**Executive Summary**
This document reports on India's First National Workshop on Mine Closure & Repurposing, held in Neyveli on 23rd and 24th February 2026. Organized by the Ministry of Coal, the workshop focused on structured mine closure planning and sustainable post-mining land repurposing. Key outcomes include the acknowledgement of 25 successfully closed mines and the introduction of frameworks and tools to support future mine closure and repurposing initiatives, with a series of webinars planned to follow.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Workshop Overview**
* The two-day National Workshop on Mine Closure & Repurposing was held on 23rd and 24th February 2026 in Neyveli, Tamil Nadu.
* It was organized under the aegis of the Ministry of Coal and NLC India Limited.
* The workshop was inaugurated by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines.
* This initiative was India's first national-level focus on structured mine closure planning and sustainable post-mining land repurposing.
* Over 500 participants attended, including 147 Nodal Officers from mines identified for closure, along with representatives from coal sector PSUs, private mining companies, regulatory bodies, NGOs, policymakers, financial institutions, academia, and international organizations.
* The workshop aimed to transform mine closure from a compliance-driven process into a catalyst for long-term regional regeneration.
* **Thematic Sessions and Content**
* Nine thematic sessions were conducted, featuring 29 eminent speakers from diverse sectors.
* Discussions covered planning and implementing sustainable, community-oriented mine closure strategies.
* Explored post-mining pathways included regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, livestock-based livelihoods, aquaculture, renewable energy integration, tourism development, cultural enterprises, skill development, policy convergence, international finance, and global best practices.
* A strong focus was placed on creating diversified and sustainable livelihood opportunities and ensuring community engagement.
* **Government Initiatives and Tools**
* The Ministry of Coal is implementing initiatives such as mandatory allocation of 25% of escrow funds for community development.
* The RECLAIM Framework has been released to facilitate active community engagement in mining-affected regions.
* The LIVES Framework and an interactive online tool called SUVIKALP were introduced to promote sustainable repurposing of mined-out lands.
* **Future Plans**
* A series of National Webinars will be organized by the Coal Controller Origination, focusing on thematic areas like livelihood diversification, renewable energy integration, and international finance.
* **National Milestone**
* The workshop acknowledged that 25 mines have been successfully closed in a scientific manner, signifying progress in mine closure governance.
**Impact Analysis**
**Nodal Officers from Mines Identified for Closure**
* **Impact:** These officers receive valuable guidance on planning and implementing sustainable, community-oriented mine closure strategies. They are exposed to a wide spectrum of post-mining pathways and best practices.
* **Action Required:** To apply the knowledge gained from the thematic sessions and the introduced frameworks (RECLAIM, LIVES, SUVIKALP) in their respective mine closure and repurposing efforts.
**Coal Sector PSUs and Private Mining Companies**
* **Impact:** These entities are exposed to national best practices, regulatory guidance, and innovative repurposing strategies, influencing their approach to mine closure and post-mining land use.
* **Action Required:** To leverage the insights and tools provided to enhance their mine closure planning and implement sustainable repurposing projects.
**Regulatory Bodies**
* **Impact:** These bodies are informed about the Ministry's initiatives and frameworks, potentially influencing their oversight and guidelines related to mine closure and repurposing.
* **Action Required:** To understand and potentially integrate the principles of the RECLAIM and LIVES frameworks into their regulatory processes.
**NGOs, Policymakers, Financial Institutions, Academia, and International Organizations**
* **Impact:** These stakeholders gain insights into the government's commitment and strategy for mine closure and repurposing, fostering potential collaborations and investments in sustainable development of mining regions.
* **Action Required:** To explore opportunities for engagement and collaboration based on the shared commitment to environmental restoration, inclusive growth, and socio-economic resilience.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Coal: Government ministry responsible for coal mining policy and regulation in India.
RECLAIM Framework: A framework released by the Ministry of Coal to facilitate community engagement in mining-affected regions.
LIVES Framework: A framework introduced by the Ministry of Coal for sustainable repurposing of mined-out lands.
Shri G. Kishan Reddy: Union Minister of Coal and Mines, who inaugurated the workshop.
Neyveli: Location where the National Workshop on Mine Closure & Repurposing was held.
Ministry of Coal
Moving Beyond Extraction: India’s First National
Workshop on Mine Closure & Repurposing Held
at Neyveli
Posted On: 05 MAR 2026 4:12PM by PIB Delhi
The two-day National Workshop on Mine Closure & Repurposing was successfully conducted on 23rd
and 24th February 2026 at Neyveli, Tamil Nadu, under the aegis of the Ministry of Coal and NLC India
Limited. Inaugurated by Shri G. Kishan Reddy, Union Minister of Coal and Mines, the workshop marked
India’s first national-level initiative focused exclusively on structured mine closure planning and
sustainable post-mining land repurposing. The workshop was graced by the august presence of Shri
Vikram Dev Dutt, Secretary (Coal), Smt. Rupinder Brar and Shri Sanoj Kumar Jha, Additional Secretaries,
Shri Sajeesh Kumar N, Coal Controller, along with other senior officials of the Ministry of Coal.
The workshop brought together 147 Nodal Officers from mines identified for closure, along with
representatives from coal sector PSUs, private mining companies, regulatory bodies, NGOs,
policymakers, financial institutions, academia, bilateral and multilateral organisations. In total, over 500
participants attended the workshop. The diverse participation reflected a shared commitment to
transforming mine closure from a compliance-driven process into a catalyst for long-term regional
regeneration.The key highlight of the workshop was the conduct of nine thematic sessions featuring 29 eminent
speakers from government, industry, research institutions, development organisations, and international
agencies. These domain experts shared their practical insights and on-ground experiences in mine closure
and post-mining transitions, providing valuable guidance to nodal officers and participants on planning
and implementing sustainable, community-oriented mine closure strategies.
The sessions explored a wide spectrum of post-mining pathways including regenerative agriculture,
agroforestry, livestock-based livelihoods, aquaculture in mine voids, renewable energy integration,
tourism development, cultural enterprises, skill development centres, policy convergence, accessing
international finance, and global best practices in structured mine closure. The deliberations strongly
focused on creating diversified and sustainable livelihood opportunities in post-mining landscapes.
Speakers also underscored the critical role of community engagement and livelihood generation in
ensuring inclusive and sustainable development in mined-out regions.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister of Coal and Mines Shri G Kishan Reddy emphasized that mine
closure should not be perceived as the end of mining activity, but rather as the beginning of renewed
socio-economic opportunities for communities in mining regions. He highlighted the importance of
scientific reclamation, environmental restoration, effective utilization of mine closure funds, and the
creation of sustainable livelihood opportunities in mining-affected regions.
As part of the workshop, participants also visited the reclaimed and de-coaled areas of NLC India Limited,
where mined-out lands have been transformed into eco-tourism destinations featuring boating facilities,
rejuvenated water bodies, and thriving bird habitats. The field visit provided a firsthand demonstration of
how scientific reclamation and integrated planning can convert degraded mine areas into biodiversity-rich
and economically productive landscapes.
The workshop also acknowledged a significant national milestone, noting that 25 mines have been
successfully closed in a scientific manner, marking an important step towards strengthening systematic,
transparent, and accountable mine closure governance in the country.To advance this vision, the Ministry of Coal has been implementing several key initiatives, including the
mandatory allocation of 25% of escrow funds for community development. To facilitate its effective on-
ground implementation, the Ministry has already released the RECLAIM Framework (Reach Out,
Envision, Co-create, Localize, Act, Integrate, and Maintain), a comprehensive guide to facilitate active
community engagement in mining-affected regions.
In addition, to promote sustainable repurposing of mined-out lands, the Ministry had earlier introduced the
LIVES Framework and developed an interactive online tool called SUVIKALP, to help the project
proponents to identify and implement suitable repurposing projects.
Building on the momentum generated through the workshop, the Coal Controller Origination under the
Ministry of Coal plans to organise a series of National Webinars. These webinars will focus on specific
thematic areas such as livelihood diversification, renewable energy integration, accessing international
finance, tourism-led development, skill ecosystems, and adoption of global best practices to ensure
sustained knowledge exchange and capacity building among stakeholders.
The successful conduct of the workshop reaffirms the Government’s commitment to ensuring that mine
closure becomes not merely a statutory obligation, but a transformative opportunity for environmental
restoration, inclusive growth, and long-term socio-economic resilience in mining regions across India.
***
Shuhaib T
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