The mining industry in North Africa and the Middle East is entering 2026 under sharper scrutiny than ever before. Regulators, financiers, insurers and communities now expect more than baseline compliance. They expect resilient, water-efficient tailings strategies that reduce risk, protect people and ensure business continuity.
From our work across Africa, we see the same concerns emerging again and again in this region:
- How do we reduce tailings risk without disrupting production?
- How do we manage water responsibly in arid and semi-arid environments?
- How do we demonstrate alignment with the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM) in a practical, achievable way?
- And how do we satisfy regulators and insurers with confidence?
At Geotheta, we believe the starting point for every operation is clarity. Many mines know they “need to be GISTM compliant”. But they are uncertain what that truly means for their specific facility, team and budget. That is why one of the most effective starting points is a GISTM compliance review and roadmap.
We assess your existing tailings systems against the Standard, identify gaps, and then produce a clear, prioritised path to compliance. This is not a theoretical exercise. It is a practical plan that aligns engineering, operations and governance — allowing executives to move forward with confidence, budget predictability and measurable progress.
From there, the technical realities come into focus.
Across North Africa and the Middle East, water is not an abundant resource. Mines operate in arid or semi-arid climates where every cubic metre of water matters. Reducing freshwater intake, improving recovery, and minimising free water in tailings facilities are no longer “nice-to-have” improvements — they are strategic imperatives.
We increasingly support clients in evaluating options such as paste thickening, filtration and dry stacking, as well as improved drainage and deposition strategies for conventional facilities. In many cases, a full transition is not immediately viable. What is viable is a phased approach: reducing pond sizes, improving beaching, optimising reclaim systems and lowering long-term risk step by step.
At the same time, GISTM has reshaped expectations around governance, independent assurance and lifecycle planning. Tailings management is no longer just an engineering function — it is a boardroom responsibility. Executives are expected to demonstrate oversight, competence and transparency across the entire lifecycle of a facility.
This is where the role of an Engineer of Record becomes central.
At Geotheta, we act as Engineer of Record for tailings facilities, providing independent technical oversight, design stewardship, and continuous assurance. We support owners with:
- Facility design and upgrades aligned to international best practice
- Dam-break assessments and consequence analyses
- Deposition planning to control starter wall heights and improve stability
- Monitoring systems and performance review frameworks
- Independent reviews that satisfy regulators and insurers
Our work is grounded in reality. Not every site can be rebuilt from scratch. Not every operation has the same capital envelope. Our role is to balance safety, operability and cost — delivering solutions that reduce risk while keeping mines productive.
The industry’s recent history has shown us what happens when tailings systems are allowed to drift: production is disrupted, capital becomes more expensive, and trust is lost. The lesson for 2026 is clear. Proactive management is cheaper than reactive recovery.
For mining leaders in North Africa and the Middle East, the opportunity is to turn tailings from a latent risk into a managed, auditable system. That starts with understanding where you stand against GISTM, and then building a structured path forward — technically, operationally and organisationally.
Whether you are planning a new facility, upgrading an existing TSF, appointing an Engineer of Record, or simply need an independent view of your current risk profile, Geotheta provides a clear, practical way forward.
We bring together geotechnical engineering, tailings design, dam-break modelling and environmental insight to deliver outcomes that protect people, safeguard assets and strengthen long-term value.
In a region where water scarcity, regulatory scrutiny and climate variability are defining the future of mining, tailings management cannot be left to chance. It must be deliberate, disciplined and defensible.
That is what we do.
If you would like a clear picture of your GISTM position and a practical roadmap to compliance, speak to us.
Email: hello@geotheta.com
Web: www.geotheta.com
Geotheta — knowledgeable, experienced, and efficient tailings engineering for a more resilient mining future.
