Bentel, GM 2009, 'Key closure planning considerations', in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2009: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 41-54, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/908_Bentel
(https://papers.acg.uwa.edu.au/p/908_Bentel/)
Abstract: Mining operations generally have long operating lives, and closure planning must be carried out to a 
sufficient level of detail to provide a reasonable level of accuracy of the costs of rehabilitation and closure. 
In 2004 BHP Billiton mandated closure planning at all assets in compliance with a risk-based closure 
standard. In 2009 BHP Billiton embedded closure planning into its business systems by integrating closure 
engineering and planning into its life of asset planning process. 
To ensure that all aspects of closure are fully considered in the planning process, BHP Billiton has 
developed a set of key closure planning considerations. This paper discusses these closure planning 
considerations and the importance of an integrated life of mine planning process.