Publication Name

MINING FOR CLOSURE

As a very foundation to all of this however, are the ex-

pectations that mine closure is to provide long-term

stabilization of the geochemical and geotechnical

conditions of the disturbed mining areas to protect

public health, and minimise and prevent any addi-

tional or on-going environmental degradation. As

such the base environmental expectations are

that

future public health and safety is not compromised

and

that

environmental resources are not subject to abnor-

mal physical and chemical deterioration

These fundamental expectations will not be par-

ticularly subject to change.

who should act and where?

These issues largely require the steady hand (or at

least the watchful eye) of good Government. The

fact remains that mining companies typically want

to serve their shareholders by developing mines,

achieving a good financial return for their owners,

then leave when production is finished – so that

they can continue their line of business elsewhere.

Communities on the other hand want to see wealth

and income opportunities created that will last over

time. It is the role of Government to ensure that

these somewhat disparate aims be made synergis-

tic. Tradeoffs must be made and they need to be fair

and amenable to all parties.

when should these actions be

taken?

The frameworks need to be put in place now. The

process of implementing, refining, remodelling

and negotiating must be ongoing throughout the

lives of mines.

6.6

the way forward

This document was created in order to present

principles, ideas and guidelines for mining policy

development, capacity development and institu-

tional development that can yield a sustainable mix

of social, economic, and environmental outcomes

in the South Eastern European region. It has been

generated in recognition of a fundamental divide

between the interests of mining companies who

typically wish to develop mines, achieve a good re-

turn for shareholders, then leave when production

is finished and the interests of the communities

who desire wealth and income opportunities cre-

ated in their midst that will last over time.

This said, this document has built a case for the

strategic relevance of

Mining for Closure

for both

the mining industry and for governments. Key ac-

tors on both sides clearly recognise that the very vi-

ability of the mining industry is challenged because

of high expectations for environmental protection,

desires for lower risk to human health, competing

land use demands, and the increasing value of the

natural environment as recreational space. The

survival of the mining industry AND sustainable

development of countries in SEE/TRB both require

a vibrant industry that society accepts.

The previous sections have documented a raft of

principles, ideas and guidelines. These address the

mining policy development, capacity development

and institutional development that need to be ad-

dressed in order to ensure the operation of existing

and new mining operations in order for cost-effec-

tive closure fulfilling acceptable sustainability re-

quirements can be achieved. Further, a wide range

of ideas for exploration are presented regarding the

re-mining or otherwise valorising of abandoned or

orphaned sites in order to make safe and/or reme-

diate and close them.

The earlier analysis and discussions have estab-

lished that the way forward must include

fostering of

institutional frameworks

for abandoned or orphaned

site management and sustainable mining practices

and minerals processing and that this will require

immediate and ongoing

capacity building for insti-

tutional actors

as well as significant

capacity build-

ing among industrial actors

. Pursuant to that, the

new skills and knowledge among institutional ac-

tors must be directed at key tasks of hazard and

risk-related uncertainty reduction

via focused infor-

mation collection and by

risk reduction works

abandoned or orphaned sites. Further, new skills

and knowledge applied within sound institutional

frameworks within all actors must be applied for

risk reduction at operational sites

and the

develop-

ment of new resources and re-mining activities

that are

aligned with sustainable development. All these

must include

dialogue with key stakeholders

such as

national and international NGOs, affected citizens,

and so forth.

This work outlines trends in the expectations of so-

ciety and the international community, the general

content, and the degree of international uptake of

best environmental and social practice in mining in

a range of jurisdictions. As such, this should serve

to guide National agencies responsible for mineral