A case study in advancing Canadian mining

Mine operators dealing with mine closure planning are finding value in a simple idea: before tackling a problem alone, find out who else has already tried to solve it

How do you further improve water management during the mine closure process? Which technical solutions will stand up in practice? How do shifting environments and social considerations inform our closure plans? And when an approach looks promising, how do you build confidence within your organization to move it forward?

Operators across the Canadian mining industry are working together to continuously improve mine closure practices. One mine can spend considerable time testing an approach without knowing that another operator has already tried something similar and learned from the results.

Enter CIM’s Mine Closure Working Group.

At its first session, operators met to compare how they are approaching closure challenges across different sites and mine types. The message delivered was clear: operators gain powerful insights and lessons from real cases.

The Working Group, which currently comprises operators from the gold, base metals and energy sectors, focuses on approaches trialed at operations, the results of those trials, lessons learned and what could have been done differently.

Participants noted that being able to show that another mine has already tested a similar approach can strengthen the case for moving an idea forward internally. Seeing how others have handled similar situations can help operators spot risks earlier and avoid preventable mistakes.

Key takeaways:

Case studies are highly valued. Operators want to see what others have tried, what happened and how those lessons could apply at their own operations.

Cross-operation learning can expand knowledge. Understanding the challenges different types of mines face during mine closure can uncover issues others might miss and give operators a broader base for developing their own site-specific plans.

Operator-to-operator discussions keep the focus practical. Future sessions will be built around specific opportunities, such as water treatment, industry standards, environmental and social considerations. Topics will be shared in advance so operators can bring relevant experience and examples to the table.

The Canadian context matters. A shared regulatory and operating environment makes the exchange more immediately useful.

Site visits add on-the-ground perspective. One site visit per year, combined with meetings in between, provide a useful mix of discussion and first-hand observation.

The next Mine Closure Working Group session will be held during CIM CONNECT in May 2027, followed by a site visit later that year.

CIM Industry Partners interested in getting involved can contact Jennifer Breaux.