About the project

The University of Ostrava, together with the Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic, are proud partners of the international project SAFETY4TMF, which aims to enhance the safety of tailings management facilities (TMF) and reduce associated risks in the Danube River Basin.

Tailings facilities are reservoirs where mining waste—such as sludge containing metals or chemicals—is stored. If not properly secured, they can become sources of serious accidents that threaten nature and human health. There are over 300 such facilities in the Danube region, and past events have shown how devastating their failures can be—such as Baia Mare (2000, Romania) or Kolontár (2010, Hungary).

The project connects 17 organizations from 9 countries and is part of the priority activities of the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) in the field of environmental risks. It focuses on prevention, preparedness, and disaster management through collaboration among authorities, municipalities, emergency services, scientific institutions, and other key stakeholders.

Together, we develop and test practical solutions in the areas of risk modeling, spatial planning, monitoring, and crisis coordination, which contribute to improving TMF safety and enhancing policies at local, national, and international levels.

Project duration: January 1, 2024 – June 30, 2026

Supported by the Interreg Danube Programme, co-financed by the European Union.

Updated: 19. 05. 2025