The mining industry does a lot for societal development. From supplying resources and stimulating economic growth to establishing infrastructure, mines are a source of potential for various avenues in civilisation.

As is the nature of such an extremely complex industry, mining operations face harsh environmental challenges that require progressive solutions, while prioritising sustainability and innovation. While providing society with essential resources, mines are responsible for mitigating their impact on neighbouring communities and the natural environment.

ESG and FlowCentric Mining Technology

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) requirements exist to ensure that mines can continue providing necessary resources while protecting vulnerable ecosystems and the health and safety of surrounding communities. Stakeholders – including investors, clients, suppliers, employees, governments, and communities – expect mining companies to comply with local ESG demands to foster long-term success. FlowCentric Mining Technology is an effective ally to mines that are working to meet these requirements.

With solutions and services specifically designed to reduce the negative impact of mining operations on the environment and its people, FlowCentric Mining helps mines remain compliant and responsible while increasing operational efficiency and reducing costs.

Environmental

Managing waste and natural resources, reducing carbon emissions, and protecting biodiversity are essential to addressing ESG requirements.

Wastewater

Without the proper management of wastewater, the millions of litres contaminated with harmful minerals and chemicals can pollute aquatic habitats and groundwater supplies, destroying ecosystems and putting human health and safety at risk.

To manage wastewater, mines typically opt for the use of evaporation ponds. Although effective, evaporation ponds are slow and require a larger surface area for additional dams to speed up the process. This places the surrounding environment at risk of mining operations encroaching on natural habitats.

FlowCentric Mining’s mechanical wastewater evaporators are faster and more cost-effective than standalone evaporation ponds. The company’s mechanical wastewater evaporation technology eliminates the need for additional high-density polyethylene (HDPE) lined dams, saving costs and minimising the negative impact that wastewater has on the environment.

Dust

Airborne dust from tailings dams, industrial and agricultural roads, and material handling operations places the surrounding environment and communities at risk. Dust can damage vegetation, increase the risk of respiratory problems, and contribute to erosion.

Mining operations that opt for spraying tailings dams, material handling operations, and industrial roads with plain water to suppress dust are ineffectively managing resources. By using thousands of litres of water as a very short-term solution to airborne dust, mining operations are significantly contributing to the global water crisis, as well as increasing their carbon footprint through emissions from the machinery that works overtime to suppress dust with water.

FlowCentric Mining provides a variety of dust control solutions that are eco-friendly, longer lasting, and more cost-effective. By using FlowCentric Mining’s dust control solutions, mining operations can halve the amount of water used to suppress dust and reduce their carbon footprint.

Coal Spontaneous Combustion

Coal faces, piles, and spoil heaps introduce unique and dangerous challenges to the environment and local communities. The interaction between coal and oxygen triggers the oxidation process and generates heat, which runs the risk of causing the coal to spontaneously catch fire. The large, burning piles of coal pollute the air by emitting toxic and carcinogenic substances, which severely impact the health of humans and animals in the surrounding areas. Uncontrolled fires caused by coal spontaneous combustion can endanger infrastructure, human lives, and natural habitats.

Mining operations that employ the compaction and soil cladding method to contain and prevent spontaneous combustion are only achieving short-term, moderate success while still having a costly and negative impact on the environment. By transporting available soil for cladding, mining operations increase their carbon footprint through fuel emissions, while also using a natural resource that’s necessary for various industries.

FlowCentric Mining’s long-term spontaneous combustion treatment, FlowCentric Heatshield™, seals the coal off from oxygen without harming the coal, thereby suppressing existing fires and preventing further ignition. This eco-friendly solution protects human lives and the environment by eliminating the toxic emissions produced by the spontaneous combustion of coal supplies and the fuel needed for transporting soil. By solving the problem before it arises, FlowCentric Heatshield™ supports mines in saving human lives, natural habitats, and infrastructure that would otherwise be endangered by spontaneous, uncontrolled fires.

Industrial Cleaning Chemicals

Industrial cleaning chemicals can harm the environment and local communities by polluting water supplies, and contaminating soil. This endangers wildlife along with human life and disrupts natural ecosystems.

Mining operations that opt for the use of industrial cleaning chemicals that contain environmentally harmful compounds are contributing to the degradation of the surrounding environment and placing human lives at risk.

FlowCentric Mining has specifically formulated industrial cleaning chemicals to be equally effective and environmentally friendly. By offering a range of cleaners that target specific stubborn residue, such as grease, bitumen, cement, tar, lime scale, etc., FlowCentric Mining helps mines to solve their cleaning problems across industries while remaining environmentally responsible.

Social

Providing proper working conditions for employees and supporting host communities through infrastructure and local economic development contribute to meeting the social aspect of ESG requirements. By opting for FlowCentric Mining solutions, mining operations can protect their employees and host communities from many of the dangerous side-effects of mining.

Additionally, whenever possible, FlowCentric Mining employs staff from the local communities where they operate and prioritises up-skilling them during their employment to assist with local economic development.

Governance

Management of the company’s resources and compliance with up-to-date local and international legal and regulatory requirements address the governance aspect of ESG demands. By investing in FlowCentric Mining’s solutions, mining operations can effectively manage resources, reduce costs, and comply with local and legal regulatory standards.

With FlowCentric Mining Technology as an ally, mining companies can ensure long-term sustainability and foster an eco-friendly reputation with investors, clients, suppliers, employees, governments, and local communities.