closure issues

I expect a fair bit of discussion about on-going liability post closure by the more rational political minds and consequently the media. Some comments have already been made thus far.

This area of the Philippines receives very high rainfall. Obviously post closure water management is a primary concern to all stakeholders. The footprint of the tailings storage facility is enormous - over 6km long over its longest axis, and it is also planned to receive crushed waste rock with higher acid forming potential. So ongoing management of the tailings seepage will be a big point of discussion. Best practice deep sea disposal doesn't get a look-in. IMO it should.

The waste rock storage facility also has a very large footprint and will have its own seepage management issues.

Because of the high rainfall exceeeding evaporation loss the final pit void will be a large lake with an overflow. The quality of acidic water with metal contents in the overflow will become a permanent management issue for the local community.

Perhaps flow minimisation and stream intercept from other water sources resulting in dilution of poor quality waters to acceptable levels of contaminants will prove satisfactory, but can't see any discussion on that yet.

Aside from water issues, the huge footprints of areas that will need to remain permanently undisturbed will be an issue for a country that is over-populated and has limited sustainable land occupancy.

These issues would take ages to deal with in Australia. I expect an order of magnitude longer in the Philippines.