We are pleased to announce that the 7th WAIMM Geotech Conference will take place on November 11, 2026, online. The theme for this year’s conference is: “Engineering Design Lifecycle of a Tailings Storage Facility (TSF).” This year’s focus is designed to equip participants with invaluable insights and specialized knowledge critical for navigating current challenges and advancements in the field of tailings management.
This conference continues the established tradition of addressing key stages in the lifecycle of tailings management, an approach we have embraced in previous seminars. By maintaining this lifecycle focus, we aim to foster in-depth discussions that integrate the latest advancements in geotechnical engineering, thereby encouraging participants to explore both foundational principles and innovative solutions in tailings behaviour analysis.
Participants attending this practical distinguished Geotechnical conference will be able to understand and equip themselves with the following technique and information:
Key Topics of Discussion
During the deliberations of the 7th WAIMM Tailings Conference, we will cover a comprehensive range of topics, with specific attention given to:
General Facility Design Concepts
- Different facility design concepts require different attention and detail when it comes to designing, building, and operating a TSF/HLF.
- The goal will be to describe different facility types and layouts and the different impact advanced characterization and modeling may have (or may be required) for successful engineering.
- Concept Development
- Conceptual design of a mine site, inclusive of a TSF, will allow us to think through and plan all phases of project development. From a geotechnical standpoint, this will include conceptual design of the TSF and ancillary structures.The goal will be to understand the correlation between facility type and expected/required investigation and laboratory testing.
- Planning and Engineering Phase:
- Planning for success throughout the lifecycle. While owners/operators are very hesitant to over‐invest capital early in the project, the early planning and engineering phase of the project is critical to the successful TSF lifecycle. This should include appropriate site investigations, alternatives assessments, and engineering analyses in support of the design, construction, and operation of a TSF.This will be expanded in a Critical State Soil Mechanics framework.
- The goal will be to introduce advanced geotechnical laboratory tests that may be required for development of advanced constitutive models as input to advanced geotechnical models.
- Start-up Operations
- Growing pains and starting on the right foot. TSF start‐up is most likely when considerable upset conditions will occur. It will be important to understand if the plant is operating as designed and producing a material which is consistent with the design, and to understand if the TSF is operating as designed.
- The goal will be to establish a baseline expectation of engineering analyses to satisfy standard-of-care and regulatory requirements.
- Continuing Operations
- Standard day‐to‐day operations through much of the lifecycle. During standard day‐to‐day operations, facility operation must be continually monitored. This includes following tailings deposition and water management plans, as well as monitoring and surveillance plans. If changes in materials, operations, water management, or monitoring results occur, how do we understand and accommodate that information? The role of Engineer of Record (EoR) must be well understood and appropriate..
- Changed Management
- How to plan and execute changes to a TSF. During the lifecycle of a TSF, changes will occur. It is important to have a design with the flexibility to accommodate those changes, and proper planning and discussions between the owner/operator, EoR, and regulatory agencies are key for successful change management.The goal will be to expose attendees to the advantages and challenges associated with the use of advanced modelling techniques.
-
- The goal will be to understand what we can do during operations of a facility to improve our understanding of the facility performance and material characteristics of mine-scale production.
- Closure
- A discussion on what we mean by active closure, passive closure, and post closure in relation to anticipated behavior of materials and facilities.
- Every piece of the lifecycle should plan for closure. While closure comes at the end of the project, everything leading up to closure should be developed with closure in mind. What closure options are available and how they are considered in the design and operation of the TSF is important for a successful project.This will look at monitoring, on-going testing, model calibration, and the Performance Based Design concept (previously known as the Observational Approach).
- The goal here is to expand the engineering understanding of a facility and better predict long-term expected performance.
- Post-Closure – What’s next?
- Closure is not the end of the story. If proper closure planning and execution occurs, there may not be much left to do, but we need to confirm this and continue to maintain our commitments.
Who Should Attend
- Industry professionals
- Academics
- Regulators
- Consultants
- Students
We look forward to engaging presentations, panel discussions, and networking opportunities that will foster a robust exchange of ideas that highlight the critical intersection of tailings management practices and technology-driven advancements.
To register in advance for the upcoming Tailings conference 2026, kindly click on the link below and fill the forms accordingly.
Register for 7th WAIMM Tailings Conference 2026
Please stay tuned for further updates on the agenda, and speaker announcements as we approach the event date. Your participation is essential in advancing the understanding and management of tailings sustainably and effectively.
Kindly contact the WAIMM office at events@waimm.org or +233 (0) 302-919-575 for inquiries and further information regarding sponsorship and participation.
