Planning for Mine closure

Integrating environmental engineering principles into mine design to plan for closure and minimise environmental risk minimise environmental risk

Over the past decade, the mining industry and its regulators have increasingly embraced the concept that all mines should ulti- mately and from the outset be designed for closure. In the past, many mines have been unable to close due to significant and ongoing water quality issues and environmental impacts, some of which are expected to persist for hundreds of years. While costly treatment in perpetuity may be unavoidable for historical mines, such long-term legacy issues and their associated costs can be largely avoided if environmental engineering principles with a view to the transition to closure are integrated into mine planning at the design stage

Designing for minimal environmental risk represents the latest in leading practice for the mining industry with broad application in many other sectors. By seeking environmental management advice at the design stage, the potential long-term environmental impact of a mining operation can be significantly reduced before being ‘designed in’ to the project. Often this can be achieved through straightforward cost-neutral structural and operational changes. Not only does this approach minimise the risk of environmental impacts, it also minimises compliance and remediation costs as well as environmental bond requirements.

Perhaps the most important benefit of the integrated environ- mental engineering strategy, however, is its key role in assisting regulatory approval for new projects. Regulators in many juris- dictions now expect to see the integration of a consistent long- term environmental strategy into the mine plan spanning the construction, operation and post-closure phases. Strategic and pre-emptive regulator engagement is a pillar of the integrated environmental engineering approach, providing an understand- ing of local priorities and sensitivities against which the project will be assessed and greatly improving the likelihood of a posi- tive assessment. The engagement process also helps to establish a positive and constructive long-term relationship between the operator, its regulatory partners, and other stakeolders such as communities and financiers.

Leading practice

Regulators now expect to see the integration of a consistent long-term environmental strategy into the mine plan spanning the construction, operation and post-closure phases.

Environmental engineering at the project design stage can greatly reduce the cost and duration of short- and long-term water treatment and management, and avoid extremely costly remediation works on closure.

Integrated environmental engineering and regulator engagement can greatly improve the likelihood of a positive positive assessment and the project’s relationship with its regulators an dother stakeholders.

positive assessment and the project’s relationship with its regulators an dother stakeholder