ICMM's integrated mine closure

Challenge the practice is addressing: ICMM's Integrated mine closure: good practice guide offers guidance to members and other mining companies with the aim of promoting a disciplined approach to integrated closure planning and increasing the uniformity of best practices. As with the previous version, guidance is provided on critical aspects of mine closure through an iterative process, beginning with knowledge gathering, engagement and planning.

Concrete practice to achieve the expected goal: During this process, the key to success is to consider closure as an integral part of the mine's core business. This guide provides good practice guidance for mine closure planning and implementation, including: early definition of the closure vision, principles and objectives, implementation of various closure activities which will be monitored, implementation of progressive closure, planning and preparation for social transition to help reduce the negative impacts of social change, developing and updating a closure execution plan while ensuring adequate closure governance structures are in place, Periodic evaluation of appropriate ‘what-if’ scenarios during the mine life to help minimise the disruption caused by unplanned events and relinquishment of closed sites to a third party, which may not always be possible.

Expected impact/goal of the practice: Mine planning activities that incorporate a balanced closure approach will result in better health, safety, social, and environmental outcomes, as well as improved legal, governance, and human resource outcomes.

Who is the target user group of the practice/intervention or implementing the practice/intervention? This practice is relevant for both public policy and industry contexts.