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Closure Maturity Framework

19 November 2020

The ICMM Closure Maturity Framework is a tool for companies to build a common understanding of closure concepts across an assets life cycle and across mining disciplines.

  • The intent of the Framework is to map, motivate and measure the status of assets on their journey to sustainable closure.

  • A maturity framework typically defines structured levels that describe how well the systems, processes and practices of an organisation can reliably produce required outcomes. In the context of closure, it offers a way to understand the levels of maturity for any given asset in terms of closure planning and implementation.

  • This Framework will allow operations to understand and evaluate where they are positioned today, track their performance towards implementing sustainable closure, and identify what elements are needed to strengthen their systems, processes or practices to improve their maturity level.

  • As the approach taken for closure will vary depending on the life of asset (LoA) and time remaining before predicted closure, criteria has been developed for the five main asset stages (exploration, early operations, mature operations, pre closure and closure execution and post closure monitoring).

  • The criteria for each phase of the asset life cycle is based on the 14 key elements presented in the Integrated Mine Closure: Good practice guide. The criteria is based on maturity levels ranging from nascent to leading practice and each one of the relevant criteria need to be achieved before moving the next maturity level.

  • Assets can record their current maturity level and aspirational maturity level, with the output recorded on visual diagrams to aid communication and understanding between teams and business units. The aim is to drive and enable honest conversations on how to move nearer their aspirational level of maturity.

  • The Framework is best suited for assets in the earlier phases of development, where incorporation of closure into decision making and planning is possible. It becomes less useful for sites approaching closure imminently or already closed sites, which have not followed the integrated closure approach.