Risk-informed closure design at the Hidden Valley mine, Papua New Guinea

Authors: Poole, A; Sanders, J; Wakefield, S; Watson, S

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DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2415_57

Cite As:
Poole, A, Sanders, J, Wakefield, S & Watson, S 2024, 'Risk-informed closure design at the Hidden Valley mine, Papua New Guinea ', 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. 797-814, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2415_57

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Abstract:
Risk-informed mine closure design integrates key risk management principles early in project development, as advocated by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and other industry bodies. This approach offers several benefits: understanding potential failure mechanisms and enhancing stakeholder alignment focusing on critical design controls, the closure schedule and costs identifying and addressing design issues through risk treatment justifying closure success criteria, performance monitoring and maintenance programs. This paper describes the journey of the Hidden Valley mine (HVM) closure team, in collaboration with regulators, to develop and implement a risk management framework informing closure design critical controls and fostering a shared understanding of residual risks, which are both essential for discussions on future asset and lease transfer and relinquishment. This approach aligns to industry standards, considers the specific HVM challenges (e.g. climate, steep terrain, remoteness, seismicity) and recommends as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) solutions. The paper aims to enhance dialogue on this topic and provide mine closure practitioners with practical examples of the risk-informed closure design process by outlining the framework and its application in the HVM biophysical closure plan (BCP), highlighting how it guided success criteria, closure options, regulator engagement, engineering design and performance monitoring.

Keywords: risk management, closure design, Papua New Guinea

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