In a newly published article in the Journal of Cleaner Production entitled “Water risk in mining: analysis of the Samarco dam failure” Roger Burritt and Katherine Christ explore the impact on water risk management in mining of the November 2015 Samarco tailings dam disaster in Brazil, the largest in the world according to many criteria. Focus is on BHP and Vale, as two of the world’s largest mining companies and their exposure to water risk through the disaster and their responses as equal owners of the Samarco joint venture. The study employs a case study method based on publicly available data in which the companies’ water risk management is assessed in relation to various business cases. The analysis reveals a number of issues which include too much discretion given to joint ventures in the assessment of water risk and the need for a specialized water risk function and improved contingency planning for downstream communities impacted by the organization’s activities. Based on the analysis a future research agenda is developed.
Courtesy of Elsevier the article is available here until 28 February, 2018. No sign up, registration or fees are involved.
The full reference is:
Burritt, R. and Christ, K., (2018),‘Water risk in Mining: analysis of the Samarco dam failure’, Journal of Cleaner Production, Vol. 178, 196-205.
Roger Burritt 