Water Scarcity in Mining

Water management

Water Scarcity in Mining

Quelle/Source: Water Resources Group

Entwicklung des globalen Wasserbedarfs • Development of the global water requirement

Quelle/Source: Water Resources Group

Quelle/Source: World Resources Institute

2 Wasserknappheit und Minenprojekte • Water scarcity and mining projects

Quelle/Source: World Resources Institute

Quelle/Source: Fortescue

3 Trockene Eisenerzaufbereitung • Dry iron ore processing

Quelle/Source: Fortescue

Quelle/Source: COCHILCO

4 Verfahrenstechnik der Kupfererzaufbereitung • Copper ore processing technology

Quelle/Source: COCHILCO

Quelle/Source: Bluefield Research

5 Wasserbedarf der Minenunternehmen • Water requirement of mining companies

Quelle/Source: Bluefield Research

Quelle/Source: Rio Tinto

6 Wasserbedarfsentwicklung eines Minenunternehmens • Development of a mining company’s water requirement

Quelle/Source: Rio Tinto

7 Wasserbilanz eines Minenunternehmens • Water balance of a mining company

Quelle/Source: Rio Tinto

Quelle/Source: Bluefield Research

8 Markttreiber im Wassermanagement • Driving forces for water management

Quelle/Source: Bluefield Research

Quelle/Source: Rio Tinto

9 Wassersprühung zur Staubvermeidung • Water spraying system for dust prevention

Quelle/Source: Rio Tinto

10 SAG-Mühlen in der Kupfererzaufbereitung • SAG mills in a copper ore processing plant

Quelle/Source: Rio Tinto

Quelle/Source: Vale

11 Trennprozesse bei der Eisenerzaufbereitung • Separation processes in iron ore processing

Quelle/Source: Vale

Quelle/Source: FLSmidth

12 Flotationsanlage zur Platinerzaufbereitung • Flotation plant for platinum ore processing

Quelle/Source: FLSmidth

Quelle/Source: Minerações Brasileiras Reunidas

13 Fließbild zum Wasserrecycling • Water recycling flowchart

Quelle/Source: Minerações Brasileiras Reunidas

Quelle/Source: Antofagasta

14 Eindicker bei der Kupfererzaufbereitung • Thickener at a copper ore processing plant

Quelle/Source: Antofagasta

Quelle/Source: BHP Billiton

15 Escondida Kupfererzmine • Escondida copper ore mine

Quelle/Source: BHP Billiton

Quelle/Source: IDE Technologies

16 Sino Iron Meerwasserentsalzungsanlage • Sino Iron seawater desalination plant

Quelle/Source: IDE Technologies

Quelle/Source: BHP Billiton

17 eMahlahleni Wasseraufbereitungsanlage • eMahlahleni water treatment plant

Quelle/Source: BHP Billiton

Quelle/Source: Vale

Wasserdamm Sossego Kupfermine • Sossego copper mine water dam

Quelle/Source: Vale

Summary: Without water there could be no mining. Water management is becoming a growing challenge for mining operations that are threatened by water scarcity. This situation is confronting numerous mining operations and new projects in countries like Australia, South Africa, Chile and Peru. This article describes the problems, discusses the consequences and the investments, and explains various case examples.

1 Introduction

At the present time, more than one billion human beings are living in regions that are suffering from water shortages. Forecasts predict that by the year 2030 this number will have increased to over four billion. Agriculture and irrigation account for around 69 % of global water consumption, industries for 18 %, and humans’ drinking and domestic water usage for 13 %.

With its estimated share of <1 %, the mining industry is responsible for a comparatively small part of the global water consumption. Higher water consumption rates are shown by the power generation industry, the...