Mine closure commencing alongside business analysis

Abstract

Anthropic activities impact more than 70% of the Earth's surface (IPCC, 2020). Historically, mining has modified landscapes, and its impacts have been the subject of numerous studies. It is estimated that globally, mining occupies five million hectares (Maus et al., 2020). In Brazil, mining covers approximately 366,000 hectares and is present in 459 municipalities, accounting for 8% of Brazilian municipalities (MapBiomas, 2021). There is no doubt about the mining sector's responsibilities towards the territories and communities affected by its activities. The market, shareholders, government, and society demand sustainable and restorative mining practices, making the practice of mine abandonment currently unacceptable. Mining companies have access to a set of guidelines and laws that guide mine closure to stabilize mining areas after operations. Based on these guiding instruments, Brazil is on its way to developing expertise in mine closure. However, it is necessary to incorporate actions beyond established in Brazilian law, such as utilizing ICMM tools and applying ISO standards, to align with corporate strategies, commitments, and market regulations. Through strategic basic research, our study considers mine closure as an opportunity for the mining sector to contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation solutions. It also has the potential to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals by promoting shared value. We believe that acting in the local social and environmental context is essential for the sustainable development of mining projects. Our findings indicate that starting the approach to mine closure together with business analysis enables the maximization of opportunities and the reduction of risks. As the mining project progresses, mine closure becomes more robust, allowing the implementation of closure criteria and strategies throughout the entire lifespan of the project. The inclusion of closure criteria and concepts in the FEL 1 stage allows for aligning the project development activities in such a way that future closure opportunities are expanded, ensuring greater sustainability of mining operations. In the subsequent stages of the project and operation, the criteria and concepts should be checked to ensure a better alignment with the initial vision.