Pollett, EA 2009, 'Mine closure — participatory stakeholder engagement and socio-economic closure planning for community sustainability in the context of an uncertain future', in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2009: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 417-428, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/908_31
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/908_31_Pollett/)
Abstract: The preparation of environmental management plans to address the long-term effects of mining on the 
biophysical environment, rehabilitation and mine closure has now become best practice and the subject of 
mining authorisations. There is increasing recognition that there is a need for socio-economic closure 
planning at the outset, similar to that currently required for environmental management and rehabilitation. 
Stakeholder engagement and social management plans are key tools to ensure that adequate attention is 
given throughout the mine life cycle to the long-term effects of mine closure on affected communities and 
their socio-economic environment. Public consultation and transparency throughout the planning and 
implementation process are prerequisites for building mutually beneficial partnerships to deal with social 
change associated with mine development and eventual closure, and for ensuring sustainable community 
development in the context of an uncertain future.  
Mining is commonly a catalyst for local economic development and in remote areas often becomes the  
pre-dominant ‘economic engine’ of the region. However, minerals are a wasting resource, and there is a 
need to plan early on for ways in which to use the window of opportunity provided by mining to diversify the 
local economy so that it can provide a foundation for community sustainability in the longer term. This is 
particularly important where there is a high level of dependence on the mining sector. 
This paper addresses approaches to stakeholder engagement and socio-economic closure planning, drawing 
on the International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Policy and Performance Standards on Social and 
Environmental Sustainability and experience with various mining projects in sub-Saharan Africa. In 
particular, reference is made to Sadiola Gold Mine in Mali which provides many lessons learned over a 
14 year period. This includes a comprehensive ongoing stakeholder engagement and planning process with 
key role players, including local communities and civil society; local, regional and national government; the 
mine; international non-government organisations (NGOs) and the IFC. In particular, successful use has 
been made of participatory land use planning processes to address key spatial aspects, including  
(i) maximising the protection of limited available arable land (essential for continuity of agriculturally based 
livelihoods beyond mine closure); (ii) the accommodation of an influx of over 3,000 in-migrants following 
commencement of mine construction; (iii) the resettlement of two villages; and (iv) the preparation and 
implementation of an integrated development action plan (IDAP). 
Implementation of the IDAP is taking place in the context of an uncertain mine closure date which could take 
place in the short to medium term, and key challenges include maintaining sufficient implementation impetus 
to meet raised expectations, training and building local capacity to successfully implement the IDAP on an 
ongoing basis, especially after mine closure, and establishing long-term funding. The IDAP is providing a 
useful model of various integrated approaches to ensure that benefits and opportunities associated with 
mining activities are shared with local communities, and that local community development initiatives will 
endure beyond mine closure and result in long-term sustainable development.