Second Life of Post-Mining Infrastructure in Light of the Circular Economy and Sustainable Development—Recent Advances and Perspectives

Katarzyna Pactwa, Martyna Konieczna-Fuławka, Krzysztof Fuławka, Päivi Aro, Izabela Jaśkiewicz-Proć and Aleksandra Kozłowska-Woszczycka
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Katarzyna Pactwa: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 15 Na Grobli Street, 50-421 Wrocław, Poland
Martyna Konieczna-Fuławka: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 15 Na Grobli Street, 50-421 Wrocław, Poland
Krzysztof Fuławka: KGHM Cuprum Ltd. Research & Development Centre, 2-8 Sikorskiego Street, 53-659 Wrocław, Poland
Päivi Aro: School of Business and Information Management, Oulu University of Applied Sciences, Business, Yliopistonkatu 9, 90570 Oulu, Finland
Izabela Jaśkiewicz-Proć: KGHM Cuprum Ltd. Research & Development Centre, 2-8 Sikorskiego Street, 53-659 Wrocław, Poland
Aleksandra Kozłowska-Woszczycka: Faculty of Geoengineering, Mining and Geology, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, 15 Na Grobli Street, 50-421 Wrocław, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: Current EU policy will force a significant reduction of hard coal mines in the near future due to environmental restrictions. There are also numerous non-coal underground mines that will be excavated in the next few years. Taking the above into consideration, it is worth starting to plan further steps in terms of reclamation of these facilities. Within this manuscript, both recently used and novel approaches to underground space reclamation have been reviewed. Selected methods of reclamation were analyzed in terms of their strengths and weaknesses, and the results were compared with the effect of a commonly used approaches (i.e., filling or flooding of underground space after mine termination). The analysis has been performed in the scope of sustainable development. Taking into account the opinion of many stakeholder groups and underground facilities, reuse was considered as an action aimed at fulfilling sustainable development goals and the circular economy concept. Based on numerous surveys, the challenges and opportunities have been determined as well. Finally, most perspectives concerning underground mine reclamation, including environmental impact, social acceptance, and profitability have been proposed and described.

Keywords: underground laboratory; new ways of mine reclamation; sustainability; circular economy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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