The IGF delivered a capacity-building workshop on mine closure and rehabilitation for senior management and technical officers of the Cambodia Ministry of Mines and Energy, including many who work in provincial offices. It was the first time a mine closure workshop for the government has been held in Cambodia.
The week-long program covered the foundational aspects of mine closure and post-mining rehabilitation, as well as more complex technical issues, including mine closure plans and cost estimation, environmental and social closure, physical and chemical stability, biodiversity and reclamation, risk assessment, and abandoned mines.
The program also included exercises to assess needs, moderated discussions, and case studies to build an understanding of the content.
Participants went on a field trip to a limestone quarry and cement production facility in Kampot Province, south of Phnom Penh. The trip allowed participants to get a close look at the quarry conditions, the progressive reclamation in progress, research-based environmental rehabilitation (biodiversity and local and indigenous ecosystems), and engagement with local communities (e.g., health, public infrastructure, education). They also learned about the cement production process, from raw-material extraction to finished products, including low-carbon cement.