RAME

Motivation and Background

The nature of mining activities implies the disturbance of the environment in various ways and hence brings along environmental impacts within changing boundaries. While some of these impacts are limited only within the footprint of the project area, the other impacts are considered to be seen in larger areas (i.e. local, regional and national scales). The scale of these impacts largely depends on the mining activity itself. However, the characteristics of the receiving environment are also important, especially for the mining activities run in the vicinity of the regions that represent environmentally sensitive areas.

Within this scope, analyzing the environmental impacts of mining activities in these areas and designing consequent measures to be taken can provide a better understanding of the mining environmental management. The project area, Ha Long Bay, which is located in the province Quang Ninh of Vietnam, is UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the same time, the project area is an important industrial location by means of hard coal mining. Consequently, to find an environmental sustainable balance between all the land use requirements (industry, settlements, tourism and the natural resources) comprehensive environmental planning is necessary (see Figure 1).

Figure 1: Land Uses in the Vicinity of Mining Area
Figure 1: Land Uses in the Vicinity of Mining Area

Aim

The aim of the RAME Project is to develop and adapt environmental concepts and to carry out capacity building for the hard coal mining industry in Vietnam, especially in sustainable land use and environmental management. As one of the sub-projects of RAME, the project “Dust Mitigation Strategies and Monitoring” aims to analyze the extent of the dust emission problem (see Figure 2) arising in the Nui Beo mine site, an open pit coal mine at Ha Long Bay, and further to define the most appropriate dust mitigation management option.

Abbildung 2: Fotos des Nui Beo Tagebaugebietes
Figure 2: Some Pictures From Nui Beo Side (August 2007); Upper Left – Dust Generation During Blasthole Drilling, Upper Right – Dust Generation During Coal Loading, Below Left and Right – Generation of Dust and Blasting Fume (Reddish) During Blasting)

Methodology

  • Development of dust emission factors for open pit coal mines under Vietnamese conditions
  • Generation of technical solutions for the elimination/mitigation of dust pollution due to the mining activities
  • Preparation of Dust Management and Dust Monitoring Plans
  • Compilation of the project outcomes into a Best Practice Guide
  • Development of a software-based Decision Support System aiming to assist dust monitoring and management

Publications

P.N. Martens, J.B. Pateiro-Fernández, S. Ahmad, M. Fuchsschwanz, G. Deissmann:
Opportunities for Sustainable Development at Chinh Bac Mine Waste Dump in Vietnam

Contact

Yannick Feldmann, M. Sc.

Key data

  • Level: International