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I think designing backwards is a great way of looking at mine closure and helps to get people thinking about the end goal before building the mine to ensure all design and operational considerations facilitate the end goal. This would assist in managing the cost associated with closure as the infrastructure could be set up in a way to minimise the work required at the end. It also means that steps can be taken much earlier to ensure closure outcomes can be met including engagement with relevant stakeholders and progressive rehabilitation to meet environmental objectives.

One of the difficulties would be all of the unknowns and subsequent assumptions that need to be made relating to the mine operation timeframes, economy, landscape, budget, and even trying to get agreement on what the end goal should look like post mining. The way to manage this is related to the ongoing review and update of the Closure Plan as mentioned in the video, including continuous engagement with the community and other relevant stakeholders who might have views on how the land and infrastructure should be managed.

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I think the ‘designing backwards’ approach for post-mining economies that Caroline refers to is overall a great approach to mine closure planning, but I think it would also come with some challenges and things to remain aware of. I think early mine closure planning provides the opportunity to ask the question; how will the area look after the mine has closed, but crucially, how does the local community want it to look? Early external stakeholder engagement is vital to a collaborative approach to mine closure as well as to help build relationships and trust between the local community and the mining company.

A post-mining economy will depend on factors such as how many mines there are in the region (ie will opportunities and benefits from mining be available over the life of a number of mines, or just one? And how long is the life of mine or combination of mines? The location of the mine in terms of the proximity and potential for other economic opportunities etc. Also, design technologies and options for post closure rehab etc are evolving and improving so what may be recommended / or even best practice now, won’t be in the future.

In summary, opportunities with a “designing backwards approach” are being able to have time to consider options for all facets of mine closure planning (economic opportunities for the local community, as well as social and environmental considerations). Also, early engagement with local community could help to reduce fear and uncertainty in people for what will happen post-mining and also help give the community agency over what does happen. Challenges include, the economic opportunities likely depend on the life of mine, community sentiment for post-closure community may change, technology and design options etc are ever evolving and improving and different options become available etc. I think the best option is to have a “design backwards” approach with a commitment to continual stakeholder consultation and review and refinement of the approach.

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The concept of “designing backwards” is the concept planning the post-mining future from the start. It is a forward-thinking strategy aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability for communities and ecosystems once mining operations cease.

“Designing Backwards” :

This approach means integrating closure and transition goals from the start of mine development, not just as an afterthought. The mine is designed with its end in mind — what the land, economy, and society will look like post-closure.

Opportunities:

Stronger Community Resilience: Early planning allows communities to build skills and diversify early, leading to a smoother transition.

Cost Savings Long-Term: Integrated planning reduces the costs of last-minute remediation and avoids liabilities.

Regulatory and Social License Benefits: Demonstrating foresight builds trust with regulators and the public.

Innovation in Land Use: Creative reuse of mining sites (e.g., for renewable energy, tourism, agriculture, or education) can open new economic doors.

Challenges:

Uncertainty in Future Economies: It’s hard to predict what will be viable decades ahead, especially in remote areas.

Upfront Investment: Requires additional capital and planning in early project stages, which may face resistance from investors.

Coordination Complexity: Aligning mining timelines with community development and infrastructure repurposing can be difficult.

Changing Stakeholders and Leadership: Long project timelines mean that initial closure visions may be lost or altered over time.

Conclusion:

"Designing backwards" for post-mining economies is not just a sustainability concept—it’s a necessity in modern mining. While it presents logistical and economic challenges, the long-term social and environmental benefits make it a compelling strategy. The opportunity lies in transforming a finite extractive endeavor into a foundation for enduring prosperity.

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I believe designing backwards is an excellent concept. However, there are several challenges I see with this.

Firstly, encouraging participation to conceive what the future may look like, or needs to look like, is very difficult at the start of mining. Communities are usually focussed on extracting benefits from the mine, while mines are usually focussed on production and securing returns against their investment.

Secondly, coordination of this would need to sit with government, as communities lack capability and mining companies lack expertise – it’s not their role. This would require significant resources and, given it is quite a step away from current practice, is unlikely to be successful.

Finally, expectations change over time. While a single vision may be good, it’s not unusual for community aspirations to change over time. Similarly government aspirations also change. This could corner a community into a single option only which may, over time, be detrimental.

On the other hand, the benefit for communities would be immense. Ultimately closure (and relinquishment) relies on a tripartite agreement between the company, community and government. Setting expectations early would provide a much better outcome for all.

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Caroline Digby mentioned "designing backwards" for post-mining economies—what challenges and opportunities do you foresee with this approach

Closing a high-grade mine involves complex considerations that extend far beyond simply stopping extraction. The concept of “designing backwards” — planning the post-mining future from the start — is a forward-thinking strategy aimed at ensuring long-term sustainability for communities and ecosystems once mining operations cease.

Key Points in Closing a Mine:

1. Environmental Rehabilitation: Restoring land, water, and ecosystems to a stable and productive state.

2. Community Transition: Supporting communities economically and socially as they shift away from mining dependence.

3. Economic Diversification: Developing industries and opportunities that can sustain the local economy post-mining.

4. Infrastructure Repurposing: Reusing roads, power lines, buildings, and water systems for new economic activities.

5. Governance and Planning: Ensuring policies and institutions are in place to guide closure and transition.

6. Stakeholder Engagement: Involving local communities, governments, and other stakeholders in decision-making.

“Designing Backwards”

This approach means integrating closure and transition goals from the start of mine development, not just as an afterthought. The mine is designed with its end in mind — what the land, economy, and society will look like post-closure.

Opportunities:

Stronger Community Resilience: Early planning allows communities to build skills and diversify early, leading to a smoother transition.

Cost Savings Long-Term: Integrated planning reduces the costs of last-minute remediation and avoids liabilities.

Regulatory and Social License Benefits: Demonstrating foresight builds trust with regulators and the public.

Innovation in Land Use: Creative reuse of mining sites (e.g., for renewable energy, tourism, agriculture, or education) can open new economic doors.

Challenges:

Uncertainty in Future Economies: It’s hard to predict what will be viable decades ahead, especially in remote areas.

Upfront Investment: Requires additional capital and planning in early project stages, which may face resistance from investors.

Coordination Complexity: Aligning mining timelines with community development and infrastructure repurposing can be difficult.

Changing Stakeholders and Leadership: Long project timelines mean that initial closure visions may be lost or altered over time.

Conclusion:

"Designing backwards" for post-mining economies is not just a sustainability concept—it’s a necessity in modern mining. While it presents logistical and economic challenges, the long-term social and environmental benefits make it a compelling strategy. The opportunity lies in transforming a finite extractive endeavor into a foundation for enduring prosperity.

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Challenges that is we still don't really know what best practice looks like in mine closure! A lot of regulation is being produced (mostly in the past 30 years), with some clear obligation of rehabilitation. Even though the focus is on progressive rehabilitation, which alleviate challenges on having to do the whole rehabilitation at the time, stakeholders remain exposed to financial assurance, and the expertise of the mining company to be successful.

Illegal mining activities can also reduce abilities to close the mine, particularly in jurisdiction with maybe less regulations than countries such as the US or AUSTRALIA.

Opportunities is that Mining companies are now realizing about the importance of closure activities, and are thinking about closure requirements even before the Mine plan is produce. In fact, Reviewing, updating, refining the mine closure plan throughout the course of life of mine is necessary to reshape the mine plan or readjust.

Mining companies are becoming more open about involving communities and other third party (government, regulatory bodies) for consultation in their review of the closure plan to ensure it is a success and widely adopted.

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Challenges:

1. The median life expectancy for a mining site (Copper for example) is around 30 - 40 years. It can be a business providing job security for 2 generations in the area. It's quite tough to shift gears after years of practice for locals. Old habits die hard.

2. To secure a group of people who are able to continuously engage in the planning to add on value is only easy on the book.

Opportunities:

1. A new perspective can be provided to the locals and sparks new hope for the community that there's more than mining for the area. It may attract newcomers to revive the community.

2. The community will have more chances to expose to new terms, tools and skills if it is willing to go through the change phase.

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Opportunites

1. Promotion of long-term economic resiliences: encourages planning of local economies beyond the life of the mine

2. Strengthening community: understand the needs and wants of local stakeholders in early engagement for future land use and build social license and trust

3. Purpose-driven rehabilitation: enables closure strategies that support future land use and reduce environmental liability

Challenges

1. Uncertainty around future needs: hard to plan and predict economic, environmental and social conditions so far into the future; the plan can be misaligned

2. High upfront investment and cost

3. Complexity in coordination with vast stakeholders: conflicting priorities may create friction

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The length of time at the start of planning for mine closure to operating the mine to end of mine life can be very long. These concepts are high level and often lack details. The methods and visions we can conceive now is likely to be very different as time progresses. With the rate of technologies advancing faster and faster, there will be better ways of doing things.

I wasn't aware at all of the causes and effects of illegal mining before until this video. A quick search online reveals deeper social and economic issues such as unemployment, poverty and lack of education and opportunities and modern slavery issues are associated with or linked to illegal mining.

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There’s Mining, Then There’s Illegal Mining

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The Democratic Republic of the Congo loses about $1 billion each year through illegal mining. Almost 90 people were recently killed in an illegal mining mishap in South Africa. Colombian criminal gangs earn more from illegal mining than they do from cocaine.