Reis, M, Aragão, G & Ribeiro, I 2025, 'Challenges of mine closure due to asbestos banning', in S Knutsson, AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2025: Proceedings of the 18th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-7, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2515_88
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/2515_88_dos_Santos_Reis/)
Abstract: The use of asbestos is a controversial issue that raises significant concern within society. Because of this, asbestos mining has been banned in several countries around the world. In Brazil, where the mineral domestic consumption was prohibited some years ago, there is the potential need for asbestos mines to suddenly close due to a legal determination. Although maintaining the operation of an asbestos mine demands a series of measures to mitigate associated impacts, its closure should also be carried out with special attention due to potential risks, and environmental and socio-economic aspects must be considered.
It is important that the operator has enough time to produce necessary information, as well as to provision the financial resources required to execute closure activities. This period is also beneficial for the community, which seeks a smoother transition from a scenario in which mining represents a significant employment source to one in which it does not exist.
Understanding the risks associated with sudden closure and considering them when making decisions about the project’s lifecycle are fundamental steps in the process as they contribute to a post-closure scenario with greater socio-economic sustainability and a lower risk of environmental liabilities.

Keywords: asbestos mine closure, legal closure challenges, post-mining socio-economic sustainability, environmental liability