Determining the Method of Reclamation of Surface Mines Based on Renewable Energies Using A New Hybrid Approach

Mines as non-renewable resources have a significant role in the economic and social development of countries. However, at the end of the mine's life, to achieve sustainable development, the mine's pits reclamation is vital. Due to the situation of most mines that are located in remote areas, mine's reclamation based on renewable energies can be an appropriate strategy. In this study, a new hybrid method using the Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) method, grey Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS-G), and Z-theory reliability is introduced for prioritization and selecting of the mine's reclamation strategies. The proposed method, for reclamation of an open-pit lead-zinc mine by considering several criteria and strategies is applied. The results of the FCM show that the average wind speed criterion has the highest weight. Also, the prioritization of the strategies showed that "closing the mine and building wind turbines" is the best strategy for reclamation of the investigated mine. Therefore, considering the windy situations in the study area, building a wind farm to supply electricity is a suitable strategy to achieve sustainable development in the region.