Publication Name

MINING FOR CLOSURE

significant risks associated at sites of mining or

minerals processing that are operational via capac-

ity building for existing economic actors and indus-

trial activities. A key part of this will be the develop-

ment of an effective and efficient approach to the

funding of closure that enables mine rehabilitation

and other environmental, social or economic objec-

tives to be achieved, and also facilitates and encour-

ages industry to comply with the requirements of

Government and the community.

Action area 3: development of new resources

and re-mining aligned with sustainable develop-

ment

– actions that can stimulate development

of institutional capacity, a culture of risk control,

and markedly improved operational procedures

throughout the region to create a norm of mine

planning that encompasses mine closure plans as

an integral part of a project life cycle. These shall

be designed so as to ensure that: future public

health and safety are not compromised; environ-

mental resources are not subject to physical and

chemical deterioration; the after-use of the site is

beneficial and sustainable in the long term; any

adverse socio-economic impacts are minimized;

and to ensure that socio-economic benefits are

maximized.

Action area 4: fostering of institutional frameworks

for abandoned or orphaned site management and

sustainable mining and minerals processing prac-

tice

– further development of legislative frame-

works addressing mining and minerals processing

legacies; clear accountability (and jurisdictional

remit) for the environmental, social and economic

aspects of mining and minerals processing activi-

ties in the region; and the further development of

institutions supporting transboundary risk man-

agement and/or disaster response.

As such, and as previously indicated, this document

is intended to support “back to mining” initiatives.

It will do so via the provision of basic ingredients or

principles for the future generation of guidelines for

mining within the SEE/TRB region and TRB. The

actors that this document addresses and the general

manner of intended application are detailed in Sec-

tion 3. Prior to that material however, the next sec-

tion will outline why actors such as the international

mining community, national mining jurisdictions

in leading mining nations, inter-governmental en-

vironmental bodies and international development

agencies consider

Mining for Closure

and the issue of

abandoned or orphaned sites to be so important to

sustainable development around the world.

Tailings contaminated stream after tailings release

– Macedonia

Photograph by UNDP, Macedonia