Application of a Method for Intelligent Multi-Criteria Analysis of the Environmental Impact of Tailing Ponds in Northern Kosovo and Metohija

Gordana Milentijević, Blagoje Nedeljković, Milena Lekić, Zoran Nikić, Ivica Ristović and Jelena Djokić
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Gordana Milentijević: Faculty of Techinal Sciences, University of Pristina, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Blagoje Nedeljković: Faculty of Techinal Sciences, University of Pristina, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia
Milena Lekić: Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Zoran Nikić: Faculty of Forestry, University of Belgrade, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia
Ivica Ristović: Faculty of Mining and Geology, University of Belgrade, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
Jelena Djokić: Faculty of Techinal Sciences, University of Pristina, 38220 Kosovska Mitrovica, Serbia

Energies, 2016, vol. 9, issue 11, 1-18

Abstract: The technological process of exploitation of mineral resources and processing of mined ores to cater to the market results, among other things, in a large amount of tailings deposed on tailing ponds. Because of the chemical composition of the material, the increasing amount of waste, and the mismanagement of recovery and reclamation of ponds, these ponds have become a significant element of negative impact on the surrounding ecosystem. Economics was behind the discharging of this material, resulting in tailing ponds created in inappropriate areas. There is an ongoing process of depositing tailings on old tailing ponds, although no special attention has been paid to the subsequent effect on the environment. Application of intelligent multi-criteria analysis AHP and PROMETHEE has been performed in this paper for the purpose of ranking the degree of negative impact on the environment of tailing ponds. Analysis is performed for five tailing ponds of MMCC (Mining Metallurgy Chemical Combine) “Trep?a”, whereby two of the ponds are active and three inactive. The ponds are in relatively close proximity to the municipalities of Zve?an and Kosovska Mitrovica, to the north of Kosovo and Metohija, Republic of Serbia. In order to achieve the most objective results, the AHP and PROMETHEE methods were applied. By using these methods for calculations, the following ranking for the flotation tailing waste deposits was obtained, regarding their environmental impact: Žitkovac, Tvr?anski Do, Bostanište, Gornje Polje and Žarkov Potok. This result can contribute to the decision-making process of a prioritizing strategy for rehabilitation and remediation of these five flotation tailings. The analysis illustrates that application of intelligent multi-criteria analysis is a useful environmental management tool to be included in the decision-making process.

Keywords: tailing pond; environment; multi-criteria analysis; ecology; Trep?a (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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