BEST PRACTICES FOR SUSTAINABLE MINE CLOSURE

1. Comprehensive Closure Plans: A well-crafted closure plan outlines in detail how the site will transition from an active operation to a stable, safe, and productive post-mining landscape. This plan should consist of Landform Restoration (ensuring final slope angles are no steeper than 3:1 H:V for geotechnical stability), Waste Management and Remediation (including the use of geosynthetic liners or clay caps to prevent contamination), Soil Stabilization and Vegetation Recovery (with a minimum of 15 cm of topsoil for re-vegetation), and Rehabilitation of Water Resources, especially if the mining has impacted rivers, wetlands, or groundwater. Methods such as lime dosing or constructing passive treatment wetlands should also be considered to neutralize acid mine drainage.
2. Stakeholder Engagement: In the discourse on mine closure and land rehabilitation, one critical element often overlooked is the role of stakeholder engagement. While closure plans typically focus on technical components like backfilling, water management, and re-vegetation, they sometimes ignore the most important variable: people. Yet, mining happens in human landscapes, lands that are farmed, inhabited, and spiritually valued. When the mine shuts down, the community remains. They include host communities, local landowners, women’s associations, youth groups, civil society organizations, traditional leaders, and even employees and contractors who depend on mining for their livelihoods. Each of these groups has a unique interest in what happens to the land after mining ends, whether it will be used for farming, housing, conservation, tourism, or renewable energy projects. Genuine engagement means involving these groups early, consistently, and meaningfully.
3. Progressive Rehabilitation: One of the most effective, yet underutilized strategies in sustainable mining is progressive rehabilitation, a practice that involves restoring land in phases during the life of the mine, rather than waiting until mining operations are complete. This approach not only reduces the environmental footprint of mining but also lowers the financial and logistical burden of mine closure. This phased approach offers several key advantages. First, it spreads out the cost and labor associated with land restoration, making it more manageable for mining companies. Second, it provides an early opportunity to test and refine re-vegetation techniques, ensuring better outcomes when final closure arrives. Third, it allows for early ecological recovery, giving native plant species a head start in re-establishing themselves, and helping to prevent soil erosion and sedimentation in nearby rivers and streams.
4. Innovative Land Use: Forward-thinking governments and mining companies are reimagining closed mine sites as productive, sustainable assets that serve communities and ecosystems long after extraction ends. One of the most promising trends is the conversion of former mine lands into renewable energy hubs. Abandoned pits and tailings areas, often unsuitable for agriculture or settlement, can be ideal sites for solar or wind farms. These facilities require open, non-forested land and minimal subsurface disturbance conditions that many post-mining landscapes naturally provide. In regions with strong ecological or cultural tourism potential, ecotourism is another emerging land-use model. Abandoned quarries and open pits can be converted into scenic lakes, rock-climbing parks, or wildlife reserves. These sites often attract tourists, researchers, and conservation groups while creating jobs for residents. For example, Thailand’s Lampang Coal Mine was transformed into a botanical garden and learning center, which now hosts thousands of eco-tourists annually [5]. Another option is aquaculture and water storage. Mined-out pits that fill with rainwater or groundwater can be lined and managed as fish farms or irrigation reservoirs. In Ghana, mining pits have been repurposed for fish farming, known as “Solar fish farm enterprise” [6], supplying local markets and generating new livelihoods.
5. Monitoring and Aftercare: Post-closure monitoring should involve a series of structured activities designed to track the physical, chemical, biological, and social performance of the reclaimed site. It includes inspecting reclaimed slopes for erosion, testing soil and water quality, observing vegetation growth, and ensuring that tailings or waste storage facilities remain intact and contained. Monitoring should be carried out quarterly during the first two years, then annually, and should include parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), heavy metals (e.g., lead, arsenic), and suspended solids. Without this oversight, even well-executed rehabilitation efforts can fail due to unexpected weather events, subsurface instability, or chemical leakage. Importantly, monitoring must also be transparent and accountable. Data should be shared openly with local stakeholders, environmental agencies, and the general public. Interactive dashboards, community notice boards, and stakeholder review meetings can help maintain visibility and build confidence in the rehabilitation process.