Mine closure is an issue of growing importance for mining companies, the communities that host operations, Indigenous peoples, and governments with regulatory oversight of closure planning. In the coming years, the world’s top miners are expected to spend over $50 billion (USD) closing mines and managing legacy sites. For many stakeholders and rightsholders, there is a growing expectation that successful closure plans will go beyond remediation and short-term technical solutions to consider the complex socio-economic aspects of closure. Best practice planning is now expected to include measures that support a just transition for workers, communities, and governments as the jobs, taxes, royalties, and philanthropic investments associated with producing mines diminish and then disappear.
In this course, we will examine the social and environmental dimensions of mine closure. We will take guidance from best practice frameworks for closure, examine applied cases to analyze issues of interest, and hear from experts working in the field.
This course will be hosted online over six weeks and will be comprised of readings, videos, small group work, assignments, and two mandatory live 90-minute sessions. The modules will be hosted on the UBC Canvas website and will be led by the UBC BRIMM team.
For more information, please visit the BRIMM111 Course website or contact Clara Araujo, Program Manager, UBC BRIMM, at [email protected].
After completing this course, the participants will be able to:
- Understand key closure concepts, compliance requirements, guiding principles, and industry best practice.
- Build knowledge and skills to ask the right questions to address current and future challenges related to closure.
- Consider alternative and transformational approaches to closure.
- Integrate environmental, social, and economic considerations into mine closure plans.
- Analyze issues of materiality related to mine closure.
- Apply mine closure practices in complex contexts.
- Contribute towards creating a comprehensive mine closure plan that supports a just transition for local stakeholders and rightsholders.
- Module 1A: Introduction and Overview
- Module 1B: The Way It Was/Times They Are A Changing.
- Module 2A: Guidelines, Frameworks and Protocols
- Module 2B: Reimagining Closure
- Module 3: Who Decides? LIVE CLASS
- Module 4: Sustainable Livelihoods
- Module 5: Public Hearing
- Module 6: Financial Considerations
Engineers and Geoscientists BC collects personal information (including the personal information you provide on this form and the personal information that is generated in connection with your registration for and involvement in
New Perspectives on Mine Closure, pursuant to British Columbia’s Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act) for the purpose of facilitating your registration and involvement in
New Perspectives on Mine Closure. Questions about Engineers and Geoscientists BC’s collection of personal information in relation to this event can be directed to Mark Rigolo, Director, Programs and Continuing Education, at
[email protected]. Engineers and Geoscientists BC will disclose the personal information collected as described above to the Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals and Mining (BRIMM) to facilitate your participation in the course.