Integrated mine closure planning adherence Index: a new approach for evaluating mine closure plans

Abstract

The evaluation of adherence to Integrated Mine Closure Planning (IMCP) contributes to improved closure risk management and strategy development, facilitating the achievement of desired closure outcomes and intended post-mining land use. IMCP should provide mining companies with an early identification of risks, build a positive legacy to affected communities, encompassing physical and chemical stability, socio-economic transition, and financial considerations. Based on international best practices and legal requirements for mine closure, an Integrated Mine Closure Planning Adherence Index (IMCPAI) was developed and applied to 8 closure plans from iron mines located in Brazil. The IMCPAI is a weighted checklist comprising 21 requirements, distributed across four categories: (i) knowledge base, (ii) integrated mine closure planning, (iii) stakeholder engagement and economic and social transition, and (iv) execution of closure actions. The performance of each category was evaluated, and the respective adherence level was calculated. The majority of the mines demonstrated a moderate adherence to IMCP evaluated. The integrated closure planning category achieved the best overall performance, suggesting a significant gap between theoretical principles and practical application of mine closure on the other analyzed categories. The IMCPAI proposed in the present study has the potential to enhance the quality of mine closure plans. It enables mining companies and interested parties to assess the efficacy of their IMCP strategies at the outset of a mine's operations, allowing adjustments and improvements in time to ensure the achievement of closure objectives.