Underground Mine Closure & Reclamation

What is the process ?

When an underground mine closes, the process of reclamation and restoration begins. This process aims to return the land to its natural state and to prevent any potential HSSE-SR health, safety, security, environment, and social responsibility impact in accordance with international standards. This involves assessing, auditing, and monitoring ecological and social risks. The process of mine closure and reclamation can be complex and expensive, and it may take several years to be completed.

This article gives an overview of the process for mine closure, describing the steps and challenges involved.

Removing and remanufacturing mining equipments:

The first step in the process of mine closure is the removal of any structures, equipments and tailings. This includes the removal of buildings, machinery, residues, and other infrastructure that was used in the mining operations. This process is often done by the mining company, but it may also involve the use of contractors and specialized equipment. Unfortunately, many mining machines are left behind and buried in the ground… The environmental impact is high as a mining machine contains different waste oils. In 1997, Aramine decided to make a step toward reducing this impact. The company introduced the remanufacturing program, a global project with a real CSR vision in a newly rebuilt center located in Gardanne (south of France). The used machine is brought back to the surface and follows a 10 steps process that offers a second life. The machine first gets complete expertise and is dismantled. Then, it gets refurbished with genuine or remanufactured spare parts and components following the original specification. At the end of the process, the machine is re-assembled and ready to start a new journey. In addition to a reduced environmental impact, getting a remanufactured machine instead of a brand new one has several advantages (material saving, warranty…).