Current Status of Mine Closure Readiness: Are governments prepared?

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) examines the readiness of governments to manage mine closures and the post-mining transition. Based on a 2019-2020 survey of 17 member countries and 14 Mining Policy Framework (MPF) assessments, the document finds that while awareness is high, many jurisdictions lack the policies, financial assurance, and administrative capacity to effectively manage the environmental and social risks associated with closing medium- to large-scale mines.

• While 76% of surveyed jurisdictions legally require mine closure plans, the actual quality and oversight of these plans are often insufficient. Many countries only require high-level plans that are reviewed by staff who lack the necessary experience and resources to evaluate them effectively.
• Financial assurance for mine closures is widespread but often incomplete; only 45% of jurisdictions require the full estimated closure cost to be secured. This creates significant financial, social, and environmental risks for governments if mine operators default, and the data shows no strong correlation between a country's Human Development Index (HDI) and the strength of its financial assurance policies.
• Community involvement in mine closure planning is inconsistent, with 37% of jurisdictions reporting no community involvement at all. Although 59% of jurisdictions have policies encouraging the consideration of social transitions, there is limited correlation between a country's HDI and the level of community engagement in shaping closure plans.
• There is a critical lack of historical data on mine closures, with 75% of surveyed jurisdictions lacking adequate records of closed mines and surrendered leases. MPF assessments suggest that over 50% of jurisdictions do not maintain records of closed or abandoned mines, resulting in a loss of institutional learning.
• The most significant barrier to mine-closure readiness is a lack of government capacity and experience, characterized by insufficient human and financial resources and poor integration between departments responsible for environmental management and mine closure.
• Many jurisdictions struggle with the final relinquishment of mine sites. Only 38% of countries have legislation addressing long-term residual risks associated with closed mines, and only 38% include coverage for these risks in their financial assurance requirements.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (n.d.). Current Status of Mine Closure Readiness: Are governments prepared? https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-08/status-mine-closure-readiness-en.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Current Status of Mine Closure Readiness: Are governments prepared? n.d. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-08/status-mine-closure-readiness-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Current Status of Mine Closure Readiness: Are governments prepared? |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-08/status-mine-closure-readiness-en.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopmentndcurrent, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Current Status of Mine Closure Readiness: Are governments prepared? }}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-08/status-mine-closure-readiness-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }