New Venice UG to OC
GROUP 11
MINE CLOSURE PLAN
PRACTICAL ASSIGNMENT
GROUP 11
[Date]
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MINE
CLOSURE PLAN
1 LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS
Mine closure planning has to be done at the starting point of the mining operations
and needs periodic review and revision during its life cycle to cope with the market
due to geo-technical constraints, safety and economic risks, social & environmental
challenges. THE MINE CLOSURE PLAN IS IN STAGES.
1.1 Objective of Mine Closure
The various objectives of mine closure planning are as follows:
a) To allow a productive and sustainable after-use of the site, which is acceptable
to the mine owner and the regulatory authority.
b) To protect public health and safety.
c) To alleviate or eliminate environmental damage and thereby encourage
environmental sustainability.
d) To minimize adverse socio-economic impacts.
1.2 Mine Closure Obligations
There is a need to define the liabilities, responsibilities and authorities of the mine
management, other regulatory bodies, Central and State Governments after mine
closure. Some obligations relating to the Mine Management Companies are as
follows:
1.2.1 Legal obligations
The Environmental Management Act [Chapter 20:27] ensures that mining
takes place in a manner that sustainably protects the environment. AN ACT to
provide for the sustainable management natural resources and protection of the
environment; the prevention of pollution and environmental degradation; the
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preparation of a National Environmental Plan and other plans for the
management and protection of the environment; the establishment of an
Environmental Management Agency and an Environment Fund; to amend
references to intensive conservation areas and committees and associated
matters in various Acts; to repeal the Natural Resources Act [Chapter 20:13],
the Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Act [Chapter 20:03], the Hazardous
Substances and Articles Act [Chapter 15:05] and the Noxious Weeds Act
[Chapter 19:07]; and to provide for matters connected with or incidental to the
foregoing.
The Explosives Act [Chapter 10:08] regulates the importation, transportation
and use of explosives generally used in the mining industry.
The Gold Trade Act [Chapter 21:03] regulates the trade and dealings in gold.
It generally prohibits the possession of gold by unlicensed persons.
The Water Act [Chapter 20:24] deals with the use and control of water bodies
and the requirements for a water permit needed in mining projects.
The Precious Stones Trade Act [Chapter 21:06] regulates the possession of and
dealings in precious stones.
2. TECHNICAL ASPECTS
The proposed Expansion PR for New Venice UG to OC mine has been planned up to
250 m depth at the floor of Composite seam. After complete exhaustion of proposed
New Venice UG to OC Expansion mine, there is scope for future expansion of mine
beyond 250m depth in dip side up to safe distance from Kwekwe River subject to
economic viability of the mine at that time. In case mine closure is done after
completion of proposed New Venice UG to OC Expansion OC mine, the following
technical aspects would be reviewed in the final mine closure planning.
2.1 Safety Hazards Including Management of Fire
There should be provision of surface audit prior to the surface demolition / restoration
of all surface structures, spoil heaps, lagoons, etc. to assess whether there are any
hazardous materials that could cause problems via; explosives, chemicals, mine fire
etc. A list of surface assets should be prepared and made available to potential
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purchasers. Prospective purchasers could be invited and asked to submit sealed bids.
This could ensure that the sale of assets give better financial gain.
2.2 Management of Pit Slopes and Waste Dumps
a) Pit Slopes
The final quarry slopes shall be so designed and then subsequently developed that after
the closure of the mine, there is no likelihood of any slope failure. In New Venice UG
to OC Expansion mine, the final slope of the quarry has been designed with above
consideration. However, strict compliance with the proposed final slope of quarry
would be made as given in Quarry & Surface layout Plan and subsequent slope
stability studies.
b) Waste Dumps
The external waste dump must be developed as per the proposed design so that slope
failure do not create any safety hazard to the local community. Waste dumps shall
be provided with garland drains and vegetation cover on surface of these dumps.
2.3 Management of Hydrology and Hydro-Geology
In the mine closure plan, the surface flow pattern of precipitation and mine water
would be clearly developed and water channel suitably laid down so that it does not
disturb the general hydrology of the area.
In order to identify potential impact, necessary hydro-geological studies into post-
mining groundwater recharge should be done. The void of the mine can be proposed
as a water resource to be utilized for aquaculture. Keeping in view the hard lament
rock structure the ground stability in the periphery of the mine boundary is not likely
to be disturbed.
2.4 Details of De-Commissioning of the Infrastructures and Plant and
Machinery
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The decommissioning of the various infrastructures developed for the mine like office
complex, residential complex, roads, pipelines and transmission line etc. shall be
planned in details so that the land occupied by these infrastructures are released.
However, before such decommissioning, the possibility of re-use of these
infrastructures for the neighboring mines shall be explored.
2.5 Fencing Around Mined Out Areas
The access trenches made for entry to the opencast mine shall be properly closed after
mine closure and proper planning shall be made in mine closure plan for closure of
access trenches.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
3.1 Management of final voids
In the mine closure plan, voids due to mining are to be dealt and the final land use plan
will include filling of the voids for land reclamation where possible and for hydro
reclamation where feasible. In the proposed New Venice UG to OC Expansion mine,
the opencast mine has been planned up to a maximum depth of around 250 m at the
floor of Bottom section.
Due to steep gradient, internal backfilling has not been proposed in New VENICE UG
to OC Expansion mine. Thus, entire quarry area will be available as void after
exhaustion of the mine and hydra-reclamation is the only option available for the mine
after its closure. This may be utilized to create an aquatic eco-system.
3.2 Reclamation of forest / vegetation
No internal OB dumping has been proposed in New Venice UG to OC Expansion
mine. However, the external OB dumps and other area shall be properly planted as a
part of reclamation.
Reclamation of forest/vegetation during mine closure involves restoring the natural
ecosystem and vegetation on mined land after mining activities have ceased. This
process includes soil preparation, amendment, and seeding with native plant species,
as well as mulching, irrigation, and ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Techniques
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such as direct seeding, hydro seeding, tree planting, and wetland restoration are used
to restore the forest ecosystem, control soil erosion, improve water quality, and
provide aesthetic and economic benefits. The goal of reclamation is to create a stable
and self-sustaining ecosystem similar to the pre-mining conditions, ensuring a positive
environmental legacy after mine closure.
3.3 Management of Recharge Areas
The pre-mining and post mining scenario on the hydro-geological recharge system
would be included in the closure plan.
3.4 Acceptable Ground Water Flows
In the final closure plan of the mine, wherever the mine water is likely to form a
reservoir, the quality of water would be assessed in the final plan.
3.5 Alternative use of land
In the proposed New Venice UG to OC Expansion mine, vegetation and afforestation
has been planned as a final land use for external OB dump whereas hydro reclamation
/ water reservoir has been proposed for the void/ decoaled area. However, for areas
other than OB dumps and voids, the alternative land use would be deliberated in the
closure plan. While agriculture is the best land use if it is supported by some irrigation
facilities, vegetation will be second utility of the land, which can be planned.
4. SOCIAL ASPECTS
4.1 Re-deployment of Workforce
The proposed New Venice UG to OC Expansion OC mine has total life of 14 years
and therefore the re-deployment of existing workforce will be required after
exhaustion of mine. The manpower lost due to natural retirement in this mine will be
compensated in future by surplus manpower of other mines of Mopani Gold as well
as by fresh recruitment in future. At the time of closure of this mine, the available
manpower will be redeployed based on:
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i) Natural retirement
ii) Implementation of Voluntary Retirement Schemes (VRS) schemes
for age groups of + 50 years
iii) Retraining and redeployment of younger groups.
iv) Transfer of experienced middle aged groups to other projects.
v) Retirement of people with suitable compensation after exhausting all the above
options.
4.2 Management of Community Facilities
The community facilities developed during the mine life like educational facilities,
health facilities etc. would be continued even after the mine closure.
The final closure plan will envisage interaction of mining company with the State or
local bodies for running these facilities.
4.3 Channelization of available water
After the closure of mine, it can be a source of water for many useful purposes.
The final voids filled with water can be used as a water reservoir. All the aspects of
channelization of water shall be dealt in mine closure plan.
4.4 Emancipation from PAPs
The project affected persons (PAPs) are provided many civic facilities on the line of
the management of community facilities dealt at point No. 18.4.2.
5. CLOSURE COST
Mine closure planning has to be carried out at the starting of the mine and needs
periodic reviewing and revision during its life cycle to cope with the geotechnical
constraints, safety and economic risks, social & environmental challenges. For the
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Mine Closure activities, a corpus fund is created by opening a CABS account with the
coal controller organization in nationalized bank. For opencast mine, an amount at
$17000 per Ha of the project area is required to be deposited in this account for final
mine closure. Progressive mine closure is done with the fund provided in approved
report.
In Project Report, the total corpus of closure cost has been worked out for 706.28 ha
land and balance life of 14 years as on 01.04.2018 after making adjustment for the
corpus fund already deposited in the CABS account of existing New Venice UG to
OC mine during the period from 2015-16 to 2017-18. The total amount deposited in
the CABS A/c against Mine Closure for existing New Venice UG to OC mine up to
2017-18 is tabulated below :-
Amount Deposited in CABS A/c up to
Year 2017-18 (US DOLLAR)
2015-16 22800.29
2016-17 23900.70
2017-18 25100.69
Total 71900.68
The first year of the proposed Expansion period is 2018-19, but the revised mine
closure corpus for the proposed Expansion of New Venice UG to OC mine has been
assessed from second year (2019-20) assuming that the annual mine closure amount
for first year will be deposited at the prevailing rate.
6. BREAK-UP OF CLOSURE FUND FOR VARIOUS CLOSURE ACTIVITIES
1. Mining is to be carried out in a phased manner initiating afforestation / reclamation
work in the mined out area of first phase while commencing mining in the 2nd phase.
2. Upton 80% of the total deposited amount including interest accrued in the CABS
account may be released after every 5 years. The amount released should be equal to
expenditure incurred on Progressive Mine closure in past 5 years or 80% whichever is
less.
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3. The expenditure as mentioned in the table below will be incurred during mine life as
well as beyond mine life as per the mine plan. Accordingly the amount deposited in the
CABS A/c will be released after every 5 years based on the completion of below
mentioned activities. However, the additional amount beyond the CABS account will
be provided by the mine operator after estimating the final mine closure cost (as per the
mine closure guideline).
4. The amount indicated separately under each head in the following table is indicative
only and based on actual expenditure the amount may change.
Stage Activity % of Amount Remarks
Total ( US$
Mine 00)
closure
Cost
A Dismantling of structures To be included in final
mine closure plan.
Service Building 0.2 16.61
Residential Building 2.67 221.69
Industrial Structures like, Workshop,
0.3 24.91
Field substation, etc.
B Permanent Fencing of mine void and To be included in final
other dangerous area mine closure plan.
Random rubble masonry of height
1.2
meter including leveling up in 1.5 124.54
cement concrete 1:6:12 in mud
mortar
C Grading of high wall slopes To be included in final
mine closure plan.
Levelling and grading of high wall 1.77 146.96
slopes
D OB Dump Reclamation
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Handling/Dozing of OB Dump into 88.66 7361.41 71% for progressive
mine void and preparation of and 17.66% for final
Internal dump for reclamation. mine closure.
Technical and Bio-reclamation 0.4 33.21 Equal Weightage
including plantation and post care. throughout the life of
the mine.
E Landscaping
Landscaping of the open space in 0.3 24.91 Equal Weightage
leasehold area for improving its throughout the life of
aesthetic and eco value. the mine.
F Plantation
Plantation over cleared area obtained 0.5 41.51 To be included in final
after dismantling. mine closure plan.
Plantation around the quarry area 0.2 16.61 Equal Weightage
and in safety zone. throughout the life of
the mine.
Plantation over the external OB 0.02 1.66 Equal Weightage
Dump throughout the life of
the mine.
G Post Closure Environmental For three years after
Monitoring/Testing of Parameters mine closure
for three years.
Air Quality 0.22 18.27
Water Quality 0.2 16.61
H Entrepreneurship development 0.26 21.59 Equal Weightage
throughout the life of
the mine.
(vocational/ skill development)
Training for sustainable income of
affected people.
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I Miscellaneous and other mitigates 2 166.06 Equal Weightage
measures. throughout the life of
the mine.
J Post Closure Man power cost for 0.8 66.42 To be included in final
supervision mine closure plan.
TOTAL 100% 8302.97
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Below are rehabilitation planned stages after closure…
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GROUP MEMBERS
1. LEE A. NKOMA
2. BRADLEY B. SANDE
3. TINASHE MACHIPISA
4. TANYARADZWA ZEKENYA
5. ONAI KUDZAI MUZANENHAMO
6. SANCHEZ KANGORE
7. PAIDA MUGADZA
8. ASHLEY MUTANDWA AENON AUSTIN
9. RODNEY GWENYAYA
10. WAYNE TSABOLA
11. TAFADZWA MUGADZA
12. ASHWIN MAPFUMO
13. MIKE DHLIWAYO
14. TALENT MATEMA
15. TRUEMAN HOVE
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