The WAIMM is honored to invite you to participate in the upcoming masterclass workshop Tailings Storage and Containment. Details of this year’s course is given below:
OVERVIEW
This 5-day short course provides a comprehensive, practical, and standard-aligned understanding of the design, construction, operation, surveillance, and governance of Tailings Storage Facilities (TSFs). Designed for technical practitioners, regulators, and senior decision-makers, the workshop bridges fundamentals of geotechnical engineering with contemporary tailings management requirements, applying global best practice including GISTM, ICOLD, CDA, MAC guidelines.
Participants will gain integrated view of the TSF lifecycle—from site selection, geotechnical investigations, hydrology, risk assessment, stability analysis, construction monitoring, and instrumentation, through to dam safety reviews, emergency
preparedness, and closure planning. The program uses real-world case studies, hands-on exercises, and a collaborative group design activity to reinforce key concepts.
OBJECTIVES
• Understand geotechnical principles that govern soil/tailings behaviour.
• Interprete soil and tailings testing, CPT data, seepage analyses, and slope stability results.
• Review of TSF designs, DBMs, OMS manuals, and introduction to closure plans.
• Dam surveillance, instrumentation records, and identification of warning signs.
• Apply emergency preparedness processes including ERP/EPP development and desktop exercises.
• Management of TSF risks proactively across the full lifecycle
• Support safe, compliant, and sustainable tailings management in their Organizations
WHO SHOULD ATTEND:
Geotechnical, civil, mining, and environmental engineers
Tailings engineers, RTFEs and TSF operations personnel
Mine managers and plant operators
ESG, risk, and compliance professionals
Regulators, inspectors, and dam safety authorities
Consultants and academic researchers working in mining or geotechnics
COURSE OUTLINE
Day 1 introduces participants to the fundamentals of tailings storage and containment facilities, including an overview of MAS Geotechnical Inc., the structure of the 5-day workshop, and the current state of practice in tailings and tailings closure. Delegates will be guided through key geotechnical principles such as soil mechanics, undrained shear strength, and liquefaction. The day’s activities will establish the technical foundation required for understanding TSF behaviour.
Day 2 focuses on what a tailings dam is, typical dam construction types, conventional engineering practices, and failure mechanisms illustrated through real case studies. The morning continues with an introduction to dam risk assessment, risk-informed decision-making, and a structured overview of failure pathways. The afternoon covers TSF design considerations such as site selection, foundation soils, freeboard requirements, permeability, and groundwater regimes.
Day 3 covers the technical workflow of TSF engineering, including establishing a Design Basis Memorandum (DBM), conducting and interpreting geotechnical investigations, and selecting critical cross-sections for analysis. Slope stability and liquefaction analyses are explained using real examples. The day proceeds with practical sessions on CPT data interpretation, instrumentation principles, and construction monitoring after design.
Day 4 is dedicated to dam surveillance principles, site inspection methods, and annual review requirements. Delegates learn how to identify warning signs, deficiencies, and performance issues. The day includes detailed explanations of dam safety reviews, safety audits, and the required content of an Operations, Maintenance, and Surveillance (OMS) manual. Afternoon sessions introduce Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans (ERP/EPP) and provide a hands-on desktop emergency simulation.
Day 5 presents the principles of TSF closure design, including closure planning, common closure strategies, and case histories. Governance topics follow, including oversight frameworks, the role of independent review boards, and global standards such as GISTM, MAC, ICOLD, and CDA. The day ends with discussions, feedback, and reflections on the workshop’s lessons.
REGISTRATION DETAILS:
Date: March 16 – 20, 2026
Time: 8:00am – 5:00pm GMT daily
Location: Elmina Beach Resort, Ghana
Course fee in USD
➢ Regular $1,550 (Before March 10th, 2026)
➢ Early Bird $1,450 (Before February 15th, 2026)
➢ Multi-person (≥2) $1,350 (Before March 5th, 2026)
➢ WAIMM Members $1,350 (Before March 10th, 2026)
➢ Course fee includes hotel accommodation and all meals
Registration Deadline
March 10th, 2026
CONTACT:
Please in case of any further information and participation, kindly contact us at events@waimm.org or the WAIMM office and we will get back to you with all the details you will need.
COURSE PRESENTERS
Monica Ansah-Sam, MESc,MBA, PEng, PE-GhiE, Principal Geotechnical Engineer – MAS Geotechnical Inc.
Andy Small, M.Sc., P.Eng. FEIC, Senior Staff Consultant, Associate – Klohn Crippen Berger
Scott Martens, Director, Tailings and Geotechnical Engineering – Teck Resources
Gord McKenna, PhD, PEng, PGeol, Geotechnical Engineer, Landform Designer – McKenna Geotechnical Inc
Dallas McGowan, Senior Vice President (Innovation) – ConeTec
Chamirai Charles Nyabeze, EVP of Business Development for the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI)
Chaitan Sandhu, Senior Geotechnical Engineer – NewFields Canada
Charles Dumaresq, M.Sc., Vice President, Science and Environmental Management – Mining Association of Canada (MAC)
Giuseppina Ferrara, P.Eng, Tailings Engineer – Alberta Energy Regulator (AER)
Damian Williams, M.Eng., B.Sc., PGeo., PMP. Senior Business Development Manager – Geotechnical & Instrumentation Solutions, Orica
Lead Presenter
Monica Ansah-Sam, President / Principal Geotechnical Engineer – MAS Geotechnical Inc.
Monica has twenty-five years of combined engineering experience in mining geotechnique, dam safety, tailings and mine waste management, closure and landform design and field operations. With twenty years in key technical leadership roles such as Engineer of Record, Tailings and Closure Lead, Senior Geotechnical Engineer, Senior Tailings Advisor, Project Technical lead, Operations Support lead in Consulting, and Mining companies in Canada. Monica served as General Manager, Tailings and Dams in a Matal Mining Company in Ontario, Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador and recently Head of Global Geotechnical Governance for a Metal Mining Company with operations in Brazil, Indonesia and Canada.
International and local experience in influencing the strategic direction of global companies in tailings management.
Monica also served as the Chair and member on various COSIA (now part of Pathway Alliance) working groups and tailings technical expert and representative for various companies. Monica also serves on the Mining Association of Canada tailings working group for the tailings management guide and subgroup such as the risk management and Engineer of Record subgroups. Monica is a member of the CDA Mining Technical Committee. Accomplished author of numerous technical papers on Tailings management, and enterprise risk in the mining industry. Monica is currently the President and Principal Geotechnical Engineer for MAS Geotechnical Inc. in Canada and Managing Director for MAS Geotechnical Consultancy Ltd in Ghana which provides engineering support services and third party independent technical reviews to mining companies globally.