Blog icon

Australia has a growing demand for solutions that support the mining sector address mine closure challenges to accomplish optimal social, environmental and economic outcomes.

Front cover of the report

Developed in consultation with over 60 industry and government organisations, we have delivered a new report for the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformation in Mining Economies (CRC TiME). This report explores the growth opportunities for Australian businesses to supply equipment, technology and services-based solutions that help solve the industry’s mine closure challenges.

Download the report

Key Findings

  • Future mine closures: Analysis by CSIRO projects the closure of nearly 240 Australian mines by 2040, estimating an annual expenditure ranging from $4–8 billion on mine rehabilitation and closure.
  • Ongoing industry demand: Over 2,220 active mines and tens of thousands awaiting rehabilitation highlight the persistent demand for innovative solutions in Australia's mining sector.
  • Global supplier potential: Australia is poised to become a global leader in supplying solutions for mine closures, leveraging domestic challenges to fuel international industry growth.

Opportunities

Existing and emerging opportunities for Australian Mine Closure Solutions providers are identified across four categories of mine closure solutions:

  1. Engagement and partnership: Solutions that enable effective engagement, co-design, and mutually beneficial partnerships to improve social performance and reduce risks.
  2. Waste reduction and recovery: Solutions enabling cost-effective reduction, reuse, and recycling of mine waste to minimise closure liabilities.
  3. Mine rehabilitation: Solutions improving the performance and cost-effectiveness of mine rehabilitation activities.
  4. Land use transitions: Solutions addressing challenges in establishing post-closure land uses to generate lasting economic, social, or environmental value.

Recommendations

To enable these opportunities, government and industry stakeholders will need to take coordinated and targeted action to address key barriers to developing a Mine Closure Solutions industry. This report identifies 11 collaborative and targeted enabling actions for governments, miners, and mine closure solutions providers. These actions are designed to support the growth of a sustainable and productive industry that can improve mine closure and transition outcomes for all stakeholders.

Catch up on the Mine Closure Solutions report webinar hosted by CRC TiME and CSIRO Futures to gain an in-depth understanding of the report's key findings.

Australia has a growing demand for solutions that support the mining sector address mine closure challenges to accomplish optimal social, environmental and economic outcomes.

CSIRO delivered the report for the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformations in Mining Economies (CRC TiME).

Developed in consultation with over 60 industry and government organisations, we have delivered a new report for the Cooperative Research Centre for Transformation in Mining Economies (CRC TiME). This report explores the growth opportunities for Australian businesses to supply equipment, technology and services-based solutions that help solve the industry’s mine closure challenges.

Download the report

Key Findings

  • Future mine closures: Analysis by CSIRO projects the closure of nearly 240 Australian mines by 2040, estimating an annual expenditure ranging from $4–8 billion on mine rehabilitation and closure.
  • Ongoing industry demand: Over 2,220 active mines and tens of thousands awaiting rehabilitation highlight the persistent demand for innovative solutions in Australia's mining sector.
  • Global supplier potential: Australia is poised to become a global leader in supplying solutions for mine closures, leveraging domestic challenges to fuel international industry growth.

Opportunities

Existing and emerging opportunities for Australian Mine Closure Solutions providers are identified across four categories of mine closure solutions:

  1. Engagement and partnership: Solutions that enable effective engagement, co-design, and mutually beneficial partnerships to improve social performance and reduce risks.
  2. Waste reduction and recovery: Solutions enabling cost-effective reduction, reuse, and recycling of mine waste to minimise closure liabilities.
  3. Mine rehabilitation: Solutions improving the performance and cost-effectiveness of mine rehabilitation activities.
  4. Land use transitions: Solutions addressing challenges in establishing post-closure land uses to generate lasting economic, social, or environmental value.

Recommendations

To enable these opportunities, government and industry stakeholders will need to take coordinated and targeted action to address key barriers to developing a Mine Closure Solutions industry. This report identifies 11 collaborative and targeted enabling actions for governments, miners, and mine closure solutions providers. These actions are designed to support the growth of a sustainable and productive industry that can improve mine closure and transition outcomes for all stakeholders.

Catch up on the Mine Closure Solutions report webinar hosted by CRC TiME and CSIRO Futures to gain an in-depth understanding of the report's key findings.

Contact us

Find out how we can help you and your business. Get in touch using the form below and our experts will get in contact soon!

CSIRO will handle your personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and our Privacy Policy.


This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

First name must be filled in

Surname must be filled in

I am representing *

Please choose an option

Please provide a subject for the enquriy

0 / 100

We'll need to know what you want to contact us about so we can give you an answer

0 / 1900

You shouldn't be able to see this field. Please try again and leave the field blank.