Economic aspects of tailings dewatering as an innovative strategic priority of gold mining industry

In this paper, innovative strategic trends in the gold mining industry are identified and analyzed. Based on the analysis, such an innovative strategic priority as the dewatering of gold mining tailings is justified. The reasons for the insufficient implementation of relevant technologies have been identified, for example, such as incomplete cost accounting, high expected implementation costs, and pricing of water resources. The strategic interests of the parties have been identified, and the basis for their coordination has been proposed. The international experience is studied, in particular the experience of state regulation of water consumption in mining in Chile. The application of a fair price to fully account for the cost of water resources is justified. An overview of research on the economic aspects of tailings dewatering is given, and the specifics of calculating the financial parameters of projects in determining the net present value of projects and the internal rate of return are revealed. The stages of the project’s life in gold mining, including those after the mine closure, are analyzed. The periods of income and expenses, classified by object, are highlighted. The role of introducing tailings dewatering technologies to reduce project uncertainty is substantiated. The results of the study can be applied in practice by enterprises of the gold mining industry, in the development of industry and corporate strategies, as well as in further research.

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