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MINING SECTOR SUPERCLUSTER PROPOSAL SHORTLISTED
The mining sector’s CLEER supercluster initiative is one of nine proposals—and the only one focused on clean resources—to have been shortlisted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada out of 50 that were originally submitted.
The CLEER (Clean, Low-energy, Effective, Engaged and Remediated) supercluster, was developed by the Canada Mining Innovation Council (CMIC) and the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) with full support from MAC and its members. The CLEER consortium is advancing the project through the next phase of the application process.
CLEER leverages existing regional clusters, including established mining centres in Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Quebec. CLEER will establish a pan-Canadian network of clusters — a “cluster of clusters” — an innovative approach reflecting the diverse nature of the Canadian mining industry. The CLEER proposal is the only one to take this approach, which will result in benefits being broadly distributed across Canada, including the North, urban centres and remote communities. CLEER is also engaging with the Canadian Oil Sands Innovation Alliance to help add further strength and broaden the potential benefits of the project.
The objectives of the CLEER supercluster are shared priorities with government and the communities where the mining sector operates. This initiative will focus on water use, energy intensity and environmental footprint, with aggressive targets of a 50% reduction in each area by 2027.
CLEER will make several key contributions to the Canadian economy such as:
- Position Canada as a top global supplier of clean-tech solutions, and a global leader in the production of clean minerals and metals.
- Help transform the productivity, performance, and competitiveness of the Canadian mining sector. This will spur sustainable mining development across Canada, including northern and remote areas.
- Facilitate growth in the Canadian mining services and supply sector through co-investing to build its innovation and commercialization capacities.
We are thrilled that the CLEER project is advancing to the next stage and appreciate the government’s recognition of its significant potential. We believe that this project can help Canada become the leading supplier of the sustainably-sourced minerals and metals the world needs in a low carbon future, as well as the technologies the world needs to best extract them.
- Pierre Gratton, President and CEO, MAC
Members of MAC, CEMI and CMIC join Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister, the Hon. Navdeep Bains, for the announcement on October 11th in Toronto. The Minister was joined by Parliamentary colleagues, the Hon. Bardish Chagger, MP Robert Oliphant and MP Mary Ng.
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MAC’S PIERRE GRATTON PITCHES CANADA’S MINING POTENTIAL
During a recent speech to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade, MAC’s Pierre Gratton highlighted a significant growth opportunity for the sector: the transition to a low carbon future.
Pierre pointed to recent reports that highlighted the opportunity. A study from the World Bank concluded that the increased use of low carbon technologies in the areas of wind, solar and energy storage will serve to drive up demand for mineral and metal products.
Another report by Clean Energy Canada highlighted that Canada and its mining sector could have a competitive advantage in a low carbon future, having rich deposits in many of the minerals and metals needed in renewable energy technologies. The report also noted that Canada already operates some of the lowest carbon-intensive mines in the world, and highlighted MAC’s Towards Sustainable Mining® (TSM®) initiative.
Pierre shared his vision of Canada becoming the leading supplier of the sustainable-sourced minerals, metals and energy products the world needs, and the leading supplier of the technologies the world needs to best extract them. However, action is urgently needed for Canada to achieve this vision. Imminent federal government policy decisions on regulatory, infrastructure, climate change, innovation, tax and mineral policy will directly influence Canada’s ability to harness the potential of a low carbon economy and capitalize on the upswing in mining upon us.
A full copy of Pierre’s speech, Canadian Mining in a Changing World, is available at www.mining.ca/resources/speeches.
Pierre Gratton, MAC’s President and CEO, delivered an address to the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade on September 27th.
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MINING: BUILDING A LOW CARBON FUTURE
There is a natural synergy between mining and clean technology. Raw materials are transformed into technology that, having gone full circle, assist mining operations in reducing environmental footprints, and enhancing efficiency and proactivity. These same raw materials are also enabling the world to transition to a low carbon future.
Wind Turbines: Approximately 100 tonnes of steelmaking coal is necessary to produce the steel to build the average wind turbine. A single wind turbine typically contains approximately 500 kg of nickel and 3,175 kg of copper.
Solar Panels: Silver makes up 90% of a glass paste applied along the top and bottom of crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells.
Nuclear Power: Canadian uranium is integral to the generation of carbon-free nuclear energy.
Electric Cars: The average electric car contains 75 kg of copper wiring – two to three times as much as a conventional vehicle.
Battery Technologies: Lithium, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, cadmium and zinc are key ingredients of new and emerging battery technologies.
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MAC RELEASES STRENGTHENED TAILINGS MANAGEMENT GUIDE
This month, MAC released a revised edition of its internationally-recognized A Guide to the Management of Tailings Facilities. The third edition of the Guide is another step in the continual improvement process for tailings management, moving towards the goal of minimizing harm: zero catastrophic failures of tailings facilities, and no significant adverse effects on the environment and human health.
The revised Guide includes significant updates, which were informed by recommendations from leading experts in the field.
The improvements made to the Tailings Guide build upon what we had already perceived as strong guidance within MAC’s TSM program when the Mount Polley Expert Panel I was a part of examined it as part of its work. For example, the new guide contains several important advances, including consideration of Best Available Technology and Best Available/Applicable Practices, and recognition of the need to broadly consult with Communities of Interest.
- Professor Emeritus Norbert Morgenstern, and Chair of the Mount Polley Expert Panel
For more than two decades, MAC has played a leading role on tailings management. In 1998, MAC released the first edition of the Tailings Guide, which was one of the industry’s first and most comprehensive management guides on tailings. Tailings management is also a core focus of MAC’s sustainability standard, TSM, which was launched in 2004.
Canadian tailings management guidance is recognized as globally leading. For example, the BC Government-appointed Independent Expert Panel that examined the 2014 tailings incident at the Mount Polley Mine in British Columbia recommended that any mining operation proposing to operate a tailings facility in BC should either be required to be a member of MAC—ensuring adherence to TSM—or be obliged to commit to an equivalent program with an audit function. Additionally, a 2016 report by Golder Associates, commissioned by the International Council on Mining and Metals following the tailings failure at the Samarco mine in Brazil, noted that the Canadian guidelines produced by MAC and the Canadian Dam Association, taken together, were the most comprehensive of the national frameworks examined, while also noting potential improvements.
Notwithstanding such recognition, MAC proactively reviewed its tailings management components to ensure they continued to contain leading practices. Following the tailings incident at Mount Polley, MAC struck an Independent Task Force to undertake an external review, which ultimately made 29 recommendations to strengthen MAC’s tailings management guidance and requirements under TSM—all of which are being systematically incorporated. A parallel internal review, spearheaded by tailings experts within MAC’s membership, was also conducted. This identified further opportunities, including those identified in the 2016 Golder report, to strengthen MAC’s tailings management components.
MAC has raised the bar for tailings management for its members and I believe that its tailings guides will be widely applied as the international mining industry works towards improving their practices worldwide.
- Dirk Van Zyl, Professor of Mining Engineering; member of the Mount Polley Expert Panel; and special advisor to the MAC-appointed Independent Tailings Review Task Force.
For more information about MAC’s work in the area of tailings management, please visit: www.mining.ca/tailings-management.
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CANADIAN MINING HALL OF FAME ANNOUNCES 2018 INDUCTEES
The Canadian Mining Hall of Fame (CMHF) has announced that it will welcome four industry champions - Ross Beaty, Bob Gannicott, Terry MacGibbon and Ed Thompson - to its prestigious group of 177 mining hall of famers.
The four inductees will be honoured at the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame’s 30th Annual Dinner and Induction Ceremony on Thursday, January 11, 2018 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This premier event is a celebration of Canada’s global mining leadership and the outstanding individuals who have transformed and led the industry to where it is today.
For the past 30 years, the CMHF has recognized outstanding achievement in the mining industry, celebrated individual leadership and inspired future generations in mining. Canadians are global leaders in the industry and these four inductees reflect the very best of mining expertise, determination and leadership. MAC is a proud partner and sponsor of the CMHF.
Tickets to the Annual Dinner and Induction Ceremony are now available at: www.mininghalloffame.ca/about/annual_dinner
Ross Beaty, Bob Gannicott, Terry MacGibbon and Ed Thompson will be inducted to the Canadian Mining Hall of Fame on January 11, 2018.
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ABOUT THE MINING ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (MAC)
The Mining Association of Canada (MAC) is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for most of Canada’s production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, and mined oil sands, and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication.
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