Publication: Mine Closure Standards and Improved Post-Closure Risk Management for Surface and Underground Coal Mines
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2025-04-16
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2025-04-16
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This document consists of a summary of best practice standards for coal mine closure and aftercare, complemented by a practitioner’s guide. In combination, these two modules can be used by coal enterprises, line ministries, technical agencies, as well as development partners, looking towards mine closures some 5-10 years ahead, to inform plans for closure, repurposing, and transition that have yet to be drafted. The document aims to serve as a benchmark and reference for the World Bank's coal transition engagements, providing global good practice guidance for coal enterprises and line ministries, as well as development partners. At the same time, the two modules serve as a risk-management tool in a type of engagement that is by its very nature characterized by a high environmental and social risk baseline. The two modules are designed to support the planning and implementation of mine closures, repurposing, and transitions in a forward-looking manner over the next 5-10 years. Additionally, the document functions as a risk-management tool, ensuring thorough understanding and management of environmental and social risks associated with coal mine closure and post-closure aftercare. These standards and guidance will be integrated into the World Bank's systematic coal transition approach, available to staff and clients. In conjunction with the Environmental and Social Framework (ESF), this work underscores the World Bank's commitment to proportionate due diligence and global knowledge sharing in coal mine closure practices.
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“World Bank. 2025. Mine Closure Standards and Improved Post-Closure Risk Management for Surface and Underground Coal Mines. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/43074 License: CC BY-NC 3.0 IGO.”
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Publication Towards Sustainable Decommissioning and Closure of Oil Fields and Mines : A Toolkit to Assist Government Agencies(Washington, DC, 2010-03)Globally, an increasing number of mines and hydrocarbon fields are nearing depletion, following decades of resource exploitation. These operations and the associated infrastructure will require complex and costly dismantling; technical and environmental restoration and rehabilitation measures; and socioeconomic investments to counteract retrenchment, post-closure economic downturns and other effects associated with the end of the project's productive life. The intent of this Toolkit is to serve as a resource to support the development of flexible but systematic regulatory approaches to key components of a sustainable decommissioning and closure planning and implementation process. 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Tool two environmental and social best practice and management systems describes how governments can contribute to the implementation of socio-environmental best practices leading to more sustainable decommissioning and closure, and incorporates guidance on the development of a conceptual closure plan. Tool three financial assurance mechanisms provides a roadmap for establishing (or enhancing) sufficient and reliable financial assurance for the extractives sectors, and provides alternatives and templates for further guidance. Tool four enforcements and monitoring emphasize the importance for governments of monitoring compliance with regulations and requirements during the planning and implementation of decommissioning and closure activities. 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It is an increasingly common requirement for the closure plan to contain details of the estimated cost of rehabilitation and for a financial surety to be established at the same time. This report aims to provide governments with the information they need to make their own informed decisions. It is based on a review of existing financial surety systems in a number of countries. Questionnaires were sent out to a total of fourteen regulatory authorities; of these, nine provided sufficient detail about their existing financial surety systems to be included as full case studies. These are presented in the section case studies along with a summary of the latest European Union (EU) waste directives. Except where otherwise stated, the financial surety applies to all stages of a mining project, regardless of size. 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Lessons drawn from the experiences of the Russian Federation (Russia), Ukraine, Poland, and Romania from 1994 to 2012, complemented by data on impacts of coal industry adjustment in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, and China, show that job losses not only take place as the industry contracts but even if production is increasing. The mitigation of social conflict and economic distress are of grave concern as globally the coal industry enters a new era of downsizing. The objective of this report is to share with governments lessons learned regardingcoal mine closure. Indeed, the full set of coal mine closure issues is diverse with few positive case studies to date to draw on. The complexity of technical issues and vested interests along with the myriad of potential risks which may unfold will require combining time-tested and new approaches, and applying a broad array of skills. In this issues paper, we have sought to identifylessons from the past that can guide policy makers for more successful future mine closures. Nine lessons learned are presented for government consideration, drawn from three sets of literature. First, analysis from coal industry adjustment and downsizing experiences in Russia, Ukraine, Poland, and Romania from 1994 to 2012 where interventions ranged from preparatory diagnosticand technical studies to planning and financing of eventual closure programs. Second, observations and insights on impacts from coal industry adjustment in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, the United States, and China. 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The authors examine the impact of mine closure on the entire community five years after mine closure in Romania, Russia, and Ukraine. Using quantitative and qualitative research methods and based on interviews with national, regional, and local experts, and members of the affected population, the authors describe the effect of mine closure and evaluate the various mitigation efforts that have been used by governments in such cases. They conclude with policy recommendations of broad relevance to programs of industrial restructuring in communities dominated by a single industry.Publication Enhancing Environmental and Social Sustainability of Mining in Armenia(Washington, DC, 2014-06-01)This paper aims to inform Armenia's policy dialogue on environmental and social issues in the mining sector. The paper is based on the premise that for the mining sector to have positive, long-term impacts in Armenia, it is necessary to take into consideration the short- and long-term environmental and social impacts of the sector and to promote strategic planning and efficient management of natural resources. The mining sector in Armenia has yet to adopt global best practices in this sector, and this paper aims to provide guidance on some of the mechanisms that can be adopted to improve the governance and overall impact of mining in the country. The document is structured as follows: chapter one presents an introduction to this thematic paper. Chapter two provides an overview of the mining sector in Armenia, including its underpinning institutional and regulatory framework. It also singles out policy gaps and regulatory inconsistencies that need to be addressed. Chapter three presents some useful lessons of the application of Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) as a tool for sustainable planning of mining development in the country. This chapter also compares uses of an SESA versus Environmental Impact Assessments and defines the need and use of Cumulative Impact Assessment (CIA). Chapter four describes the principles of valuation of natural capital as a means to complement traditional cost-benefit analysis and comparisons of development alternatives in the decision-making process. Chapter five looks at the design and implementation of benefit-sharing mechanisms to ensure that the mining activities lead to positive social impacts across the country. Chapter six looks at the process of determining and dealing with the social costs of mining in Armenia. Chapter seven provides a series of conclusions and recommendations as well as implementation challenges that will summarize the application of such recommendations in present-day Armenia and its mining sector.
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