop systems of governance which promote and sustain these goals.
17
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Key Principles
18
1. Leadership
2. Collaboration
3. Corporate Social Responsibility
4. Sustainability
5. Communication
6. Community Engagement
The Miner of the 21st Century must know:
1. How to monitor emissions
2. How to protect the environment
3. How to restore a mine site back to other uses
4. How to get along with the neighbours
Mining today is a balance of three elements:
1. Techno-economic issues
2. Environmental issues
3. Socio-political issues
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
– plan for the neighbourhood
– protect the environment
– plan for closure
– mitigate/restore the site
– sustain the communities
– sustain the company
Before mining
During operation
After operation
At all stages…
1. Land degradation. 2. Deforestation. 3. Subsidence. 4. Air pollution. 5. Water pollution. 6. Soil Pollution.
Abandoned Mine X
Planned Closure √ Sustaining the Community – alternate employment
Rigorous Environmental Impact Assessment process
19
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Key Challenges
Setting up and expansion of mining operations
Increase in workforce to support expansion
Accommodating the workforce – impact on forest areas
Impact of Operations on the environment
Balancing Local and National interests – local livelihood v/s mineral for development
Immediate, short, medium and long term management issues.
Mine Closure….
20
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel 21
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Urgency for Sustainable Development Globalization means that many problems are no longer simply local or
national concerns.
Growing evidence that ecosystems are seriously out of balance, posing new and poorly understood risks.
The problem of poverty is inseparably linked with global ecological problems which cannot be solved unless people have a stake in the outcome and the resources to manage the problems.
Governance systems have not yet emerged for the reality of a globalized economy.
Increased awareness and expectations flowing from the new world information regime.
22
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Rewards of Sustainable Development
• Production consumption and living patterns consistent with ecological balance.
• Dramatic reduction of the numbers of people living in poverty.
• Greater opportunity to develop individual and group potential.
• More open, cooperative, transparent and consensual systems of governance.
23
Prabhash Gokarn : Tata Steel
Sustainable Development
is Difficult
But the Rewards are Immense
24