On March 19 and 20, Water Services and Technologies (WST) held the technical event Water and Environmental Management in Mining. The meeting was supported by the Mining Industries Association of Goiás and the Federal District (Minde) and the Federation of Industries of the State of Goiás (Fieg).
With the goal of updating the sector on best practices in water resource management, the event brought together specialists, companies, and industry professionals to discuss challenges and solutions related to the sustainable use of water in mineral activities
The program included a technical workshop and a specialized short course, covering strategic topics such as acid mine drainage, hydrogeology, contaminated site management, water balance, and environmental data management.
Rafael Albuquerque, Director of Hydrogeochemistry at Water Services and Technologies, highlighted the increasing complexity of water management in mining. “The challenges are becoming more multidisciplinary, but there are also opportunities to apply advanced techniques to meet environmental requirements and improve water resource management,” he noted.
One of the highlights was the short course that provided relevant updates on NBR 10004/2024, which addresses waste classification.
According to Rafael, the new standard aims to align national procedures with international benchmarks. “NBR 10004/2024 incorporates international best practices and represents an opportunity for companies to prepare for new regulatory requirements,” he stated.
The event also promoted integration between the private sector and regulatory bodies. Representatives from the Secretariat of the Environment participated in the discussions, allowing for alignment on the conduct of geological and hydrogeological studies.
For Danilo Almeida, Director of Hydrogeology at Water Services and Technologies, this exchange of technical knowledge is fundamental for developing future projects with greater safety and technical quality:
“The technical dialogue between consultancy, mining professionals, and environmental agencies helps align understandings and support decision-making. This exchange was very enriching, as it allowed us to present the consultancy’s vision on hydrogeology, highlight our approach to project management, and showcase practical case studies,” Almeida explained.
The president of Minde, Luiz Vessani, emphasized the relevance of the topic for the sector. “Water is a fundamental input for mining, and we have the responsibility to return it to the environment properly. This event provides technical knowledge so that companies can adopt increasingly efficient and sustainable methodologies,” he declared.
The initiative reaffirms the commitment of the involved institutions to promote technical debate and the dissemination of methodologies that contribute to the evolution of mining in Goiás and the Midwest region.
