Mine Closure 2025 Themes

Mine Closure 2025
23-25 September 2025 | Luleå, Sweden

Vision for Mining: Mine for Closure

 Mining with the end in mind. Mine closure is recognised as a critical foundation for responsible mining. Join us as we delve into the latest advancements in mine closure planning and innovative practices against the backdrop of the Nordic north’s climate extremes. 

As the mining industry plays a pivotal role in the green transition and critical raw material supply, we invite you to consider a holistic approach – one that integrates the design of both mines and their post-mining landscapes and peoples. 

We will examine the balance between natural and novel landform design approaches, investigate closure strategies tailored for extreme scenarios, and analyse the relationship between economic factors, social transitions and sustainability, among other themes.  

Acknowledging that mine closure is a dynamic challenge influenced by shifting economics, climate change, technologies, and stakeholder expectations, we aim to foster a forward-thinking dialogue on the mine operations’ responsibility for shaping resilient productive landscapes of the future. 

Responsible…

  • … operations for closure
  • … closure objectives and criteria
  • … financing
  • … landform design and long-term stability
  • … social planning and transition
  • … biodiversity and nature outcomes
  • … mine closure strategies for extreme conditions
  • … capacity building
  • … use of artificial intelligence (AI)

See more details on these themes below:

Responsible… 

  • … operations for closure  

Practices and implementation of closure outcomes during mine operation 

Approaches and techniques integrating closure with production  

  • … closure objectives and criteria  

Acceptable risk and failure modes 

Dealing with legacy requirements 

Stakeholder needs and desires 

  • … financing  

Financial models for mine closure 

Circular economy opportunities or costs? 

Closure cost estimation 

Financial security and levy approaches 

  • … landform design and long-term stability  

Landform and landscape design, geomorphology 

Geotechnical performance over time 

Integrated geochemical, geohydrology, and hydrotechnical interactions  

Approaches to climate change resilience 

  • … social planning and transition  

Consultation, engagement, participation or collaboration 

Stakeholder engagement, communities, indigenous people, and regulators 

Where have positive social and stakeholder legacies post-mining been achieved? 

Innovative implementation and verification of closure measures for transition of land 

  • biodiversity and nature outcomes  

Ecosystem restoration 

Achieving nature positive mine closure outcomes 

Landform and habitat design 

Innovative technologies and techniques for monitoring and impact assessing 

  • mine closure strategies for extreme conditions  

What innovative closure strategies have been taken for extreme conditions 

Arctic/freeze and thaw/permafrost conditions 

Seismically active conditions 

Extreme aridity or extreme rainfall 

Approaches to the changing climate with more frequent and larger extremes 

  • … capacity building  

How to build the capacity to understand what good mine closure is and what is now possible 

Within the industry – engineers, accountants, finance directors 

Within regulators, consultant and mine service industries, investors, non-governmental organisations, host communities, and affected indigenous peoples 

  • use of artificial intelligence (AI) 

Where is it used and where can it be used?  

Is it a distraction or a useful tool? 

Mine production and landform construction optimisation 

Communication and engagement with post-closure landscapes and economies. 

 

Case studies are encouraged.