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Mine Closure

Planning for Mine Closure

Perth, Western Australia, June 2007

ACG Course Number: 0705

Presenters: D. Anstey (Golder Associates Pty Ltd), B. Biggs (Valback EMS), G. Campbell (Graeme Campbell & Associates Pty Ltd), S. Clark (Department of Environment and Conservation), G. Cobby (Department of Industry and Resources), A. Fourie (ACG), J. Hall (Aquaterra), C. Hinz (The University of Western Australia), D. Jasper (Outback Ecology), H. Jones (Golder Associates Pty Ltd), H. Lacy (Outback Ecology Services), C. Lane (Coffey Mining Pty Ltd), S. Mackenzie (Outback Ecology Services), M. Tibbett (Centre for Land Rehabilitation), M. Woolley (URS Sydney), B. Wylynko (Clayton Utz).

Readership: The conception of a closure plan at the start of a mining operation and the operation of a facility with final closure in mind can both contribute significantly to reductions in the cost of final closure. This seminar investigated issues to be considered throughout the life of the mine, such as making adequate financial provision, managing mining waste and water appropriately, and incremental rehabilitation that can all contribute to reducing final closure costs.

Mine Closure – Towards Sustainable Outcomes

Perth, Western Australia, August 2004

ACG Course Number: 0405

Presenters: R. Jewell (ACG), B. Biggs (DoIR), S. Daddo (Freehills), S. Clark (DoE), J. White (Aquaterra), R. Marshall (Ross's Auctioneers), M. Slight (Newmont), H. Jones (Golder Associates), H. Lacy (Outback Ecology), D. Koontz (Aquaterra), D. Elias (GHD), C. Hinz (UWA), D. Jasper (Outback Ecology), C. Lane (Coffey Geosciences), G. Campbell (Graeme Campbell & Associates), G. May (Newmont), S. Davey (DoIR), I. Zlatnik (Sons of Gwalia)

Readership: The seminar was directed at personnel with budget responsibilities in mine planning, developing feasibility studies for mine completion, and indeed to all mine managers, superintendents and operators. 

Planning for mine closure should commence during the feasibility study phase if 'relinquishment' of a minesite is to be achieved at a minimum effort and cost. This seminar was structured to cover mine closure planning as a process and to introduce practical examples so that the experiences of those engaged in 'closing' sites could be shared. Case studies of mines that have been relinquished (or working towards achieving this goal) formed a major part of the seminar.

Sustainable Development in Practice

Perth, Western Australia, August 2002

ACG Course Number: 0207

Presenters: Russell Williams (Alcoa), Hugh Jones (Golder Associates), Murray Eagle (BHP Billiton), Bill Biggs (MPR), Warren Tacey (DEP), Doug Koontz (Aquaterra), Tony van Merwyck (Freehills), Gary Bentel (WMC), Stephen Davis (ConGo), Harley Lacy (Outback Ecology), David Button (AurionGold), Peter Ashton (Wesfarmers), Jeni Alford (Placer Pacific), John Gardner (Alcoa), Gavin Price (BHP Billiton), John Allan (Newcrest).

Readership: The seminar was directed at personnel with budget responsibilities in mine planning and in developing feasibility studies for mine completion, and indeed to all mine managers, superintendents and operators.

Planning for mine closure should commence during the feasibility study phase if "relinquishment" of a mine site is to be achieved at minimum effort and cost. This seminar was structured to cover mine closure planning as a process and to introduce practical examples so that the experiences of those engaged in "closing" sites could be shared.

The broad objectives of any acceptable closure plan will be to leave the site safe, stable, non-polluted and aesthetically acceptable. The challenge is to establish measurable criteria and limits against which progress can be assessed. The seminar provided a forum for both regulators and industry personnel to outline the conditions in which they operate to enable all parties to understand the environment influencing current closure planning.
A series of case studies of mines that have been relinquished (or are close to achieving that goal) were a key part of the seminar, as was the workshop session in which small groups were tasked with developing and critically discussing completion plans for real and hypothetical situations.

Planning for Mine Closure – An Operator’s Guide

Perth, Western Australia, December 2000

ACG Course Number: 2009

Presenters: Bob Adam (Mining & Resource Techn.), Bill Biggs & Tony Webster (DME), Phil Davidson (Straits), Brian Foley (Alcoa), Chris Swindells (Golder Associates), Bob Allan (Homestake), Gavin Price (BHP Minerals), Mark Robertson (CME), Harley Lacy & Michael Boisvert (Outback Ecology), Alan Wright (Water & Rivers), Ron Watkins (Curtin Univ.), Garry Willgoose (University of Newcastle).

Readership: Personnel with budget responsibilities in mine planning and in developing feasibility studies, and indeed to all mine managers, superintendents and operators.

This seminar was structured to cover mine closure planning as a process and to introduce practical examples such that the experiences of those engaged in "closing" sites could be shared. The broad objectives of any acceptable closure plan is to leave the site safe, stable, non-polluting and aesthetically acceptable. The challenge is to establish measurable criteria and limits against which progress can be assessed. The seminar provided a forum for both regulators and industry personnel to outline the conditions in which they operate to enable all parties to understand the environment influencing current closure planning. A series of case studies of mines that have been relinquished (or are close to achieving that goal) were a key part of the seminar.

Mine Closure for Decision Makers

Perth, Western Australia, June 2000

ACG Course Number: 2006

Presenters: Mauricio Athie (World Bank IFC), Bill Biggs (DME WA), Graeme Hunt (BHP), Hugh Jones (Golder Associates), Tony Pooley (DMQ Consulting), Ian Satchwell (Centre of Minerals & Energy WA), Dean Williams (Homestake USA).

Readership: This seminar was tailored for senior mining personnel such as CEOs, mine managers and mill superintendents responsible for the safety and economic issues related to mine closure.

This seminar presented and addressed the following issues surrounding Mine Closure:

  • What are the issues facing corporate executives when making mine closure decisions.
  • Why are we here?
  • Where is the current thinking in Australia today? (government, community and industry / stakeholder perspectives).
  • The International Perspective (international practice, financial planning, international expectations).
  • Real world mining examples (good and bad examples).
  • Vision; and
  • Where to from here?

The driver was the discussion paper on a "Strategic Framework for mine closure" currently in draft prepared by a joint ANZMEC/MCA working group. It is anticipated that this document will provide direction for regulators and operators nationally once it is finalised.