Mining Project Rehabilitation and Closure Guidelines

The guidelines establish a framework for the lifecycle of mining project rehabilitation and closure in Papua New Guinea, emphasizing early planning, stakeholder engagement, and the provision of financial assurance. It details the evolution of Rehabilitation and Mine Closure (RMC) Plans from the feasibility phase through to post-closure monitoring, outlining the requirements for physical and chemical stability and socioeconomic transition. The document specifies the contents of RMC Plans and the calculation and management of financial assurance to ensure that the state has sufficient funds to rehabilitate sites in the event of abandonment.

• Mining project closure in Papua New Guinea is based on four fundamental objectives: the post-closure landscape must be physically stable, chemically stable, reasonably safe and healthy for humans, wildlife, and the ecosystem, and promote a smooth socioeconomic transition.
• Rehabilitation and Mine Closure (RMC) Plans must evolve through the mine life: a conceptual plan is submitted during the feasibility phase, updated plans are submitted at least every five years during operations, and a final plan must be submitted at least two years before scheduled closure or lease expiry.
• Tenement holders are required to provide financial assurance (FA) as a surety to the state before commencing land disturbance to cover RMC obligations. FA must be calculated assuming work is performed by a third-party contractor and is revised every five years or upon major changes to the mine plan.
• Financial assurance calculations must include costs for decommissioning, demolition, remediation, earthworks, revegetation, and long-term post-closure monitoring, but must exclude employee severance, taxes, social costs, and the salvage value of equipment.
• The guidelines mandate that RMC planning be an iterative process incorporating stakeholder engagement, including women, youth, disabled persons, and elders, to inform post-closure land use and closure goals.

APA

International Institute for Sustainable Development (2019). Mining Project Rehabilitation and Closure Guidelines. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mining-rehabilitation-closure-guide-papua-new-guinea.pdf

Chicago

International Institute for Sustainable Development. Mining Project Rehabilitation and Closure Guidelines. 2019. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mining-rehabilitation-closure-guide-papua-new-guinea.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=International Institute for Sustainable Development |title=Mining Project Rehabilitation and Closure Guidelines |date=September 2019 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mining-rehabilitation-closure-guide-papua-new-guinea.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{internationalinstituteforsustainabledevelopment2019mining, author = {{International Institute for Sustainable Development}}, title = {{Mining Project Rehabilitation and Closure Guidelines}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2019}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/mining-rehabilitation-closure-guide-papua-new-guinea.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }