Mine closure planning is the ongoing, integrated process by which a mining company systematically develops, refines, implements, and manages strategies to prepare for the eventual cessation of mining activities and the transition to a safe, stable, and sustainable post-mining landscape throughout the entire life of the mine — not just at the end of operations. Unlike the static mine closure plan document, mine closure planning is an active, iterative management discipline that recognizes that the conditions affecting closure outcomes — including ore reserves, operating life, environmental baselines, regulatory frameworks, stakeholder expectations, and rehabilitation science — are continuously changing and must be regularly reassessed. Best-practice mine closure planning in bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond mining integrates closure thinking into all phases of the asset lifecycle, from initial project design (closure-aware design, which seeks to minimize the long-term closure footprint) through construction, operations, and progressive rehabilitation. It involves multi-disciplinary collaboration between geotechnical, hydrogeological, environmental, social, financial, and engineering professionals, and requires active engagement with regulators, host communities, indigenous land custodians, and other stakeholders to ensure that closure outcomes reflect their aspirations and requirements. Progressive rehabilitation — the ongoing rehabilitation of disturbed areas concurrent with active mining, rather than leaving all rehabilitation to the end of mine life — is a key principle of good closure planning practice, as it reduces overall closure risk and cost, provides practical experience with rehabilitation techniques, and demonstrates good faith to stakeholders. Closure planning must also anticipate post-closure monitoring obligations, which may continue for decades or even centuries in the case of legacy acid mine drainage or TSF stability concerns.
