There has been significant debate among stakeholders regarding the extent to which mining companies should be held accountable for mine closure, including ways of generating funds for this purpose, to ensure that the State does not carry the cost for mines that close prematurely or become ‘ownerless’, Eversheds Sutherland partner and Mining and Infrastructure head Warren Beech says. The latest attempt to end this debate was the May publication of the second draft of the Proposed Regulations Pertaining to the Financial Provision for the Rehabilitation and Remediation of Environmental Damage caused by Reconnaissance, Prospecting, Exploration, Mining or Production Operations'(FP Regulations).
