We design, implement, and manage tailings facilities that integrate safety, sustainability, and cost-efficiency at every stage of their lifecycle. With more than 100 tailings dams designed worldwide, we deliver reliable solutions even in the most challenging mining environments, from highly seismic zones to extreme climates and high-altitude sites.
At Ausenco, we work alongside our clients to find a better way to manage tailings, ensuring safety, sustainability, and strong continued performance. Our approach focuses on delivering safe solutions for both greenfield and brownfield operations.
We expertly combine geotechnical, hydrological, hydrogeological, environmental, and operational disciplines, along with our construction and project management capabilities, to design robust facilities, optimise resources, and significantly reduce risks.
Tailored engineering solutions for each operation
From early-stage studies and site characterisation to detailed design, construction oversight, and closure planning, our services cover the full lifecycle of your Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs). Each solution is adapted to site-specific conditions such as seismic activity, permafrost, heavy rainfall, or water challenges.
The TSFs we develop are robust engineering structures, designed to safely store tailings and recover water for reuse to extend operational life and minimise environmental impact. They include containment embankments or dams, slurry, water, and drainage transport systems, built and optimised using available on-site materials whenever possible. Our disposal methods include:
- Conventional slurry
- Thickened and paste tailings
- Filtered tailings (dry stack)
- Hybrid systems
For every project, our tailings specialists implement continuous monitoring systems, governance frameworks, and contingency plans to protect people, operations, and the natural environment. Our Engineers of Record (EOR) provide ongoing technical oversight throughout the TSF lifecycle, verifying performance, identifying deviations, and ensuring regulatory compliance.
Aligned to key international standards such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), and Mining Association of Canada (MAC), International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD), and Canadian Dam Association (CDA) guidelines, as well as each country’s local regulations we deliver solutions that ensure your facility operates safely, reliably, and in alignment with international best practices.