Mine Closure and Post-Mining Transition

Minerals and metals are critical to the products and technologies of modern society. They are also vital for the shift to a low-carbon economy. For mining to be more sustainable, the industry must provide these natural resources without compromising the integrity of the environment or the well-being of local communities in the future. Well-planned and executed mine closure and post-mining transition can help achieve this goal.

Mining projects consistent with sustainable development principles ensure planning for closure and post-mine site use is present throughout the mine’s life cycle, which consists of five stages:

Mine planning: exploration and feasibility studies
Construction: establishing the mine site, from roads and processing facilities to environmental management systems
Operations: active production
Closure: completion of the mining operation, with closure and rehabilitation of the site
Post-mining transition: long-term maintenance and conversion of mine site for other uses.

We support policy-makers to implement policies for mine closure and post-mining transition through our capacity building, technical training, events, and publications consistent with our Mining Policy Framework. Our work in this area is focused on three aspects of closure governance.

Mine Closure Planning

Mine closure plans should be developed in active consultation with stakeholders and provide progressive rehabilitation for shared economic, environmental, and social benefits.

Financial Assurance

Adequate financial assurance policies allow governments to ensure closure can be funded to completion even if the mining company goes bankrupt or abandons the site.

Orphaned and Abandoned Mines

Governments, alongside all stakeholders, should take a leadership role in managing and mitigating legacy liabilities.

IGF Abandoned Mines Inventory and Risk Assessment Tool

This tool allows governments to complete a high-level inventory and risk assessment of abandoned mines. It is designed for jurisdictions that lack an existing inventory of abandoned mines and is the first step toward assessing challenges and developing remediation plans for them.

If you are interested in using this tool, please send a request to Secretariat@IGFMining.org. This project is supported by the German Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR).

Promoting Viable Closure and Post-Mining Policy Opportunities

It is essential that mine closure planning occurs in conjunction with mine planning and that decisions in the early stages are made with post-mining land use in mind.

The right decisions early in a mine’s life can lead to more closure options and better outcomes related to a community’s access to resources, water quality, biodiversity, and more.

Some of these outcomes include using closed mine sites to produce renewable energy to mitigate climate change and reduce dependence on fossil fuels and developing rigorous mine closure plans with precise closure cost estimates.

Post-mining transition builds trust in the sector, giving governments and local communities the confidence to know a mining project will be closed responsibly at the end of its operating life.

Resources

Abandoned Mines Inventory and Risk Assessment Tool

Tool to support governments to complete a high-level inventory and risk assessment of abandoned mines.

Abandoned Mines Management: A new IGF tool to take inventory and assess risks

Learn about the challenges and opportunities with abandoned mines and participate in a demonstration of IGF’s new abandoned mines inventory and risk assessment tool.

Mine Closure and Abandoned Mines Training for Namibia

A week-long training workshop focused on mine closure and abandoned mines for officials in Namibia.

National Workshop on Mining Site Closure and Rehabilitation in Burkina Faso

A 3-day workshop on mine closure and rehabilitation in Burkina Faso.

Diagnostic and Training on Environmental Management and Mine Closure in Tanzania

A week-long workshop for government officials with responsibility for the mining sector in Tanzania.

Closing Mines, Opening Futures: Fostering gender equality and achieving relinquishment

A webinar exploring how governments can ensure that gender considerations are integrated into mine closure and policy steps toward successful mine site relinquishment.

Integrating Gender Equality and Mine Closure: Actions for governments

A report on how mine closure and gender equality intersect and how governments can ensure that closure practices and policies integrate gender considerations.

Relinquishment of Closed Mine Sites: Policy steps for governments

This report reviews the concept of mine site relinquishment, scans global practices, and discusses challenges, key considerations, and policy steps.

Mine Closure Training for West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) in Ouagadougou

The IGF hosted a WAEMU training in Ouagadougou from June 19-22.

Inclusive Closure and Post-Mining Transition at the Golden Pride Mine, Tanzania

This case study of the Golden Pride open-pit gold mine in Tanzania provides good examples of how closure and post-mining transition can be done effectively and inclusively.

Indigenous Consultation and Mine Closure Workshop in Mexico

The IGF held a workshop in Mexico City focused on the topics of Indigenous consultation and mine closure.

Laying the Foundation for Mine Closure Legislation in Argentina

The IGF played an instrumental role in establishing national guidelines for mine closure policies in Argentina.

Mine Closure Readiness: Are governments and industry prepared?

Mine closure is a complex, multidisciplinary undertaking requiring several years of planning and a coordinated effort from government and industry stakeholders, ideally beginning at

Achieving a Successful Post-Mining Transition with Renewable Energy

This case study explores two examples where former mine sites were transformed into spaces to produce renewable energy in Canada and Germany.

Mine Closure Challenges for Government and Industry

For mining to be truly sustainable, the industry must provide natural resources without compromising the integrity of the environment or the well-being of local communities. Well-pl