Developing a collaborative closure vision: a stakeholder-driven approach at Teck’s Carmen de Andacollo

Authors: Cubillos, MA; Mejías, A Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_09

Cite As:
Cubillos, MA & Mejías, A 2026, 'Developing a collaborative closure vision: a stakeholder-driven approach at Teck’s Carmen de Andacollo', in AB Fourie, G Boggs, J Heyes & M Tibbett (eds), Mine Closure 2026: Proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Mine Closure, Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, pp. 1-7, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_09



Abstract:
This article describes the process carried out between 2023 and 2025 to develop the first closure vision for the Carmen de Andacollo mining operation, located in northern Chile. The development of the closure vision began with the formation of a multidisciplinary team from the operation and the Teck Chile corporate office, which received targeted training in mine closure principles, corporate standards and regulatory requirements. Using a collaborative methodology inspired by the stakeholder engagement methodology developed by the World Cafe Community Foundation, a dedicated closure workshop was conducted to gather insights, expectations and priorities from the internal stakeholders. Based on the information collected during the workshop, a first draft of the closure vision for Carmen de Andacollo was developed internally and later endorsed by the operation’s senior management. In 2025 the validated closure vision was presented to neighbouring communities through a series of participatory workshops. These sessions provided an opportunity not only to communicate the proposed vision but also to collect valuable feedback from community representatives. By actively involving both internal and external stakeholders, the process enabled the development of a comprehensive and shared closure vision. Participants expressed appreciation for the invitation to contribute and demonstrated strong engagement throughout the process. This collaborative approach helped clarify expectations and address concerns from workers, contractors, suppliers and local communities regarding the future of the Carmen de Andacollo operation. The experience highlights the value of early, transparent and inclusive engagement in the formulation of the mine closure vision. 

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