Building Trust Through Tech-Enabled Transparency in Tailings Management

In today’s mining landscape, trust is no longer built solely on production output or compliance reports. Communities, regulators, investors, and host governments increasingly expect visibility, accountability, and transparency, especially when it comes to tailings storage facilities (TSFs).

Technology is now playing a central role in helping mining companies move from reactive disclosure to proactive transparency.

Why Transparency Matters More Than Ever

Tailings facilities represent one of the highest-risk assets in mining operations. Past failures have shown that lack of information sharing can erode trust long before a technical issue becomes a physical one.

Key stakeholders now ask:

• How is the TSF performing today?

• What risks are being monitored?

• Who is accountable for safety decisions?

• How quickly can issues be detected and addressed?

Meeting these expectations requires more than periodic reports. It requires continuous, verifiable data.

How Technology Is Changing the Transparency Landscape

1. Real-Time Monitoring & Open Data Dashboards

Modern TSFs are increasingly equipped with sensors that measure:

• Pore pressure

• Deformation

• Water levels

• Seepage and drainage performance

When integrated into digital dashboards, this data can be shared internally and, where appropriate, externally to demonstrate ongoing performance rather than one-time compliance.

2. Satellite & Remote Sensing for Independent Verification

Satellite-based technologies such as InSAR allow:

• Continuous ground movement detection

• Independent confirmation of TSF stability

• Regional-scale monitoring beyond the mine site

These tools add a layer of independent assurance, strengthening credibility with regulators and communities.

3. Digital Reporting & Audit Trails

Digital platforms now enable:

• Structured data storage

• Traceable inspection records

• Automated alerts

• Transparent audit trails

This reduces ambiguity and ensures that safety decisions are documented, reviewable, and defensible.

4. Supporting GISTM & ESG Expectations

The Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) emphasizes:

• Clear accountability

• Stakeholder engagement

• Access to information

Technology makes it easier to align operational data with these expectations, supporting ESG reporting and responsible governance.

Transparency as a Risk Management Tool

Tech-enabled transparency is not just about communication, it is also about risk reduction:

• Early detection prevents escalation

• Shared data improves decision-making

• Clear records protect both operators and engineers

• Trust reduces social and regulatory friction

In this sense, transparency becomes a strategic asset.

Looking Ahead

As mining operations continue to modernize, trust will increasingly be built on data, openness, and responsiveness. Companies that invest in transparent, technology-driven TSF management will be better positioned to operate responsibly, sustainably, and with long-term stakeholder confidence.

At African Engineering Services (AES), technology and transparency go hand in hand supporting safer tailings management and stronger relationships across the mining value chain.