Stable, cost effective and legally compliant surface facilities: whether its a tailings facility, leach pad or municipal/industrial waste facility, you do not need costly surprises from instability, fluid discharges, dust emissions or any other permit violations. And, these facilities must be designed for practical operation and cost effective closure.

Providing you with a clear set of options and their time related risks is a cornerstone of our engineering services. You can compare these alternatives and make an informed decision on the best option for your needs and risk profile. Our experience helps you minimize risk and keep projects on track and within budget.

Aditya Coal is capable of supporting you with sound advice and guidance through your project life cycle including the evaluation of options in the feasibility process, construction, operations and ultimately closure.

Our approach to heap leach engineering follows the traditional custom of initially defining project criteria, and then focusing on the most efficient manner to develop conceptual and ultimately detailed engineering design drawings, specifications and quality assurance programs that meet the project criteria. Project criteria typically include:

Experience in both base and precious metal leaching projects has shown that the successful accomplishment of our design mission requires both a sound understanding of regulatory and permitting issues, and proficiency in a wide range of technical disciplines including but not limited to civil and geotechnical engineering, hydrology and hydrogeology, regulatory permitting, metallurgical engineering and geochemistry.

In striving to maximise leached product recovery, we have developed and implemented innovative solutions including utilisation of artificially created negative pore pressures in heap ore to optimise leachate flowpath and product metallurgical recovery. In addition, and based on our experience with heap and process pond closure design and implementation, we have developed an approach to closure design that focuses on appropriately reducing (if not eliminating) post-closure effluent flows and associated water management risks and treatment costs.

Services

• Site selection
• Geotechnical investigation
• Conceptual through final level design and studies
• Detailed engineering
• Construction quality assurance
• Operational monitoring and management
• Permitting and regulatory compliance
• Decommissioning and closure
• Risk and hazard assessment

We have been extensively involved in the permitting, design, operation and closure of mine tailings, mine waste and associated water disposal/management facilities since 1974. Our expertise includes a wide range of tailings and mine waste products and hands-on knowledge of proven management techniques under a broad range of climatic conditions. We also have in-depth experience in understanding the long-term evolution of solids and porewaters in tailings storage facilities, allowing robust assessment of the adequacy of management and closure plans.

To achieve real cost benefits for tailings disposal, it is necessary to integrate the design of the process plant with the tailings disposal system, while giving consideration to all design aspects from site selection to impoundment closure. Our philosophy towards tailings and water management is heavily based on our worldwide operational experience. We aim to provide solutions that appropriately cater to each project’s needs, providing stable facilities that can be practically operated and successfully closed.

Recognising the growing need for the provision of mine waste management systems with increased water efficiency, we have invested in expanding our tailings and waste management capability. Also, with the greater emphasis on water conservation and social conscience in the mining industry, we have improved our knowledge of thickened tailings technology. This emerging technology is attractive to mines operating under strict water restrictions or those that have limited water resources available, enabling them to attain a competitive advantage in terms of water use. It also reduces the potential for contamination of soil and water sources, allowing these scarce resources to be available to other users.

We also provide monitoring and environmental audit services for operating waste sites.

A risk based design approach to the transport, handling and disposal of toxic and hazardous wastes, provides clients with a decision framework including factors such as liability and safety. Our client base includes local authorities, mineral processing plants, mines, industry and power stations.