CMIC Newsletter - January 2011
Tailings Management Initiative
Champion & Board link: Gordon Winkel
Oil Sands Companies Set New Direction for Tailings Research
Canadian Natural Resources, Imperial Oil, Shell Canada, Suncor Energy, Syncrude Canada, Teck Resources and Total E&P Canada have announced that they will work together in a unified effort to advance tailings management.
The announcement reflects the companies' commitments to socially and environmentally responsible operations and responds to Alberta government policy to affect the timely reclamation of tailings.
This will foster innovation and collaboration in research and development relating to tailings.
Existing tailings research and development will form the base of knowledge for the collaboration. Research objectives will be finalized early in 2011.
For more information or to schedule an interview, contact:
Sean Beardow
Tel: 403-228-6688
Email: sean.beardow@cohnwolfe.ca
Green Mining Initiative
Board link: Engin Özberk
Special collaboration: Gilles Tremblay, NRCan, CANMET-MMSL
The Policy Framework in Canada for Mine Closure and Management of Long-Term Liabilities: A Guidance Document
The report provides a policy framework and guidance document on mine closure and the management of related long-term liabilities.
The document also provides discussion on long-term care, monitoring and maintenance of mines that may cease to operate and the options whereby mining jurisdictions may accept mining lands back to the Crown.
Issues considered include:
- Financial assurance
- Cost estimation
- Perpetual care
- Long-term monitoring and maintenance
- Corporate failure/premature closure
- Emergency legislation
- Relinquishment
- Consultation
- Institutional care
Stakeholders, including industry, Aboriginal Canadians, communities, governments and non-government organizations, will find the report a useful reference when considering these issues.
Two approaches were used to execute the report. Canadian and foreign agencies responded to a questionnaire on how these issues are currently managed in their jurisdiction.
This information was distilled into key observations and trends. In addition, a series of briefing notes on policy elements were prepared, from which guidance concepts for a policy framework could be developed.
This report can be downloaded at Abandoned-Mines-org.
Sustainable Development Technology Canada Announces Latest Call for Clean Technology Applications
Special collaboration: Zoltan Tompa, Director Applications, SDTC
If your company has an innovative clean technology, then SDTC wants to hear from you.
SDTC invests in a range of innovative solutions across all industries that address Climate Change, Clean Air, Water and Soil.
Talk to us at SDTC.ca
Fugitive Dust Best Management Practices Plan (BMPP)
Special collaboration: Damien Duff, R&D Program Director, CEMI
In conjunction with Golder Associates, and with input from industry; the Ontario Mining Association and the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI), located in Sudbury, Ontario, has facilitated development of a useful set of guidelines for the mining industry to deal with fugitive dust on minesites.
A Fugitive Dust Best Management Practices Plan (BMPP) has been created by starting with a global literature survey of current best practices in dealing with fugitive dust. This facilitated the development of a BMPP template, accompanied by a guideline document and associated risk assessment tool, to help industry users create a site specific fugitive dust control plan for their minesite.
BMPP documentation can be downloaded for free from CEMI's website, MiningExcellence.ca.
Mining Initiative
Champion: Alex Henderson
Board link: Engin Özberk
Special collaboration: John Hadjigeorgiou
Fourth International Seminar on Strategic versus Tactical Approaches in Mining
November 9 - 11, 2011 in Perth, Western Australia
Abstracts due February 21, 2011
Mining is a long-term business that requires extremely high levels of investment. It also presents significant risks related to uncertainties, but potentially extraordinary rewards for shareholders, industry stakeholders and society.
To maximise these rewards over the lifetime of our precious but limited mineral assets, a clever strategic approach to mining must be carefully developed and systematically implemented.
Since 2005, this series of international seminars on strategic versus tactical issues in mining has been well attended by senior mining professionals and managers in Australia, South Africa and Canada. These are events are organised by the Australian Centre of Geomechanics, the Lassonde Mining Institute at the University of Toronto, the University of Witwatersrand and the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.
The Australian Centre of Geomechanics is pleased to bring this innovative and highly topical seminar back to Australia. It will provide a forum for mine owners and operators, consultants, market analysts, suppliers and researchers to exchange views on how to promote best practices in strategic planning activities for mines.
Visit Strategic2011.com
Request from Canadian Museum of Science and Technology
The Canada Science and Technology Museum is working on a new, long term exhibition on energy, economy and the environment. The goal of this exhibition is to showcase new technologies developed and used in Canada in energy related sectors. They are looking for some items to include in the fossil fuel or mineral exploitation sections:
- Remote mining equipment, for example, a remote controller to be displayed with an Atlas Copco remote mining video.
- Drill bits, preferably produced in the last five years, to be displayed with older bits from their collection.
If you can help, contact:
Anna Adamek, Curator at
Natural Resources and Industrial Design, Canada Science and Technology Museum
P.O. Box 9724, Station T.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1G 5A3
Tel: 613-991-3077
Fax 613-990-3636
Website: Technomuses.ca
