1101 MINING TOURISM CENTERS AS PART OF MINE CLOSURE PLANS IN PERU *C.J. Cenzano1 Flores 1Coordination of Environmental Supervision in Mining, Directorate of Environmental Supervision in Energy and Mines, Environmental Assessment and Enforcement Agency (OEFA), Lima, Peru (*Presenting author: ccenzano@oefa.gob.pe) ABSTRACT This paper presents an analysis of the conversion of mines, related facilities and mining-related environmental liabilities into mining parks and/or museums as a strategic alternative to traditional closure or total shutdown of a mine. It seeks to argue that this proposed solution goes beyond the simple preservation of industrial heritage, constituting a strategy for sustainable territorial development that transforms "mining liabilities" into "economic assets." Key findings indicate that the ideal viability of these projects depends on integrated planning from the conception of the mine and the concurrence of critical factors, mainly of a social nature, such as community and governance commitment, through stable regulatory and financial frameworks. The case studies presented, ranging from the Americas to Europe and other continents, demonstrate the existence of diverse and successful models applied to mines, especially old ones. The Riotinto Mining Park in Spain exemplifies socio-economic revitalization led by a foundation, while the Zollverein industrial complex in Germany showcases a multifunctional model that combines tourism with business innovation. The similar situation in North America, with greater development in the field, such as the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine in West Virginia or the World Museum of Mining in Montana, and slightly less in Mexico, contrasts with the Andean region in South America, particularly in Peru, revealing a gap between the existing regulatory framework, which is aligned with international best practices, and practical implementation, pointing to significant challenges such as high closure costs, bureaucracy, and the persistence of illegal and informal mining. It is concluded that the conversion of mines in the region has great future potential, rather than being a current reality, and that the creation of dedicated management entities, with community participation, will enable the long-term sustainability of these new cultural and economic assets. KEYWORDS Cultural assets, mine closure, mining parks, industrial heritage, and mine conversion. 1. INTRODUCTION Mining in many countries around the world, such as Peru, has been and continues to be an activity of great importance, not only as a support for economic development but also for technological development in this field, as well as other related industrial activities. However, when mineral resources were exhausted or their extraction became uneconomical, many mines and facilities had to be abandoned without an adequate Closure Plan being implemented, due to a lack of updated legislation, causing their deterioration and, in many cases, turning them into mining liabilities as sources of environmental disruption in their surroundings (Cenzano, 2007). In view of this, it is necessary to ask whether the depletion of a mine necessarily means that the deposit, its facilities, and infrastructure are no longer of interest to society. In many countries around the world, depleted or uneconomical deposits have been considered "industrial archaeological heritage," so that through a conversion project to showcase their value, it may serve as a testimony and motivation for future generations to promote or value this activity, as has been done in various countries, as can be seen in the digital bibliography reviewed and, in some trips, made by the author abroad over several years (Cenzano, 2007). Likewise, this type of project has been gaining great global relevance in recent years, as mining heritage can be converted, if protected and preserved, into a source of wealth and a focus of attraction for new business initiatives such as tourism, and into an important alternative for the future development of areas where mining was once perhaps the main occupation and source of livelihood (Delgado Domínguez, Romero
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0Mzk2