Perspectives on Closure and Revitalisation of Extraction Sites and Sustainability: A Q-Methodology Study

Stefanie Streit (), Michael Tost and Katharina Gugerell
Additional contact information
Stefanie Streit: Chair of Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics, Montanuniversität Leoben, 8700 Leoben, Austria
Michael Tost: Chair of Mining Engineering and Mineral Economics, Montanuniversität Leoben, 8700 Leoben, Austria
Katharina Gugerell: Institute of Landscape Planning, Department of Landscape, Spatial- and Infrastructure Sciences, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, 1180 Vienna, Austria

Resources, 2023, vol. 12, issue 2, 1-17

Abstract: Closure and revitalisation are essential steps in the life cycle of a mineral extraction site. Proper planning and execution can counteract potential negative impacts caused by extraction activities and allow a positive impact to be left on the post-closure region. Decisions on these steps are not made solely by the extraction company; legislators and the public also exert influence. Different opinions and expectations on closure and revitalisation can lead to tensions between actors. Thus, knowing diverse opinions and expectations and considering them in planning contributes to a successful implementation of measures. Using Q-methodology in a study focused on selected EIT RIS countries, we identified five viewpoints on the closure and revitalisation of an extraction site. The statements for this study have been developed based on international and company standards for closure and revitalisation, namely ICMM, IRMA, AngloAmerican and Rio Tinto, which we then also used for comparison in order to see how they relate to the five resulting viewpoints. Across all viewpoints, our results reveal a preference for environmental considerations, followed by social and economic concerns. Even though this paper considers closure and revitalisation separately from mineral extraction, these processes are intertwined. Thus, a sustainable planning and management of the extraction process itself contributes to a successful and sustainable post-closure landscape.

Keywords: mining; mineral extraction; closure and revitalisation; Q-methodology; sustainability; land use (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/12/2/23/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9276/12/2/23/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jresou:v:12:y:2023:i:2:p:23-:d:1054408

Access Statistics for this article

Resources is currently edited by Ms. Donchian Ma

More articles in Resources from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().