Tailings storage facilities can become a mine’s largest liability, yet proactive closure planning turns that liability into value. Drawing on real projects from Australia, Africa and beyond, the session explains how design tweaks made as early as the pre-feasibility study stage—such as concurrent rehabilitation, adaptive water management and nature-based landforms—shrink closure budgets and satisfy the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). We’ll unpack the key cost drivers, explore tools for predicting long term performance and share lessons in engaging with regulators, Traditional Owners and local communities. Attendees will leave with an appreciation for embedding closure metrics into daily operations, plus clear strategies for lowering financial provisions and securing their social licences.