Challenges Faced by Large Mines in Botswana in the Development and Execution of Mine Closure Plans

Abstract

This paper is intended to explore challenges faced by large mines in Botswana in planning and execution of mine closure plans. It identifies key issues and makes some suggestions as to how they may be addressed. Large scale mining in Botswana has a positive legacy. The large mines have provided the much needed jobs, government revenues, business for linking industries and social investment in skills development, housing, health facilities and infrastructural development such as roads. The fact remains however that mining entails exploitation of finite resources and mine closures are inevitable. Large mining companies in Botswana face challenges in the preparation and execution of mine closure plans which include: • Inadequacy of environmental legislation to guide the companies. • Inadequacy of environmental expertise to guide the mine closure process from planning to final closure. • Meeting approval requirements of the authorities for the mine closure plans. • Gaining acceptance of communities for the mine closure plans. • Sustainability of Social investment programs by mining companies. • Preservation of a positive legacy. The suggested way forward in dealing with these challenges is for mining companies to: • Establish environmental management systems and adopt sustainable development frameworks that meet international standards and norms. • Take it upon themselves to develop environmental expertise including offering training opportunities for third parties. • Involve communities intimately in the mine closure process so as to gain informed acceptance for mine closure plans. • Develop integrated mine closure plans such that both the environmental and social issues are adequately addressed. This will minimise the adverse socio-economic impacts upon mine closure and in turn preserve a positive legacy for the mining company. • Make their Social investment programs autonomous such that they can be sustained beyond mine life. The authorities also have a challenge to expeditiously develop and consolidate the relevant legislation, develop capacity to effectively deal with mine closure issues and develop a reasonable financial assurance framework for mine closure. Some initiatives are already underway to address these challenges such as the formulation of regulations and sector guidelines under the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, Promulgation of the Environmental Management Act and capacity building under the Environment Support Programme. Mine Closure 2006 ― Andy Fourie and Mark Tibbett (eds) © 2006 Australian Centre for Geomechanics, Perth, ISBN 0-9756756-6-4 Mine Closure 2006, Perth, Australia 161