ASI’s Concept Paper on Circular Economy Approach to Bauxite Mining Closure and Rehabilitation

30 January 2025

ASI, in collaboration with its Circularity Working Group, is proud to release the Concept Paper on Circular Economy Approach to Bauxite Mining Closure and Rehabilitation. This initiative highlights the transformative potential of applying circular economy (CE) principles to mine closure and land rehabilitation, offering a model that prioritises sustainability, resource efficiency, and stakeholder engagement.

Transforming Mine Closure with Circular Economy Principles

Traditional mining practices often focus on a linear model: extraction, usage, and disposal. This approach can lead to significant environmental degradation and resource waste. In contrast, the circular economy model seeks to recover, retain, and enhance the value of resources throughout the mining lifecycle, ensuring that mining operations leave a positive legacy. Drawing from ISO 59004, the Concept Paper outlines six core principles to guide this transformation:

• Systems Thinking: Recognising mines as integral parts of ecosystems, requiring closure and rehabilitation to be an embedded part of their lifecycle.
• Value Creation: Extending the purpose of mining beyond resource extraction to deliver socio-economic and environmental benefits for future generations.
• Value Sharing: Ensuring mine closure benefits are equitably distributed, fostering community well-being.
• Resource Stewardship: Prioritising the efficient use and recovery of materials and minimizing reliance on virgin resources.
• Resource Traceability: Tracking materials to ensure responsible sourcing and waste management.
• Ecosystem Resilience: Enhancing local ecosystems to promote biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services.

Circular Design Strategies for Materials and Land

The paper introduces structured strategies for integrating CE principles into bauxite mine closure and rehabilitation:

• Material Circularity: Sustainable design, resource efficiency, and end-of-life (EoL) applications ensure materials are reused, repurposed, and recycled effectively. For example, bauxite tailings can be converted into supplementary materials for concrete, and modular infrastructure can be disassembled and reused for community projects.
• Land Rehabilitation: Sustainable practices focus on reducing disturbances, rethinking post-mining land use, and reclaiming land for agriculture, conservation, or renewable energy projects. Adaptive management and participatory planning with stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, ensure long-term sustainability.

Stakeholder Engagement: A Core Pillar

Stakeholder collaboration is at the heart of mine closure and rehabilitation. The Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) process ensures that Indigenous peoples and local communities are integral to decision-making, fostering inclusive outcomes. Stakeholder engagement strategies collected in the paper include consultative groups, local knowledge panels, community visioning, and participatory monitoring, ensuring transparency and shared ownership of rehabilitation efforts.

Monitoring, Reporting, and Continuous Improvement

Continuous monitoring and transparent reporting mechanisms are vital for tracking progress and ensuring long-term success. The Concept Paper highlights industry best practices for data collection, performance assessment, and adaptive management to drive ongoing improvements.

By embedding circular economy principles into bauxite mine closure and rehabilitation, ASI and its Circularity Working Group aim to redefine industry standards, ensuring a sustainable and responsible future for mining communities worldwide.

RELATED TOPICS:

bauxite mine closureCircularity

SHARE THIS ARTICLE