Joint Statement on Jagersfontein tailings failure from the co-conveners of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM): ICMM, PRI and UNEP
The failure of a dam containing mine waste – or tailings – in Jagersfontein, in South Africa’s Free State province, on 11 September was a tragedy that underscores the critical importance of responsible tailings management. We mourn those who lost their lives in the incident. All stakeholders – from companies to governments and investors – must urgently work to enhance the safety of tailings storage facilities across the globe.
The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), launched in 2020, strives to achieve the ultimate goal of zero harm to people and the environment. The Standard is a step-change in terms of transparency, accountability and safeguarding the rights of people affected by mining projects.
As the convenors of that standard, ICMM, PRI and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) are once again calling on wider investors, companies, communities and governments to join us in advocating for the Standard’s implementation by mining companies, whether public or private – across all existing and new sites, in all jurisdictions.
Simply put, anything less than every tailings facility on Earth being responsibly managed is just not good enough. While some companies including all ICMM members have committed to implementing the GISTM or equivalent standards, many other operators have yet to commit to doing so. We urge every mining company, everywhere to immediately embrace the Standard as a top priority.
