Gestion des eaux minières : Études de cas de la Mongolie et du Chili

This case study by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the importance of watershed-scale governance for mine water management, focusing on the experiences of Mongolia and the Antofagasta region of Chile. It outlines a framework for effective water governance based on risk-based planning, stakeholder collaboration, and clear policy implementation, while highlighting the specific challenges of managing water in arid mining regions.

• Effective mine water management requires a holistic, watershed-scale approach to balance the needs of mining companies with those of other users and ecosystems, particularly as climate change increases precipitation variability and temperature.
• Governments should implement a risk-based approach to water management that integrates biophysical, socio-economic, and regulatory risks, utilizing adaptive management strategies and climate change sensitivity analyses.
• Mongolia established a national Integrated Watershed Management Plan (IWMP) in 2013, which categorizes management zones based on their dominant water source: surface water, combined surface and groundwater, or groundwater.
• In Mongolia's Gobi Desert, groundwater is primarily non-renewable 'fossil water,' and mining demand was projected to exceed supply by 2021, creating a high potential for conflict with herders and local communities.
• The Antofagasta region in Chile manages water across 10 watersheds, where mining accounts for 60% of water demand in the Loa River basin, necessitating a balance with indigenous rights and agricultural needs.
• Chile's water governance in Antofagasta has faced challenges because water was allocated as rights without expiration dates rather than as permits, though current constitutional reforms may move toward a permit-based system.
• The 'Chile 30/30 Plan' represents a national effort to improve water security and sustainability through broad consultation with over 10,000 participants, including indigenous peoples and civil society.
• Effective monitoring of mine water requires a combination of government stations and industry-shared data, supplemented by community-based participatory monitoring to build trust and increase data accuracy.

APA

Hill, J., & Gillman, M. (2021). Gestion des eaux minières : Études de cas de la Mongolie et du Chili. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-03/igf-case-study-mine-water-management-chile-mongolia-fr.pdf

Chicago

Hill, Jenifer, and Matthew Gillman. Gestion des eaux minières : Études de cas de la Mongolie et du Chili. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2021. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-03/igf-case-study-mine-water-management-chile-mongolia-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hill |first1=Jenifer |last2=Gillman |first2=Matthew |title=Gestion des eaux minières : Études de cas de la Mongolie et du Chili |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2021 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-03/igf-case-study-mine-water-management-chile-mongolia-fr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hill2021gestion, author = {Hill, Jenifer and Gillman, Matthew}, title = {{Gestion des eaux minières : Études de cas de la Mongolie et du Chili}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2021}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2023-03/igf-case-study-mine-water-management-chile-mongolia-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }