The engineering consulting firm participated in South America’s leading tailings conference, sharing technical insights on climate risk management, geotechnical assessment, and material selection for drainage systems.
Lima, October 2026. Ausenco participated in the 11th Congreso Relaves Peru 2026, where its specialists shared research and engineering experience aimed at strengthening the safety, stability, and performance of tailings storage facilities. Their contributions addressed challenges ranging from adaptation and extreme climate events to soil behaviour assessment and material selection for drainage systems.
Daniel Servigna, Vice President & Global Practice Lead, Mine Waste Solutions, took part in the panel discussion, “Tailings Storage Management in a Climate Change Context,” which brought together industry representatives to examine how intense rainfall, prolonged droughts, and uncertainty surrounding climate scenarios can influence the physical and geochemical stability of these facilities. The discussion highlighted the importance of assessing risks and adapting management strategies to the specific conditions of each operation.
“Tailings management requires anticipating risks and considering how climatic conditions may evolve throughout the life of an operation. To achieve this, it is essential to integrate technical assessment, planning, and adaptive decision-making to strengthen the resilience of facilities and manage uncertainty responsibly,” said Daniel Servigna.
Meanwhile, Alberto Tello, Geotechnical Engineer at Ausenco, presented the paper “Evaluation of Static Liquefaction in the Foundation of a Filtered Tailings Storage Facility Using Numerical Modelling.” The study examined how the progressive growth of a tailings facility can alter the behaviour of the foundation soils and create conditions that may lead to a loss of strength. The results identified areas within the foundation that are more susceptible to developing contractive behaviour associated with static liquefaction.
One of the study’s key findings was that conventional assessment methods may overestimate the stability of a facility if certain soil strength-loss scenarios are not considered. Numerical modelling, combined with detailed geotechnical characterisation, enables a deeper understanding of foundation behaviour and provides valuable insights for evaluating stability throughout the different development stages of a facility.
In addition, Isabele Bissoli, Geotechnical Engineer at Ausenco, presented the paper “Mineralogical Selection of Rock Materials for Internal Drainage in Tailings Structures,” which examines the criteria for selecting rock materials used in internal drainage systems. The research highlights that material selection should consider not only gradation and permeability, but also physical durability, mineralogical stability, and chemical behaviour, all of which can influence long-term drainage performance.
Ausenco’s participation in the Congress reflects the importance of integrating multiple engineering disciplines to tackle the challenges of tailings management. Early project development, site characterisation, risk assessment, and the selection of appropriate technical solutions help identify potential vulnerabilities and support informed decision-making throughout the life cycle of a facility.
“Ausenco develops engineering solutions tailored to the needs of each operation, integrating safety, performance, and risk management considerations at every project stage, from planning and operation through to closure, with a commitment to always finding a better way,” concluded Servigna.
About Ausenco
Ausenco is a global engineering, consulting and project delivery firm built for the minerals and metals industry. With three decades of global experience, we work alongside clients to navigate complex challenges from first study to final closure—across every phase, on five continents. Deeply rooted in the minerals and metals industry, our people combine technical depth, hands-on expertise, and hard-earned insight to deliver practical, forward-thinking solutions that reduce risk and unlock value. (www.ausenco.com).