Weir Releases New Water Stewardship Report

Weir has published a new sector-focused report, 'Untapped: Mining’s opportunity to unlock value through strategic water management and innovative technology', setting out its views on how mining companies can strengthen water stewardship. The document outlines the increasing pressure on global water resources and notes that a significant share of critical mineral operations—particularly copper—are already located in highly water-stressed regions. Drawing on contributions from a range of industry specialists, the report points to the potential for more integrated, end-to-end approaches that consider geological context, geographical constraints, and best-available technologies.

The report also discusses solutions that are already commercially available, including advances in ore sorting, comminution, and tailings dewatering, which Weir suggests could reduce overall water use while improving operational efficiency. It further references emerging industry frameworks from bodies such as ICMM and CEEC, which are helping to align metrics and improve transparency across the value chain. The publication encourages wider collaboration among miners, technology companies, communities, financiers, and policymakers to place water at the centre of strategic planning.

“Untapped brings together insights from across the mining sector to highlight both the challenges and opportunities in water management. I want to thank the many industry professionals who contributed their expertise to this important resource. By working together and embracing new approaches and technologies, we can unlock greater value from water, strengthen trust with our stakeholders, and help secure a more sustainable future for mining.” said Jon Stanton, CEO of Weir.

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