Authors: Musiyarira, H; Chirchir, I; Bliss, M

Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2152_95

Cite As:
Musiyarira, H, Chirchir, I & Bliss, M 2021, 'The development of a mine closure framework: a case study for Namibia', in AB Fourie, M Tibbett & A Sharkuu (eds), Mine Closure 2021: Proceedings of the 14th International Conference on Mine Closure, QMC Group, Ulaanbaatar, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2152_95

Download citation as:   ris   bibtex   endnote   text   Zotero


Abstract:
Namibia is heavily dependent on the extraction and processing of minerals for export and this is a central pillar of Namibia’s economy. However, while mining presents a significant opportunity for growth and development, the government, civil society and the private sector must work together to ensure that meeting the needs of today’s stakeholders does not compromise the needs of future generations. In 2018, a Mining Policy Framework Assessment revealed that there was a lack of legislation that provided details for progressive rehabilitation, mine closure planning, site relinquishment and associated transfer of residual environmental and financial liabilities from the licence holder back to the government. Based on the assessment and capacity training carried out by the Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF), there arose a need to develop a mine closure framework from a regulator’s view point since there is already one that was developed by the Namibian Chamber of Mines (CoM). The framework represents a desire from industry to support the implementation of the government’s Minerals Policy, which stipulates that the government will develop guidelines on closure and it will monitor compliance using set performance guidelines. However, the CoM mine closure framework does not prescribe how financial provisions for closure should be implemented and as such, this leaves the determination of the allocation of mine closure funds at the discretion of each mine operator. The present paper therefore, outlines the steps that were undertaken to develop the regulator’s framework and also provides preliminary outcomes from the process. The study was carried out using independent but complementary methodologies. These included a baseline study and data analysis, mining policy framework analysis and report writing. Relevant reports and data from government ministries, public institutions, private sector organisations and agencies were analysed. A benchmarking exercise with leading mining countries such as Australia, Canada and South Africa was undertaken. This was aimed at searching for new ideas and exchanging views and opinions on the developmental outcomes of the mine closure framework. The purposes for the development of the framework were to ensure that mines operating within Namibia align with the requirements of national rehabilitation and closure-related legislation; standardise the approach to rehabilitation and mine closure planning by developing a standard that all operators can use for consistency reporting. The major elements of the proposed framework are that it sets an internationally accepted best practice framework for the Namibian mining industry to achieve the required regulatory rehabilitation and closure compliance. This includes dedicated stakeholder engagement on key closure planning aspects and also identifying the importance of aligning mine rehabilitation and closure planning throughout the mining life-cycle. It also provides the main planning aspects to be considered when developing, refining and implementing rehabilitation and closure plans and specifies the key considerations to determine closure cost estimates and the process to make financial assurance provisions for rehabilitation activities. It also identifies the importance of implementing progressive rehabilitation, frequently refining mine closure plans and continuing ongoing monitoring throughout the mining life-cycle towards the achievement of eventual site relinquishment.

References:
Anglo-American 2017, Socio-Economic Assessment Toolbox Version 3. Seat Toolbox developed by Anglo-American.
Chamber of Mines Namibia 2019, Chamber of Mines Namibia 2019 Annual Report. Retrieved 13 January 2021, from
Harvey, BE 2016, 'The eye of the beholder — utility and beauty in mine closure', in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Proceedings of the 11th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 17-23
Hattingh, R, Williams, DJ & Corder, G 2019, 'Applying a regional land use approach to mine closure: opportunities for restoring and regenerating mine-disturbed regional landscapes', in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Proceedings of the 13th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 951-968
IAEA 2010, International Atomic Energy Agency Annual Report 2010. Best Practice in Environmental Management of Uranium Mining. IAEA Nuclear Energy Series No. NF-T-1.2.
Intergovernmental Forum of Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development (IGF) 2018, IGF Mining Policy Framework Assessment: Namibia. Winnipeg: IISD. Retrieved 4 February 2021, from
International Council on Mining and Metals 2019, Integrated Mine Closure – Good Practice Guide, 2nd edn.
International Council on Mining and Metals 2019. Integrated Mine Closure – Good Practice Guide, 2nd edn. Retrieved 6 February 2021, from
KPMG Report 2014, KPMG Global Mining Institute, Namibia Country Mining Guide
Limpitlaw, D & Mitchell, P 2013, 'Mine closure – misplaced planning priorities', in M Tibbett, AB Fourie & C Digby (eds), Proceedings of the Eighth International Seminar on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Cornwall, pp. 3-13
Ministry of Mines and Energy 2018, Mineral Beneficiation Report. Ministry of Mines and Energy/Windhoek.
Ministry of Mines and Energy 2020, Draft Namibia Mine Closure Framework Report. Ministry of Mines and Energy/Windhoek.
Musiyarira, H, Tesh, D, Pillalamarry, M, Namate, N 2016, ‘Formulating strategic interventions for the coloured gemstone industry in Namibia by utilising the logical framework approach’. International Journal of the Extractive Industries and Society. vol. 6, no. 4, pp. 1017-1029
Peck, P, Blakau, F, Bogdanovic, J, Sevaldsen, P, Skaalvik, JF, Simonett, O, Thorsen, TA, Kadyrzhanova, I, Svedberg, P and Daussa, R 2005, Mining for Closure: Policies and Guidelines for Sustainable Mining Practice and Closure of Mines, UNEP, UNDP, OSCE and NATO, 97 p.
Ralston, J, Musiyarira, H, Tesh, D, Cabo, VD, & Donegan, S 2015, ‘Mineral processing in Namibia: scientific, engineering and environmental challenges. Bridging the technology divide through collaboration’. In Proceedings of the 1st Africa Australia Technical. Mining Conference 2015, pp. 99–102.
United Nations Development Program (UNDP) 2019, Human development report 2019: Human development for everyone. UNDP: New York. Retrieved 3 January 2021, from
Vedanta Sustainability Report, 2019, Retrieved 18 February 2021, from
World Nuclear Association, 2017, World uranium mining production. Retrieved 2 February 2021, from




© Copyright 2024, Australian Centre for Geomechanics (ACG), The University of Western Australia. All rights reserved.
View copyright/legal information
Please direct any queries or error reports to repository-acg@uwa.edu.au