Open pit limit optimization considering the pumped storage benefit after mine closure: a case study

Abstract Repurposing a closed mine as lower reservoir is a cost-effective way for the construction of pumped storage hydropower (PSH) plant. This method can eliminate the expenses of mine reclamation, reservoir construction, and land acquisition, resulting in significant cost savings and benefits for the PSH project, known as the PSH benefit. The construction of PSH plants within a closed mine is divided into surface mode and semi-underground mode in this paper. Through a general comparison of two in-situ cases, the finding highlight that the surface mode can achieve a larger potential installed capacity and lower construction cost. Furthermore, the PSH benefit is quantified and internalized as an economic parameter in the ultimate pit limit (UPL) optimization by allocating it into unit ore. Taken an undisclosed open-pit iron mine as example, the UPL is optimized by considering the PSH benefit. The internalized PSH benefit is calculated to be 6.59 CN¥/t when the installed capacity is 2000 MW, and ore amount within the optimized UPL is increased by 1.4%. The results indicated that the PSH benefit does influence the shape and size of UPL, but not significantly. Besides, converting several bottoms in a single open-pit into lower and upper reservoirs presents more challenges for UPL optimization, which further explorations is needed.