The closure of open pit mines poses a great challenge to the mining industry in South Africa. South Africa is currently battling a historic debt of R 30 billion because of mine abandonment. The monetary value is meagre compared to the actual damage experienced by the communities around the operations. This paper presents a study on improving open pit mine closure in South Africa. The paper unfolds with an overview of mine closure, highlighting the reasons and effects of these closures. Thereafter, the distinct factors that underpin successful open-mine closures are discussed in the South African context. Upon closer examination of the integrated closure plan's framework, it becomes apparent that this approach demands a substantial amount of capital investment. Despite this financial demand, the approach offers significant advantages, primarily by generating increased value through operational savings. However, it is important to note that implementing this approach necessitates dedicating additional time and resources to this specific aspect of the project. As a result, this approach is better suited for well-established mines that possess the resources to leverage and amplify future value creation. The outcome of the paper aims to contribute to the improvement of the open pit mine closure process in South Africa. This is depicted by the framework developed as a dynamic tracking tool that can be used by mining companies to focus on their long-term closure goals.
Introduction
The recent transition of the mining industry to sustainable development has necessitated a handful of policies to reflect the magnitude of concern the industry has developed. One of these policies is the integration of mine closure planning into the framework of the mine plan (ANZMEC, 2000). In the past, the mine closure plan had not been as important as the other stages of the mining life cycle which are exploration, development, and production (Laurence, 2006). Effectively, mine closure is the stage of the mining cycle that involves the cessation of operations, reclamation of mine sites, and rehabilitation of environmental and social damages (McHaina, 2010). However, this concept remains complex as an all-encompassing approach is required to consider the environmental conditions, regulatory environment, socio-economic, and stakeholders (ICMM, 2019). The paper will assess the possibility of optimising the current system based on methods that have been implemented in successful operations.
The closure process involves developing a mine closure plan that considers environmental, social, and economic factors. The closure plan should include strategies for the decommissioning of mining infrastructure, soil remediation, water management and revegetation (McHaina, 2010). Optimisation involves the identification of cost-effective closure methods and the integration of the closure planning into the overall mine planning process (Kabir, et al., 2015). Historical experience shows that the impact of open-pit mining in South Africa extends beyond economic and financial considerations, posing significant risks to local communities. Many communities now hold negative perceptions of mining companies, particularly due to past practices where resources were extracted without addressing long-term environmental and social consequences. This issue is especially critical in cases where environmental sustainability goals were not prioritised. Figures 1 and 2 illustrate examples of abandoned open-pit mines, highlighting the challenges caused by the lack of proper closure efforts.
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