New Paradigm for Mine Closure Planning
Mine closure has become the world issue. It is proven by many international conference such as “Mine Closure 2010 (MC10)” held on November 23rd-26th 2010 in Vina del Mar, Chile, a country which lately became the world’s interest because of its succeed in rescueing 33 miners who trapped inside underground mine.
This mine closure conference was the fifth conference held by The Australian Centre for Geomechanics and the Centre for Land Rehabilitation at the University of Western Australia and they plan to hold it in 2011 in Alberta, Canada. It was noted that there are 64 papers from 18 countries presented in the conference.
One of mine closure paradigm discussed in the conference is Legacy-based Framework for Mine Closure which came from stakeholders’ interest especially towards social and environmental effect caused by mining projects. The social and environmental effect is legacy of mining companies towards surrounding people. This legacy will be left and felt by surrounding people while companies will walk out from the area while trying to find new project in new place.
As a result of this business culture is that mine closure planning has evolved to a point in which social and environmental dimension are integrated inside every step of mine-life cycle. Mine closure planning is started from the first stage of every mining project and recently is known as inherent part from mining conceptual design.
Resource extraction business is based on utilization efficiency and minerals conversion in purpose of changing minerals becoming commodity. The main purpose of mine companies is capitalizing minerals value in maximizing return on investment. However, mine business continuity or more specifically mine companies, not only depend on shareholder value but also depend on companies’ reputation. A progressive mine closure planning has become main issue and main way for mine companies to defend reputation and achieve social license to operate.
Having good reputation will give many advantages and profit for companies. First is having easier access to financing. Mine project funding both equity and leverage will be helped by this good reputation. Second, good reputation will also help access to resources, such as land and water. The third advantage is access to labor.
Finally, important relevant message for stakeholders of Indonesian mining is in order to view mine closure planning by using new paradigm; mine closure planning has to become a media to minimize negative legacies and maximize positive legacies. (ESDM)
This mine closure conference was the fifth conference held by The Australian Centre for Geomechanics and the Centre for Land Rehabilitation at the University of Western Australia and they plan to hold it in 2011 in Alberta, Canada. It was noted that there are 64 papers from 18 countries presented in the conference.
One of mine closure paradigm discussed in the conference is Legacy-based Framework for Mine Closure which came from stakeholders’ interest especially towards social and environmental effect caused by mining projects. The social and environmental effect is legacy of mining companies towards surrounding people. This legacy will be left and felt by surrounding people while companies will walk out from the area while trying to find new project in new place.
As a result of this business culture is that mine closure planning has evolved to a point in which social and environmental dimension are integrated inside every step of mine-life cycle. Mine closure planning is started from the first stage of every mining project and recently is known as inherent part from mining conceptual design.
Resource extraction business is based on utilization efficiency and minerals conversion in purpose of changing minerals becoming commodity. The main purpose of mine companies is capitalizing minerals value in maximizing return on investment. However, mine business continuity or more specifically mine companies, not only depend on shareholder value but also depend on companies’ reputation. A progressive mine closure planning has become main issue and main way for mine companies to defend reputation and achieve social license to operate.
Having good reputation will give many advantages and profit for companies. First is having easier access to financing. Mine project funding both equity and leverage will be helped by this good reputation. Second, good reputation will also help access to resources, such as land and water. The third advantage is access to labor.
Finally, important relevant message for stakeholders of Indonesian mining is in order to view mine closure planning by using new paradigm; mine closure planning has to become a media to minimize negative legacies and maximize positive legacies. (ESDM)
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