Mining for Closure: Policies, practises and guidelines for sustainable mining and closure of mines

Tailings dam failure – Los Frailes, Spain Unknown photographer

Within this document, and within the bounds de- fined earlier in this section, it is also held that all this needs to be achieved so that future public health and safety are not compromised; environmental re- sources are not subject to (abnormal) physical and chemical deterioration in the long term ; and that the after-use of the site is beneficial and sustainable in the long term . It should be noted that in many countries, plan- ning for closure or Mining for Closure , as we shall call it, is a relatively new concept. Further, rapidly changing economic conditions, particularly in economies in transition such as those in SEE/TRB, have led to mine closures (and/or “mothballing”) in the absence of adequate planning (Smith & Un- derwood, 2000). The challenge for such countries is added to by the fact that, while the broad consensus outlined above exists, there is not yet “agreement” among all actors upon what it is that actually constitutes mine closure or integrated mining approaches . This is especially true in developing economies and in economies in transition. By working on these challenges together, all stakeholders can seek to address the adverse legacy problems and prevent them in the future. With careful planning, a mine can become an engine for sustainable economic development beyond its own life (Post Mining Al- liance, 2005).

document, must still be keep in mind. Moreover, many mines have been operational for long periods of time and as van Zyl et al underline (2002a), while mines in planning stage have maximum freedom to address sustainable development goals during closure and while those that are in the middle of their operating life have significant opportunities to do so, operating mines that are close to the end of their economic life have limited options available. As such, there appears to be a broad consensus among actors responsible for governance of mining, NGOs with interest in mining, academics study- ing mining, senior financial institutions financing mining projects, and a body of leading miners, that planning for closure should ideally start during the pre-feasibility stage of a mining project. Further, these actors hold that it is clear that successful mine planning for closure avoids or minimises potentially adverse environmental and social impacts over the life of the mine and into the future by carefully con- sidering the layout and design of the various compo- nents of a mine. Similarly there is broad consensus that a thorough understanding of site specifics, not least the geochemistry of materials present on sites (particularly mine wastes) is critical to success. Fur- ther, there is agreement that the process of operat- ing and closing mines must integrate community expectations and concerns, governmental require- ments, and profitability of the mining project, while also minimising environmental impacts.

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MINING FOR CLOSURE