Editor's letter

Over the past few years there has been a concerted industry effort to drive the responsible management of mine tailings.

In January, the independent Global Tailings Management Institute was launched with a mission to promote the adoption and implementation of the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM).

Already many mining companies are well on their way to adopting the voluntary GISTM and its 15 principles. In this issue we speak to industry players to find out what GISTM has already achieved, and the efforts that are still needed to address the changing environment.

Additionally, we look at how technologies such as AI are supporting tailings monitoring, and the scope for using AI robots to build a mining workforce.

In commodities, we examine the global outlook for cobalt mining, as well as projections for the lithium market to 2030. Also, following record coal production and demand in 2024, we look at the future of the commodity in key regions including China and the US.

Caroline Peachey, editor