It’s complex: reframing narratives around the social impacts of mine closure
|
Authors: O'Keefe, E Open access courtesy of:
|
DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2415_13
Cite As:
O'Keefe, E 2024, 'It’s complex: reframing narratives around the social impacts of mine closure', in AB Fourie, M Tibbett & G Boggs (eds), Mine Closure 2024: Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 199-212, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2415_13
Abstract:
Mining leaves communities better off: this is something the mining industry is committed to. However, the evidence base for the positive impacts of mining on communities enduring after closure is surprisingly thin. This also means an evidence-based approach to taking action on the social aspects of mine closure is similarly limited. Since the late 1990s the mining industry’s approach to social impacts has been framed by a narrative that mining has the potential for positive social impacts, that mining companies have responsibility for managing these impacts and that this can be achieved through the integration of company management systems. This study reviews a wide range of mine closure cases to identify common typologies and patterns in how mining leaves communities, including the role of mining companies in this process. The study identifies negative, positive and more benign exemplars of the social aspects of mine closure. However, no example was identified which clearly demonstrated the ideal model of a community being left better off after mining as a result of planned pre-closure mining company activities, and the potential reasons for this are outlined. The need for an alternative exemplar of former mining communities is investigated, as well as some of the initiatives underway in these contexts. The case studies highlight the complex nature of the systems in which many mines close and the ‘wicked problem’ of socio-economic transitions linked to mine closure. As such, there is a need to reframe narratives and further promote and adopt approaches which are better suited to the challenging complexity associated with former mining communities.
Keywords: social, communities, sustainability, asset transition, planning, complex systems, wicked problems
References:
Anderson, C 2014, ‘Mining and the fall and rise of poverty in southern West Virginia’, The Extractive Industries and Society, vol. 1,
no. 1, pp. 2–3.
Bainton, N & Burton J 2024, ‘The use of social impact assessment in mining projects’, Sociology, Social Policy and Education,
pp. 81–96.
Beckett, C. 2021, ‘Beyond remediation: Containing, confronting and caring for the Giant Mine Monster’, Environment and Planning E: Nature and Space, vol. 4, no. 4, pp. 1389–141.
Bevan Foundation 2023, From capitalism to community wealth: Building new economies in Wales, Bevan Foundation, viewed June 27 2024,
-v4.pdf
Blackwell, BD, McFarlene, J, Fischer, A 2017 ‘Enduring Community Value from Mining: Measuring the Employment Impacts of Mine Closure for Remote Communities and Considering Issues for Transformation’, International Journal of Rural Law and Policy, no. 2.
Bose-O’Reilly, S, Yabe, J, Makumba, J, Schutzmeier, P, Ericson, B, Caravanos, J 2018, ‘Lead intoxicated children in Kabwe, Zambia’, Environmental Research, vol. 165, pp. 420–424.
Botezan, C, Constantin, V, Meltzer, M, Radovici, A, Pop, A, Alexandrescu, F, & Stefanescu, L 2020, ‘Is There Sustainable Development after Mining? A Case Study of Three Mining Areas in the Apuseni Region (Romania)’, Sustainability, vol. 12, no. 23.
Bridle, R, Kitson, L, Duan, H, Sanchez, L, Merrill, T 2017, At the Crossroads: Balancing the financial and social costs of coal transition in China, GSI report, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Winnipeg,
publications/crossroads-balancing-financial-social-costs-coal-transition-china.pdf
Brundtland, G 1987, ‘Report of the world commission on environment and development: our common future’, paper presented at the United Nations General Assembly Document A/42/427, United Nations, Geneva.
Chuhan-Pole, P, Debalen AL, Land, CB 2017, Mining in Africa: Are Local Communities Better Off?, International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, The World Bank, Washington,
2023/10/ACG-Mine-Closure-Paper-Guidelines.pdf
Cole, MJ 2024, ‘A Mine Closure Risk Rating System for South Africa’ Mining vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 58–78.
Cutifani, M 2013, ‘Three factors poisoning investment in SA mining’, Politicsweb, viewed 28 October 2024
Digby, C 2012, ‘Mine closure through the 21st Century looking glass’, in AB Fourie & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2012: Proceedings of the Seventh International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 33–38.
Emeric, S, Jones, E, Baker, P, Clark, D, & Grant, S 2023 ‘Envisioning the rehabilitation of assets through co-design and Gamification’, in Proceedings of Life of Mine Conference 2023, The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Carlton, pp. 12–13.
Erzurumlu, S & Erzurumlu, Y 2014, ‘Sustainable mining development with community using design thinking and multi-criteria decision analysis’, Resources Policy, vol. 46 Part 1, pp. 6–14.
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.
Game, ET, Meijaard, E, Sheil, D & McDonald-Madden, E 2014, ‘Conservation in a Wicked Complex World, Challenges and Solutions’, Conservation Letters, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 271–277.
Haney, M & Shkaratan, M 2003, Mine Closure and its Impact on the Community Five Years After Mine Closure in Romania, Russia and Ukrain, Wolrd Bank, Washington DC,
multi0page.pdf
Hansell, T 2018, After Coal, West Virginia University Press, Morgantown.
Holcombe, S & Keenan J 2020, Mining as a temporary land use scoping project: transitions and repurposing, Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Human Rights Watch 2022, The Forever Mines: Perpetual Rights Risks from Unrehabilitated Coal Mines in Mpumalanga, South Africa, Human Rights Watch,
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), 2019, Integrated Mine Closure: Good Practice Guide, 2nd ed, ICMM, London,
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) 2022, Social Performance Competency Framework, ICMM, London,
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) & The Partnering Initiative (TPI) 2021, Partnering for our Common Future: Optimising mining’s partnering capability to contribute to community resilience and thriving societies, ICMM, London,
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) 2024, Mining Principles: Performance Expectations, ICMM, London,
International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) n.d., Community Resilience, ICMM, viewed June 27 2024,
ISO 2021, Mine closure and reclamation planning: Part 1: Requirements (ISO 21795-1:2021), International Standard.
Jardine, CG, Banfield, L, Driedger, SM, Furgal, CM, 2013, ‘Risk communication and trust in decision-maker action: a case study of the Giant Mine Remediation Plan’, International Journal of Circumpolar Health, vol. 72, no. 1.
Keenan, J, & Holcombe, S 2021, ‘Mining as a temporary land use: A global stocktake of post-mining transitions and repurposing’, The Extractive Industries and Society, vol. 8, no. 3.
Ki-Moon, B & Robinson, M 2024, ‘What is long-view leadership and why are Elders calling for it?’, The Elders,
Kingsbury, D & Wilkinson, A 2023, ‘We are a mining region’: Lithium frontiers and extractivism in Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Canada’, The Extractive Industries and Society, vol. 15.
Koch, A 1998, ‘Kimberley: Mining Community To Tourist Town’, in WA O'Shea, C Corbin & E Krause (eds.), Cape Breton in Transition: Economic Diversification and Prospects for Tourism, Krause House Info-Research Solutions, Louisbourg,
Krause, E 2023, The Persistent Consequences of the Energy Transition in Appalachia’s Coal Country, Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center,
Krznaric, R 2020, The Good Ancestor, WH Allen, London.
Limpitlaw, D & Digby, C 2014, ‘Planning for Mine Closure in Sub-Saharan Africa – Taking Urban Development and Artisanal Miners into Account’, in Mine Closure 2014:Proceedings of the 9th International Conference on Mine Closure, The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
Mason THE, Pollard CRJ, Chimalakonda D, Guerrero, AM, Kerr-Smith, C, Milheiras, SAG,Bunnefeld, N 2018, ‘Wicked conflict: Using wicked problem thinking for holistic management of conservation conflict’, Conservation Letters, vol. 11, no. 6.
Mholongo SE 2023, ‘Physical hazards of abandoned mines: A review of cases from South Africa’, The Extractive Industries and Society, vol. 15.
Monash University 2020, Unearthing a gold standard for rehabilitating 80,000 mines in Australia, Monash University, viewed June 27 2024, ,000-mines-in-australia
National research Council 2005, ‘Mining Megasites: Lessons Learned’, in Superfund and Mining Megasites: Lessons from the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, The National Academies Press, Washington D.C.
Ndeleki, CN 2018, The Effects Of Mine Downscaling (And Closure) On The Socio-Economic Development Of Mining Communities: The Case Of Oranjemund, master’s thesis, University of the Free State Bloemfontein, Bloemfontein.
Nhlengetwa, K & Hein, K 2014, ‘Zama-Zama mining in the Durban Deep/Roodepoort area of Johannesburg, South Africa: An invasive or alternative livelihood?’, The Extractive Industries and Society, vol. 2, no. 1, pp.1–3.
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan), Programs to Enhance and Sustain Safety and the Quality of the Environment In and Around Orphaned and Abandoned Mine Sites, NRCan, viewed June 27 2024,
nrcan/M39-124-eng.pdf
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 2023, Maastricht Principles on The Human Rights of Future Generations, OHCHR,
Pearman, G 2009, 101 Things to do with a Hole in the Ground, Post-Mining Alliance and the Eden Project, Bodelva, St Austell.
Perry, M & Rowe, JE 2015, ‘Fly-in, fly-out, drive-in, drive-out: The Australian mining boom and its impacts on the local economy’, Local Economy, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 139–148.
Prescott, D, Martin, M, Torres-Rahman, Z, Nelson, J 2020, Mining As A Partner In Supporting More Inclusive And Resilient Societies, The International Council on Mining and Metals, Business Fights Poverty and The Partnering Initiative,
Regan, AJ 2014, ‘Bougainville: Large-scale Mining and Risks of Conflict Recurrence’, Security Challenges, vol. 10, no. 2, pp. 71–96.
Rittel, HWJ & Webber, MM 1973, ‘Dilemmas in a General Theory of Planning’, Policy Science, vol. 4, pp. 155–16928.
Rixen, A, Blangy, S 2016, ‘Life after Meadowbank: Exploring gold mine closure scenarios with the residents of Qamini’tuaq (Baker Lake), Nunavut’, The Extractive Industries and Society, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 297–312.
Rockandel, C 2022, The Road from Resource Dependency to Community Sustainability: the Case of Kimberly, British Columbia:
1996-2001, Master’s thesis, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby.
Sandlos, J & Keeling, A 2016, ‘Toxic Legacies, Slow Violence, and Environmental Injustice at Giant Mine, Northwest Territories’, The Northern Review, vol. 42, pp. 7–21.
Sinnett, D 2019, ‘Going to waste? The potential impacts on nature conservation and cultural heritage from resource recovery on former mineral extraction sites in England and Wales’, Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, vol. 62, no.7, pp. 1227–1248.
Syahrir, R, Wall, F, Diallo, P 2021, ‘Coping with sudden mine closure: The importance of resilient communities and good governance’, The Extractive Industries and Society, vol. 8, no.4.
Udovyk, F & Fouani, M 2021, ‘The butterfly effect: piloting research to support the sustainable transformation of Ukraine's coal mining towns’, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), viewed June 27 2024,
ukraine/blog/butterfly-effect-piloting-research-support-sustainable-transformation-ukraines-coal-mining-towns
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), World Economic Forum, Columbia Center on Sustainable Investments(CCSI) & Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) 2016, Mapping Mining to the Sustainable Development Goals: An Atlas, World Economic Forum,
Atlas_Executive_Summary_FINAL.pdf
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 2012, eMalahleni: Water Reclamation Plant | South Africa, viewed June 27 2024,
United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) 2020, Abandoned Hardrock Mines: Information on Number of Mines, Expenditures, and Factors That Limit Efforts to Address Hazards, United States Government Accountability Office,
Wall, L &Haslam, MF 2023, ‘Time for an Outcome Evaluation? The Experience of Indigenous Communities with Mining Benefit Sharing Agreements’, International Development Policy, vol. 15.
Watson, I & Olalde, M 2019, ‘The state of mine closure in South Africa - what the numbers say’, Journal of the Southern African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, vol. 119, no. 7, pp. 639–645.
Were, N 2024, ‘A look into the US$4 billion business empire of South Africa’s Bafokeng kingdom’, Business Empires Africa, viewed June 27 2024,
Werner, TT, Bach, PM, Yellishetty, M, Amirpoorsaeed, F Walsh, S, Miller, A,Wu, X 2020, ‘A Geospatial Database for Effective Mine Rehabilitation in Australia’, Minerals, vol, 10, no. 9.
Whitebread-Abrutat, P & Lowe, R 2024, 102 Things to Do with a Hole in the Ground, Eden Project, Bodelva.
World Resources Institute 2021, Germany: The Ruhr Region’s Pivot from Coal Mining to a Hub of Green Industry and Expertise, World Resources Institute,
Yabe, J, Nakayama, S MM, Ikenaka, Y, Yohannes, YB, Bortey-Sam, Oroszlany, B, Ishizuka, M 2015, ‘Lead poisoning in children from townships in the vicinity of a lead-zinc mine in Kabwe, Zambia’, Chemosphere, vol. 119, pp. 941–947.
© 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
View copyright/legal information
Please direct any queries or error reports to repository-acg@uwa.edu.au