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 | Environmental Regulations in Mining: Business Opportunities for Goods and Services
In the last decades, the mining and metallurgical industries worldwide, including Chilean companies, have had to modify their technological processes to meet the environmental regulations required by their governments, as well as to come up with the public opinion.
For example, between 1989 and 2002, the five State Chilean copper smelters invested over US$ 1.5 billion in their operations to comply with the new air quality standards (particulate matter and sulfur dioxide) and of arsenic emissions regulation .
These investments generated an important market for gases handling systems.
Now, new environmental regulations such as the guidelines on hazard solid wastes management, the updating of the air quality and emissions standards, the draft law on mine closure and environmental mining wastes (abandoned mines) that is being discussed by the authorities and the mining sector, or initiatives about efficient use of the energy and water resources will allow the environmental goods and services market to keep growing. |
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OECD: Meeting of the Environment Policy Committee at Ministerial Level "Environment and Global Competitiveness"
Ministers discussed environmental priorities and the challenges and opportunities created by the current economic situation and policies, including on biodiversity and climate change. They discussed how to be competitive and green in a globalised world. Ministers heard how some countries have succeeded in combining strong economic growth with ambitious environmental policies.
Ministers supported further work on the OECD Environmental Outlook, building on the lessons learned and recommendations of the just published Outlook, especially on the four “red light” issues – climate change, biodiversity loss, water scarcity and health impacts of pollution. Building on the experience with the Outlook, Ministers requested the OECD to update the OECD Environmental Strategy for the 2nd Decade of the 21st Century. |
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The Vetiver System: Proven and Green Environmental Solutions
Vetiver grass (Chrysopogon zizanioides L.) is a perennial, tropical/sub tropical grass that has been used extensively world wide for soil erosion and sediment control and steep slope stabilisation for the last 20 years. Recently vetiver has also been used successfully for mine site rehabilitation in Australia, China, Latin America and South Africa, including stabilisation of steep slopes associated with bunds, tailings dams, and revegetation of mine tailings. Important attributes of vetiver grass are highly tolerant to: 1) Extreme acidity, alkalinity, sodicity, salinity and climatic conditions; 2) Very high levels of heavy metals, pollutants and nutrients; 3) It is sterile and has no potential to become a weed. |
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