Although mining depletes non-renewable natural capital, with careful stewardship of mining revenues and the prioritization of infrastructure development, the process of mining can provide the basis for developing other types of capital. For example, this could include social capital in the form of public infrastructure such as roads, power utilities, hospitals and schools. The environmental and social degradation that often accompanies mining, particularly at local level, can be mitigated through minerals policy and planning. This should come into effect early in the mining life-cycle and continue to be implemented over the full life-cycle. Moreover with judicious allocation of mining revenues, significant infrastructural improvements can be made in the immediate and regional locality of mines. The term “public infrastructure” refers to large scale public utilities or systems, providing road and rail transportation, water, power, telecommunications, ports, pipelines, schools, colleges, universities, clinics and hospitals. Such infrastructure supports society broadly, and enables economic activity. It may encompass the basic installations and facilities that are required for the development of mines where such infrastructure is part of public infrastructure