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Rio Tinto Research Fellow CEPMLP, University of Dundee: Leon Gerber
Rio Tinto Research Fellow CEPMLP, University of Dundee: Leon Gerber
Rio Tinto Research Fellow CEPMLP, University of Dundee: Leon Gerber
4. Why we do it differently
5. How we do it
7. Recent example
8. Further reading
9. Questions
1. Overview
• Mines only have a limited lifespan.
Two aspects:
• Actions and measures “to leave a mine site in a condition which is safe and
stable, limiting further environmental impact” after the end of the operations
(whatever the causes of that end: natural depletion, sudden interruption due to
economic reasons, etc.)
• In 1983, the proposed Cinola Gold Mine located on the Queen Charlotte Islands off
the coast of northern British Columbia was one of the first mine projects to be
conceived using a ‘design-for-closure’ concept
http://www.carc.org/pdfs/NMPWorkingPaper1BowmanandBaker.pdf
http://www.anthonyhodge.ca/publications/Post_Mining_Regeneration.pdf
• Prevention
• mine closure plans to be approved prior to operations
• inspection and strict control of measures towards closure throughout all of operative
cycle,
• stringent system of enforcement and sanctions,
• adequate terms of prescription,
• periodic review of the plan, etc.
Feasibility
Construction
Increasing Operations
detail (Concurrent rehab)
Detailed closure
planning
Mine life cycle
Decommissioning
Stakeholder input
Reproduced from ICMM: Planning for Integrated Mine Closure Toolkit
Transition to closure
Closure
Post-closure
Relinquishment
5. How we do it (3)
Preparation for practical closure
• Large number of South African mines have reached maturity and is looking
towards closure.
Constitution of the Republic of
South Africa 1996
Section 24(a): “...everyone has the right to an environment that which is not
harmful to his or her health and well-being”.
National Environmental Management
Act, 1998
• Section 2: “The costs of remedying pollution, environmental degradation and
consequent adverse health effects and of preventing, controlling or minimising
further pollution, environmental damage or adverse health effects must be paid
for by those responsible for harming the environment”.
• Section 28: Every person* who causes, has caused or may cause significant
pollution or degradation of the environment must take reasonable measures to
prevent such pollution or degradation from occurring, continuing or recurring, or,
in so far as such harm to the environment is authorised by law or cannot
reasonably be avoided or stopped, to minimise and rectify such pollution or
degradation of the environment.
• Section 33: Private prosecution in the public interest; or in the interest of the
protection of the environment.
• Section 38: Provides for the application of integrated environmental management and
the responsibility to remedy.
• Section 38(2): Makes provision to keep directors of companies or members of closed
corporations liable for any damage, degradation or pollution caused by the company or
closed corporation which they represent or represented.
• Section 41: Makes financial provision for the remediation of environmental damage.
• Section 42: Makes provision for the management of residue stockpiles and deposits.
• Section 43: Provides for the issuing of a closure certificate.
• Section 44: Provides for the retainment or removal of buildings and structures.
• Sections 45: Provides for the Minister to take urgent remedial action pertaining to
environmental degradation and pollution and to recover costs in this regard.
• Section 46: Provides for the Minister to rehabilitate abandoned and ownerless
mines/dumps and to register such sites in the title deeds of land and to transfer the
liability for maintaining the rehabilitation work being undertaken to the responsible
landowner.
Mineral and Petroleum Development
Act, 2002
The MPRDA, 2002 also provides for the implementation of a social and labour
plan. The purpose and objectives of such plans are to:
• Integrate and manage the social, economic and environmental impacts of mining
within all the phases of a mine, until closure
• Avoid job losses and mitigate social and economic impacts on individuals should
a mine close prematurely or at the closure of mines
• Avoid the establishment of settlements, which cannot be sustained after the
closure of mines.
When things go wrong.. Flooding
in KOSH
•Four separate mines in close proximity
in Klerksdorp, Orkney, Stilfontein and
Hartebeesfontein (KOSH area).
• On whose shoulders should the pumping responsibility lie when one mine closes
down?
• Currently water continues to be pumped to the surface at the upper shaft, before
being piped to the local water service provider – creating subsequent revenue
stream.
8. Further Reading
• International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) – Planning for integrated Mine Closure
Toolkit
http://www.icmm.com/page/9568/planning-for-integrated-mine-closure-toolkit
• International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) – Sets out sustainability
standards, as applicable to mine closure
http://www.iied.org/
• International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) – Accounting and Disclosure Model for
Extractive Activities
http://www.ifrs.org/Current+Projects/IASB+Projects/Extractive+Activities/Summary.htm