In response to growing community concerns and increasing government regulation, mining companies are placing a greater emphasis on closure planning to ensure that potentially harmful wastes (waste rock, uneconomic ores and mill tailings) generated over the operating mine life are safely stored and land reclamation activities are conducted in a manner that will enable the establishment of agreed post mining land uses._x000D_
For Energy Resources of Australia (ERA), the primary goal of mine closure is to ensure that the Ranger Mine site and associated infrastructure are rehabilitated in a manner to establish an environment similar to the adjacent areas of Kakadu National Park._x000D_
Closure planning and the ultimate delivery of a rehabilitated mine site that conforms to statutory requirements and community and shareholder expectations is a complex multidimensional process. In this context, the process for closure planning is no different to that required for the delivery of a major project, from study inception through execution to commissioning and operational handover. The capital costs involved are often of a similar order thus requiring engineering rigour, robust options analysis and risk assessment to clearly define the closure scope and realistic estimate of liability._x000D_
From this perspective, closure planning should be managed within a project or capital development framework replete with a stage gate evaluation process that is sequentially refined from a prefeasibility level of accuracy to feasibility and, ultimately, through to project execution and the delivery of a rehabilitated mine site._x000D_
ERA has adopted a standard approach for closure planning consistent with that of the Rio Tinto Group of companies. This standard seeks to influence the design, development and optimisation of post closure outcomes. In practice this is accomplished through: planning from project inception to ensure that closure is incorporated into project design, shaping and a stage gate evaluation process commencement of financial provision for closure at project onset, followed by regular review and updating of the provision regularly reviewing and updating the scopes of closure strategy and plans ongoing implementation and stronger linkages between the outcomes of closure planning and core business plans, including mine plans and all other relevant planning documents integrated and accurate scoping of all aspects of the work required engagement with all stakeholders to validate key planning assumptions and align on expectations._x000D_
Project shaping is a critical component of the stage gate process and involves input from all key internal and external stakeholders. In this context, ERA formally engages external stakeholders via the Alligator Rivers Region Technical Committee (ARRTC) and the Minesite Technical Committee (MTC)._x000D_
The ARRTC oversees the nature and extent of research being undertaken to protect and restore the environment in the Alligator Rivers region from any effects of uranium mining. The ARRTC members include seven independent scientists nominated by the Federation of Australian Scientists and Technological Societies with the remaining representatives from the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation (representing the Mirarr Traditional Land Owners), Supervising Scientist Division, Northern Land Council, Parks Australia, Northern Territory Department of Mines and Energy and a non-government organisation._x000D_
The MTC is the key forum that considers and approves ERA's closure plan and other management plans pertaining to environmental protection. Closure criteria working groups also report to this forum and are critical in deriving the requisite criteria (water, sediment, radiological, landform, flora/fauna and cultural) to achieve ERA's rehabilitation and closure objectives._x000D_
Project shaping ensures that the knowledge base and key planning assumptions are reflective of the business, community, technological and environmental context. To this end potential closure options are systematically evaluated and ranked within a matrix as summarised here: Traditional owner culture and heritage Living culture Cultural heritage Protection of people and environment during the operational stage Community health and safety Socio-economic impact on local communities Ecosystems of Kakadu National Park Ecosystems of the Ranger Project Area Fit for purpose Proven technology Technical performance Robustness Environmental protection standard Capital expenditure Operational adequacy Occupational health and safety Operability Inherent availability and reliability Maintainability Operational expenditure Rehabilitation and closure Revegetation Radiation Erosion Water Tailings Schedule Constructability Occupational health and safety Construction environmental /cultural risks Construction complexity As a result of this process, ERA has confirmed a preferred closure strategy and plan to affect the progressive rehabilitation of operationally inactive areas about the lease and the ultimate closure of the Ranger Project Area following the cessation of mining and processing activities._x000D_
*This is an abstract only. No full paper is available for this abstract.* CITATION: Sinclair, G,?2014. The importance of project shaping in fit for purpose closure planning, in Proceedings Life-of-Mine 2014, pp 25-26 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).