| Safety
The regulations will exclude any low-risk structures such as stock drinking ponds, weirs, and small, low dams. “The government’s approval to develop regulations
makes it clear that undertaking maintenance and remedial work in order to manage the potential impact of a dam failure is a necessary part of responsible dam ownership,” Moorhead added. MBIE said that it will provide guidance to help dam owners understand their obligations under the new regulations, and Engineering New Zealand will be assisting MBIE by putting a training and assessment programme in place to ensure there are enough suitably qualified engineers to provide the necessary support and advice.
Emergency level ratings
Safety concerns have also made headlines at one of mining company Vale’s Brazilian facilities. On 15 June 2021, inspectors from the national Brazilian mining agency Agência Nacional de Mineração (ANM) visited the Xingu tailings dam that forms part of the Alegria mine in Mariana, Minas Gerais. After inspection, the dam was kept at emergency level 2 which means that although action is being taken to remedy safety problems, these have not been resolved. (At emergency level 3 that the risk of failure is considered imminent.) Earlier in June, under the direction of the Regional Labor Superintendence (SRT), production at the facility had been halted. Vale suspended access to workers and vehicles in the Xingu dam flood zone, with only essential access allowed to stabilise the structure under strict safety protocol. The tailings dam no longer receives mining waste but is being closely monitored ahead of a planned decommissioning procedure. Vale was keen to deny published new stories that suggest the dam is at imminent risk of rupture and wanted to clarify that there is no change in the dam’s
www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2021 | 17
conditions or safety level, which remains at level 2. The company said that the dam is continuously monitored and inspected by a specialised technical team; is included in the company’s dam decharacterisation plan; and that the Xingu dam self-rescue zone remains evacuated with no permanent presence of people in the area. In collaboration with SRT, Vale said it is taking measures to continue to guarantee the safety of workers to allow the resumption of activities. Xingu Dam had previously been at level 1 (meaning there is a potential safety concern) in March 2020. ANM had requested improvements f
Above: The Clyde hydroelectric dam in Otago, New Zealand
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53
