The Land Repurposing Methodology (LRM), developed by the World Bank, was used to assess future land use options for the Amyntaio mine. The LRM was used in conjunction with the GIS-based Land Use Repurposing Application (LURA), which incorporates locally developed criteria for the assessment (described in chapter 3.2 of “A Road Map for Managing the Coal Transition in Western Macedonia”).
The assessment piloted LURA on a section of mining lands that were planned for closure and repurposing, to identify post mining land uses with good potential. To characterize repurposing options, the LURA uses five criteria related to the physical, chemical, environmental, socio-economic and financial conditions of the land. These are: (i) location and redevelopment potential; (ii) environmental risks / liabilities; (iii) geotechnical stability; (iv) topography and hydrography; and (v) development potential and financial risks. Each criterion is further subdivided to capture the full extent of the land conditions, in a simple and objective way.
Characterization of the sites based on their actual conditions is important to the methodology. The World Bank suggests the minimum data requirements to produce a meaningful classification of any site should include: up to date maps of topography, surface conditions and geology (and information about which geological layer was reached during mining works); geotechnical conditions for slope stability, including factors for seismic risks, erosion potential and liquefaction potential in materials below the water table; hydrogeological data and information, including past, current and projected future groundwater elevation, and surface hydrology (especially in lower lying areas and stream paths); and, environmental data including test results for key pollutants at specific areas or locations.
The outcome of the assessment for the Amyntaio Mine is considered to be indicative of the least effort needed for repurposing to achieve the optimum land use based on the current land conditions. However, the classification of post mine land use with LURA is not prescriptive. LURA proposes one of four broad potential utilization categories, ranging from low intensity, low value use to development with high added values: (i) forest and natural habitats; (ii) agriculture; (iii) industry and energy production; and (iv) business park developments, recreation and tourism. The results do not preclude other options being brought forward by future developers.
The assessment found that the predominant optimal land utilization at the Amyntaio Mine site is agriculture, given its proximity to infrastructure and transport network, the geotechnical liabilities such as long-term settlements and slope instabilities’ and the favorable environmental conditions (no pollution of soil and groundwater). The second highest rated option based on current conditions was identified as industrial development, which can take place in areas that are geotechnically stable with minimum amount of expected long term settlements, are close to infrastructure and energy networks and far from villages.
The Land Repurposing Methodology (LRM), developed by the World Bank, was used to assess future land use options for the Amyntaio mine. The LRM was used in conjunction with the GIS-based Land Use Repurposing Application (LURA), which incorporates locally developed criteria for the assessment (described in chapter 3.2 of “A Road Map for Managing the Coal Transition in Western Macedonia”).
The assessment piloted LURA on a section of mining lands that were planned for closure and repurposing, to identify post mining land uses with good potential. To characterize repurposing options, the LURA uses five criteria related to the physical, chemical, environmental, socio-economic and financial conditions of the land. These are: (i) location and redevelopment potential; (ii) environmental risks / liabilities; (iii) geotechnical stability; (iv) topography and hydrography; and (v) development potential and financial risks. Each criterion is further subdivided to capture the full extent of the land conditions, in a simple and objective way.
Characterization of the sites based on their actual conditions is important to the methodology. The World Bank suggests the minimum data requirements to produce a meaningful classification of any site should include: up to date maps of topography, surface conditions and geology (and information about which geological layer was reached during mining works); geotechnical conditions for slope stability, including factors for seismic risks, erosion potential and liquefaction potential in materials below the water table; hydrogeological data and information, including past, current and projected future groundwater elevation, and surface hydrology (especially in lower lying areas and stream paths); and, environmental data including test results for key pollutants at specific areas or locations.
The outcome of the assessment for the Amyntaio Mine is considered to be indicative of the least effort needed for repurposing to achieve the optimum land use based on the current land conditions. However, the classification of post mine land use with LURA is not prescriptive. LURA proposes one of four broad potential utilization categories, ranging from low intensity, low value use to development with high added values: (i) forest and natural habitats; (ii) agriculture; (iii) industry and energy production; and (iv) business park developments, recreation and tourism. The results do not preclude other options being brought forward by future developers.
The assessment found that the predominant optimal land utilization at the Amyntaio Mine site is agriculture, given its proximity to infrastructure and transport network, the geotechnical liabilities such as long-term settlements and slope instabilities’ and the favorable environmental conditions (no pollution of soil and groundwater). The second highest rated option based on current conditions was identified as industrial development, which can take place in areas that are geotechnically stable with minimum amount of expected long term settlements, are close to infrastructure and energy networks and far from villages.