During the three days of the 5th International Congress on Mine Closure Planning, SMI-ICE-Chile researchers solidly demonstrated how knowledge is advancing to design and prepare mine closures.
The Planning for Closure 2024 forum, organized by Gecamin, brought together executives, professionals and scholars to learn about and analyse strategies and tools for mine planning from a project’s initial stage and throughout the life of a mine.
SMI-ICE-Chile was one of the event’s four organizers, which on this occasion brought together representatives from 50 mining operations and 13 countries.
Our General Manager, Francisca Rivero, was one of the main speakers on opening day. As an expert in social performance and resource governance, she highlighted the growing importance of the socio-cultural component and multidisciplinary work in mine closure.
She asked, “What impact will the mining industry have over the next few years when closure processes begin in our country? What challenges will we face? Perhaps tailings spills due to the absence of advance planning or lax management? Social conflicts among local stakeholders due to loss of employment? Impoverished families and the loss of social investment led by the company?» She then added, “Or are we rather going to find success stories, where closing an operation involves collaboration, value creation and a sustainable development approach to the territory? Whatever scenario or scenarios we see in the near future, these issues are critical when we look at a mine closure,» she stressed, «and therefore all of us here can shape the outcome we want to create.
She also mentioned three important aspects that must be discussed in greater depth: «Development and innovation efforts are focused on exploration and mining, relegating the closure phase to a very secondary place,» she said. «Mine closures offer great opportunities for all parties involved, so communication and engagement with all stakeholders is key for integrated planning. And, thirdly, this integration process requires governance that incorporates social, physical, environmental and financial aspects, and also the visions and expectations of stakeholders, such as affected communities and regulators… We need to build a language of closure, and that is why we want to invite them to construct this narrative, incorporating aspects such as transitions, land use rights of original owners, transformation and territorial development based on respect for human rights, environmental rehabilitation and heritage conservation. This helps avoid a narrative based on the fear of the uncertainty of closure.»
Next, Jacques Wiertz, a researcher at SMI-ICE-Chile and the technical director of Planning for Closure 2024, reinforced the importance of good planning, stressing the need to learn from both mine closure success stories and failures.
«Unfortunately, mining liabilities resulting from unplanned mine closures continue to stain the image of the mining industry,» he said. «Today, all mining projects have a closure plan that guarantees the chemical and physical stability of the facilities at closure. However, now we want to go much further, looking at how to leave a positive legacy at closure, not only economically, but also socially and environmentally. Many of us will not be around when the mine closures we are planning today take place. … It will be our children and grandchildren who will judge how responsible we have been in designing and preparing closure plans for the mines that we are opening and operating today.»
The following research teams participated as SMI-ICE-Chile speakers:
- Daniela Rubilar: «The Challenges of Social Investment: Planning in Scenarios of Mine Closure». (Authors: Daniela Rubilar, Francisca Rivero, Nigel Wight, Camila Cabrera and Catalina Bravo:
- María Paz Valenzuela: «Nature-Based Solutions for the Closure and Rehabilitation of Metal(loid)-Contaminated Mining Land.» (Authors: María Paz Valenzuela, David Rubinos, Daniela Gamboa, Dilan Campos, Felipe Saavedra, SMI-ICE-Chile; and Noller and Mansour Edraki, Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, SMI-ICE-Chile Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation (CMLR), Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia).
- Pablo Bustos: «Phytostabilization Potential of Native Plant Species in Soils Impacted by Mining Activities.” (Authors: Pablo Bustos, María Paz Valenzuela, Daniela Gamboa, Dilan Campos, David Rubinos and Felipe Saavedra).
- Jacques Wiertz: «Tailings Storage Facilities Closure: Threats and Challenges.» (Authors: Jacques Wiertz, Dilan Campos, David Rubinos and Felipe Saavedra).
- Anita Parbhakar-Fox Group Leader - Mine Waste Transformation through Characterization, Sustainable Minerals Institute, The University of Queensland, Australia: «Unlocking Circular Economy Opportunities for The Mining Sector.»
In the activities leading up to the congress, they also presented virtually:
- «Moving Towards Passive Mine Closure», Douglas Aitken, Felipe Saavedra, Daniela Gamboa, Jacques Wiertz, SMI-ICE Chile, (Authors: Douglas Aitken, Felipe Saavedra, Daniela Gamboa, Jacques Wiertz, Claudia Ortiz, USACH, Chile; Yasna Tapia, Universidad de Chile; Carolina Parodi, Metropolitan Technological University; Peter Erskine, University of Queensland, Australia; and Oliver Maurer, WSP and Red NICOLE Latin America).
- «Approach to the Social Closure of Mines: Challenges and Opportunities«, Francisca Rivero, Nigel Wight, Katrina Matamala, Dante Choque, Camila Cabrera and Catalina Bravo, SMI-ICE Chile.
