A proposed gold and copper mine in northern Ecuador has come under scrutiny following a detailed report by mining expert Steven H. Emerman.
The Cascabel mine, the flagship operation of Australian mining exploration company Solgold, could potentially cause significant environmental harm to the region.
The report reveals several concerning aspects of the project:
Low-Grade Deposits: The substantial gold, silver, and copper deposits at Cascabel are of very low grade. This would result in the creation of 469 million tonnes of rougher tailings and 60 million tonnes of finer mining tailings from the Alpala mine alone.
Tailings Management: Solgold’s preferred option for managing tailings involves constructing two 57-kilometres-long pipelines to transport cleaner and rougher tailings to unspecified sites on the coastal plains. The cost estimates for these options appear to be significantly understated.
Dam Safety Concerns: Alternative options for tailings storage within the Cascabel concession would require dams over 200 metres high with crest lengths exceeding one kilometre. The coastal plains options would necessitate dams 190 and 132 metres high with final crest lengths of 3.3 and 4.6 kilometres respectively.
The report raises several red flags regarding environmental and safety risks:
- Lack of analysis on the consequences of tailings dam failure
- No discussion on the possibility of pipeline failures, despite crossing four major rivers
- Potential acidification of mining materials and its impact on waterways
- Concerns about the proposed method of covering tailings dams with water to prevent acidification
The project faces significant infrastructure challenges:
- No current electricity at the proposed mine site
- Underestimated power requirements, with the mine potentially consuming the entire output of two planned hydroelectric projects
- Lack of cost estimates for additional power generation needs
In light of these findings, Emerman recommends that Solgold should abandon the project. He advises investors to decline investment and urges regulatory agencies not to approve the mine.
The Cascabel mine proposal highlights the complex challenges facing large-scale mining projects in environmentally sensitive areas.
As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Solgold and Ecuadorian authorities will address these concerns.
