8 NOVEMBER 2023IN MYOPINIONMalcolm Shang is an experienced leader dedicated to responsible resource management and environmental reclamation. He promotes and supports sustainable developments in the mining industry through effective mine closure planning and circular economy initiatives. In an interview, Malcolm Shang, Global Head of Mine Closure, Reclamation, and Circular Economy at ArcelorMittal Mining shares his insights on the importance of sustainable practices in mining operations for economic and ecological development.What are some of your roles and responsibilities at ArcelorMittal Mining? I currently serve as the global head of mine closure, reclamation, and circular economy. My primary focus lies in mine closure planning and post-closure utility to minimize company liabilities and mitigate regional impacts. I promote and implement circular economy initiatives into the projects to address the environmental concerns related to the mining industry. What are some of the leading challenges and trends impacting the mining industry today? Over the last few years, the rising importance of environmental, social, and corporate governance considerations has increased emphasis on adopting eco-friendly practices and developing low­carbon products in the mining industry. Steel contributes to about seven to nine percent of carbon emissions globally, forcing organizations to transition to cleaner methods of steel production and promote recycling. We are committed to being a carbon-neutral steel producer by 2050.Another significant challenge is the lack of economic diversification during the development of a mine. This can negatively impact the regions surrounding the mine commercially. We also face difficulty sourcing reusable tailings globally due to the current geopolitical problems, forcing many companies to source their materials locally to secure their supply chains. This can lead to inefficient use of the tailings and deter the improvement of tailing management standards. How are these challenges being addressed in the industry?More environment-friendly tools and applications need to be implemented to attain carbon neutrality. The promotion of technologies like carbon capture and storage not only reduces carbon emissions but also helps in power generation. Adding the principles and applications of circular economy to the entire mining value chain is an efficient strategy to reduce harmful residues from impacting the environment. Valorizing tailings produced in the mining processes have the potential to obtain commercial and societal components by creating valuable commodities from them. This can economically diversify the DRIVING THE TRANSITION TOECO-FRIENDLY MINING PRACTICES By Malcolm Shang, Global Head of Mine Closure, Reclamation, and Circular Economy, ArcelorMittal Mining
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