How are provisions on procedures for operation of tailings reservoirs in Vietnam?

According to Article 5 of the Circular No. 41/2020/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, the owner shall prepare, approve and organize the implementation of the tailings reservoir procedures in a practical manner and according to examined and approved parameters of the reservoir.

The tailings reservoir operation procedures shall include procedures for operation in normal conditions and procedures for operation in case of floods and discovery of emergency warning signs. The operation procedures shall have at least the following contents:

- Overalls of the mineral processing technology; tailings disposal procedures; basic information about current conditions of the reservoir, dam, safety parameters and operation parameters according to design.

- Responsibility of reservoir operators; specific instructions on reservoir operations under practical conditions.

- Frequency and contents of tailings reservoir inspections in order to ensure early detection of emergency warning signs.

- Identify and assess the risks; prepare emergency response scenario and order of priority of actions accordingly.

- Regulations on commendation and discipline.

Note:

The tailings reservoir operation procedures shall be adjusted according to changes to the input conditions of the reservoir, production plan, meteorological, geological, hydrographical forecasts and measurements and have to be updated every at least 02 years.

In case the tailings reservoir operation procedures have to be adjusted annually due to increase to inflow of water, the owner shall make the adjustment within the first quarter according to: flow rate of tailings dumped into the reservoir; conditions of the dam; developments of floods and natural disasters; reservoir characteristic curves; tailings reservoir design documents; reservoir safety monitoring results.

View more details at the Circular No. 41/2020/TT-BCT of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, effective from February 01, 2021.

Thuy Tram

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