COBA Group
About
COBA Group is a European engineering and consulting firm with deep expertise in mining infrastructure, geotechnical engineering, and tailings management. At Somincor (Neves-Corvo), COBA has been a strategic technical partner, helping transform what could have been an environmental liability—pyritic tailings—into a managed, stable, and closure-ready system that supports the mine’s long life and social license.
Core Contribution:
COBA Group’s engagement centers on tailings storage facility (TSF) engineering and geotechnical integrity. Working alongside Somincor and other key technical partners, COBA has provided:
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Design and optimization of paste tailings cells, ensuring the encapsulation strategy for pyritic tailings effectively prevents oxygen ingress and acid generation.
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Geotechnical consulting and stability modeling for the phased construction of tailings cells, incorporating local geology, seismic considerations, and long-term settlement behaviors.
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Instrumented monitoring systems integration (piezometers, movement sensors, seepage detection) to enable real-time surveillance of TSF performance, supporting proactive risk management.
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Closure and rehabilitation planning that aligns with Somincor’s vision for eventual landscape reintegration—ensuring the capped and revegetated tailings areas can blend into the countryside while maintaining environmental containment.
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Risk assessment and emergency preparedness frameworks, harmonized with international standards such as the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), enhancing transparency and regulator/community confidence.
Value Delivered:
COBA’s partnership has materially strengthened Somincor’s environmental resilience. By applying advanced geotechnical modeling and engineered controls, COBA helped reduce long-term environmental and operational risk, enabling:
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Improved predictability and safety of the tailings system, reducing the need for costly corrective interventions.
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Alignment with ESG expectations, reinforcing Somincor’s social license through credible, science-based stewardship of legacy waste.
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Lifecycle cost efficiency, as robust initial design and monitoring lower the likelihood of disruptive remediations and support phased cell development.
Strategic Fit:
COBA’s role exemplifies how high-value engineering partnerships can turn technical challenges into competitive advantages. At Neves-Corvo, COBA has not merely advised; it has co-enabled a tailings strategy that supports ongoing operations, future closure ambitions, and community trust—making it a cornerstone supplier in the mine’s sustainability infrastructure.