Strategic monitoring of closure objectives associated with tailings storage facilities as defined through stakeholder engagement

Authors: Allen, A; Samuels, J Download Paper Open access courtesy of:

DOI https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_24

Cite As:
Allen, A & Samuels, J 2026, 'Strategic monitoring of closure objectives associated with tailings storage facilities as defined through stakeholder engagement', 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. 1-19, https://doi.org/10.36487/ACG_repo/2615_24



Abstract:
Mine closure represents one of the most complex challenges posed to the mining industry. Technical, social, regulatory and financial considerations intersect at this confluence of closure. Despite increasing emphasis on sustainable land custodianship, there remains a lack of a structured, stakeholder-aligned monitoring framework aligned with the appropriate selection of monitoring technologies for facility consequence classification to demonstrate compliance to closure objectives. The closure of tailings storage facilities demands transparent, stage‑gated evidence to support regulators in granting closure certificates and the relinquishment of funds provided for closure activities. This article proposes a consequence‑based monitoring framework to link stakeholder‑defined closure objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs) to proportional monitoring technologies across the closure life cycle. A mixed‑methods design was used and incorporates a structured literature survey and a multistakeholder survey informed by respondents associated with the mine closure industry. The study identifies critical closure objectives, current KPI practices and barriers to technology adoption in closure practices. Three decision tools are proposed to aid in operationalising the framework (a 2‑variable risk matrix, a technology life cycle S‑curve, and a technology balance sheet). Findings show mature, frugal methods dominate practice, while InSAR, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence analytics of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to remain constrained by capex, data and skill set development. The framework calibrates monitoring intensity to consequence classification and ties evidence into life cycle stage gates to provide a defensible chain from objective to decision. This study contributes a practice-informed and adaptable framework to strengthen regulatory confidence and align closure practices with facility consequence classification, ultimately towards providing mining houses with a clearer pathway to closure certification and the relinquishment of their financial provision for closure.

Keywords: tailings storage facilities, mine closure, key performance indicators, risk management, Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management, Fourth Industrial Revolution, frugal innovation, consequence-based monitoring

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