Publication Name

MINING FOR CLOSURE

by mining and mining related activities to the

sta-

tus quo ante

. This entails the removal, demolition

and rehabilitation not merely of the mining infra-

structure but also of support infrastructure, such as

mining towns, hostels, the associated roads, metal-

lurgical plants, sewage works and mining recrea-

tional facilities (Reichardt, 2002, p 2B-2). As such,

the achievement of a mine site status is suggested

in Figure 4.1. This illustrates a cyclic use of land

and its reclamation with the site being returned to

a self-sustainable land use.

This however, may not always be consistent with

expectations regarding the socio-economic status

enfolding the site post-closure – factors this docu-

ment has already highlighted as important among

planning expectations. Nor may it always be eco-

nomical – both these are topics discussed in the

next section. Before this, however this discussion

shall address some socio-economic aspects of mine

site closure.

Figure 4.1

Long term developed self-sustaining con-

ditions for land

The

socio-economic expectations

include at least the

following:

the after-use of the site is beneficial and sus-

tainable in the long term;

adverse socio-economic impacts are mini-

mized; and

socio-economic benefits are maximized.

Successful mine planning for environmental pro-

tection avoids or minimises potentially adverse en-

vironmental impacts over the life of the mine and

into the future by carefully considering the layout

and design of the various components of a mine.

The process must integrate community expecta-

tions and concerns, governmental requirements,

and profitability of the mining project, while min-

imising environmental impacts (Environment

Australia, 2002b).

While the challenges of integrating community

expectations and concerns, governmental require-

ments and profitability all while minimising en-

vironmental and social impacts are relevant in

all settings, they are particularly so in developing

countries and in economies in transition. This is

particularly relevant when national fiscal reserves

and/or welfare systems are minimal or non-exist-

ent as in such settings. Greater innovation and flex-

ibility is likely to be required in such jurisdictions

than is required in more developed economies.

As one example of this, in developing and transi-

tional economies, the removal, demolition and re-

habilitation not only of the mining infrastructure

but also of support infrastructure may be far less

appropriate than in other settings. In countries

desperately short of infrastructure such as houses,

social service facilities and roads, such facilities rep-

resent potentially valuable assets for the communi-

ties in which they are located (Reichardt, 2002).

Innovative uses, if such can be found for them,

may represent a favourable development pathway.

Similarly, if on mine closure it is found that passive

or active care must be maintained (such as ongoing

maintenance of waterways etc), then it may be nec-

essary or appropriate to reclaim to an alternative

developed land use. It is likely that in such cases

custodians will be present on the site (i.e. utilising

the land) in the long term and have incentives to ac-

tively care for the land. To avoid the establishment

and management of the “trust fund” and any long

term financial risks associated with such funds,

Robertson (1998) indicates that it is desirable to

develop a post mining sustainable land-use which

yields an adequate return. Such economic yields

can form the basis of such incentives.

This is one topic addressed in the next section of

this discussion and also taken up in Section 5.1.2.

Self

sustaining

condition

Mine

development &

operation

Mine

rehabilitation

After

Robertson,

Devenny &

Shaw (1998)

80. Gilles Tremblay of Natural Resources Canada (personal com-

munication: Natural Resources Canada, 2005, 2 August) reports

that one item being examined in Canada is to employ local com-

munities to perform monitoring and so forth after the mine per-

sonnel have left the site in order to maintain long-term care. In a

Canadian context, he indicates that aboriginal groups in the north

would need training on what to look for, that they would be lo-

cated close by, and that they would require access to emergency

telephones etc to contact the owners in case of problems.

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