Mine Closure Governance Framework
“Mine closure is the most systematically underplanned phase of the mining project lifecycle. Rehabilitation liabilities are underpriced at feasibility, underfunded through operations, and under-governed at closure. The regulatory and community appetite for legacy mining liabilities has fundamentally shifted.”
The Mine Closure Governance Framework is Volume 6 of the MM-DR Series — the owner-side governance framework for mine closure from asset transition through care and maintenance, active closure, and post-closure monitoring through to post-closure regulatory certification. It is the terminal volume of the series.
It opens at the closure gate on receipt of the Asset Transition Report from Volume 5 and closes at post-closure regulatory certification with the Closure Completion Certificate — the terminal instrument of the entire MM-DR Series.
Built for mine closure managers, environmental leads, regulatory teams, institutional investors, and senior practitioners responsible for delivering closure to certification standard.
Requires Volume 1 — Mining Project Risk Management Framework as its governance foundation.
What This Volume Covers
Closure Planning and Execution Governance Closure plan adequacy, progressive rehabilitation status, and the gap between planned and actual closure expenditure. Closure plan verified as current, adequately funded, and approved by the relevant regulatory authority before active closure commences.
Care and Maintenance Governance Owner-side oversight during the care and maintenance period including site security, environmental monitoring, infrastructure integrity, and liability management. Care and maintenance costs tracked and reported against approved provisions.
Active Closure Execution Rehabilitation works delivery, progressive sign-off against the approved closure plan, and regulatory engagement throughout. Owner-side verification that rehabilitation commitments are being met to the standard required for post-closure certification.
Tailings Storage Facility Closure Design standard, decant management, cover system design, and long-term stability assessment. Tailings storage facility closure delivered to the MAC/ICMM Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management and jurisdiction-specific regulatory requirements.
Acid and Metalliferous Drainage Management Long-term water quality monitoring, treatment obligations, and financial assurance for ongoing acid and metalliferous drainage management post-closure. AMD risk assessed and managed through active closure and post-closure monitoring phases.
Post-Closure Monitoring and Reporting Regulatory reporting obligations, performance monitoring against approved closure criteria, and financial assurance release protocols. Post-closure monitoring programme implemented and maintained until regulatory certification is achieved.
Financial Assurance Release Progressive financial assurance release protocols applied as rehabilitation commitments are met and verified. Bond reduction requests prepared with owner-side documentation to the standard required by the relevant regulatory authority.
Post-Mining Land Use Closure objectives integrated with the approved post-mining land use plan and community commitments. Post-mining land use outcomes verified against closure plan commitments before the Closure Completion Certificate is sought.
Gate Output Instrument The Closure Completion Certificate is the terminal instrument of the MM-DR Series. Produced at post-closure regulatory certification. Received by no subsequent volume. The end of the chain.
The MM-DR Series
Volume 1 — Mining Project Risk Management Framework Volume 2 — Mining Acquisition and Due Diligence Framework Volume 3 — Mining Capital Finance and Market Compliance Framework Volume 4 — Mining Operational Readiness Framework Volume 5 — Mining Operations and Performance Governance Framework
Apply This Framework With Mine Masters
The Mine Closure Governance Framework is designed to be self-applied by senior practitioners managing closure delivery. It is also the framework Mine Masters applies directly when engaged as owner-side adviser — conducting the closure governance assessments, managing regulatory engagement, and delivering the independent owner-side documentation required for post-closure certification.
Two paths. Same framework. Same standard.
Access Volume 6 — AUD $195 (Free Preview Available)
Access the Complete MM-DR Series — AUD $995
