Using Off-Site Construction as an Integral Component of Mining and Mineral Processing Site Closure Rehabilitation Planning

Abstract

Operators and owners must employ sustainable rehabilitation practices when closing mine and mineral processing sites.  Mine closure planning (MCP) must address regulatory and environmental obligations, and satisfy stakeholder expectations, regarding site rehabilitated conditions when operations cease.  While MCP is fundamental to mining life-cycles, inadequate efforts have led to failed rehabilitation and community conflicts over post-processing land use.  Increased application of off-site construction (OSC) methods, from initial mine planning and design stages onwards, can improve these outcomes.  Improved planning of decommissioning practices reduces long-term degradation, supports safer cleaner environments, and offers value-adding solutions to surrounding communities.  Drawing on themes extracted during semi-structured interviews with purposively sampled mining industry practitioners, experienced in surface mine closure planning and rehabilitation in Western Australia, closure recommendations and options, from development stages onwards are presented.  Key matters relate to regulatory guidance and governance; technical and environmental factors; and broader community considerations and accountability.  Future MCP should expand OSC utilisation to increase efficient and effective removal/re-use of mineral processing and supporting non-process infrastructure to improve environmental, social, and economic rehabilitation of the affected region.  A conceptual framework is presented to promote continuous improvement in MCP considerations throughout a mine’s life-cycle, together with specific OSC options.  Beyond the traditional transportation, construction and operations criteria, OSC-based designs offer improved decommissioning, reuse, re-application, re-location, and new ownership phase possibilities.  Increased application of OSC techniques can lead to better ecosystem recovery positions, ongoing land use and employment opportunities, and thus better local community acceptance, post mining cessation.