A mine closure plan is a formal, documented strategy that outlines how a mining company intends to safely, progressively, and responsibly decommission its operations, rehabilitate the land and surrounding environment, meet its social obligations to affected communities, and achieve a stable and self-sustaining post-mining state once ore extraction has ceased. It is a living document, developed at the pre-feasibility and feasibility stages of a project but regularly updated throughout the mine's operational life as conditions, regulatory requirements, and rehabilitation science evolve. A comprehensive mine closure plan for bauxite, gold, iron ore, or diamond operations typically addresses mine infrastructure decommissioning and demolition schedules; tailings storage facility (TSF) dewatering, capping, revegetation, and long-term stability assurance; open pit or underground void management; progressive land rehabilitation milestones and performance criteria; completion criteria defining the endpoint to be achieved before regulatory sign-off; water management obligations during and after closure; biodiversity offset commitments; socioeconomic transition strategies for affected workforces and dependent communities; grievance mechanisms and community engagement programs; financial provision and assurance mechanisms; and post-closure monitoring and maintenance plans. International guidance frameworks for mine closure planning include the ICMM's Integrated Mine Closure Good Practice Guide, the World Bank's mine closure guidelines, and the Towards Responsible Mining standard. The quality of closure planning has significant implications for a company's social licence to operate, its ability to secure financing, and its long-term legacy.
