Sustainability: Water
Water
A precious natural resource, water is essential to the well-being of the communities and environment where Badrakh Energy LLC operates, as well as to the smooth running of its mining operations
Groundwater and aquifer in the Zuuvch Ovoo area
Advanced exploration began in 2011 for Zuuvch Ovoo. This involves detailed delineation of the mineralization in order to measure the quantity, grade, and geometry of the uranium ore bodies, as well as hydro geological studies and geological environment. Water is a vital natural resource. Understanding where it is and how it moves under the ground is essential in protecting this resource. By using geological maps and taking samples of underground and surface water for analysis, hydrogeologists are building a detailed picture of how water flows underground.
- Aquifers are underground permeable layers that are mostly made of sand, where groundwater is stored and moves slowly over time
- Groundwater is part of the water cycle and is heavily dependent on the climate
- Groundwater conditions in the Zuuvch Ovoo area have been studied since 2006 through a network of 200 monitoring wells
- The groundwater is not suitable for drinking, according to national and international standards
- This poor groundwater quality is partially due to the fact that groundwater has been slowly interacting with minerals in the aquifer over thousand years
Reducing impact on biodiversity
To deal with the erosion of biodiversity related to mining projects, the “mitigation hierarchy”, also known as the “avoid – minimize – remediate/ restore – offset” sequence, is implemented from the first phases of the project, in accordance with the recommendations of the environmental impact studies.
Our objective is to work towards no net loss of biodiversity. Although the impact on the environment from the project is very small, the company is taking steps to reduce the impact on biodiversity from the work on the site by:
- Reducing the area of any new work site in the field to as small as possible
- Preventing unintentional spill from vehicles and hence pollution of the soil
Taking preventive and protective actions such as protecting and isolating the flora, namely, the saxoaul plant, on the project site
Sustainability
Protecting the environment
Remediation
Minimizing environmental impact
