Finucane, S, Soeprapto, P, Wiryanto, K & Ainscough, T 2011, 'Challenges and opportunities for mine closure planning in Indonesia', in AB Fourie, M Tibbett & A Beersing (eds), Mine Closure 2011: Proceedings of the Sixth International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 393-402, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_rep/1152_42_Finucane
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/1152_42_Finucane/)
Abstract: There has been increased focus on mine closure planning and implementation in Indonesia in recent years due to a range of company initiatives and government triggers such as the introduction of government regulations regarding mine reclamation and closure. However, the Indonesian mining industry faces continuing challenges in mine closure as a result of past practices as well as contemporary issues. These challenges relate not only to the country’s regulatory framework, but also to the complexity of environmental, cultural and socio-economic issues in Indonesia today.
Until 2008, there had been little guidance on government expectations for mine closure in Indonesia other than limited reference in a Contract of Work agreement between the Government of Indonesia and a mining company. A process to address this deficiency was triggered by the Indonesian Government in 2000 and culminated in the issuance of a ministerial decree regarding reclamation and mine closure in 2008 and a government regulation regarding the same in 2010. Mining companies have been working to meet these requirements, with varying degrees of success. 
In addition to regulatory considerations, mining companies operating in Indonesia face myriad technical, environmental, socio-economic, cultural challenges in relation to mine closure. This is not surprising given the country’s geographic, demographic and ecological diversity, which gives rise to widely varying approaches to the management of these issues. Drawing on examples from a number of mining operations, this paper provides an overview of some of the key mine closure planning challenges and opportunities currently facing mining companies in Indonesia.