Although closing in 2022 due to reduced feedstock, the Hudbay hydrometallurgical zinc plant has been a modern technology source of industrial employment in Flin Flon for 30 years.
MINING ESSENTIAL TO KICK-START CANADA’S LOW-CARBON TECH REVOLUTION By Pierre Gratton, President and CEO, The Mining Association of Canada
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What do the green technologies
consume, Canada is well placed to
contributed $1.3 billion dollars in GDP
essential to getting us to net-zero, like
become the supplier of choice for these
to the economy and accounted for over
solar panels, wind turbines, nuclear
critical inputs. With 82 per cent of our
11,000 jobs. Vale’s nickel operation in
energy and electric car batteries, all
electricity generation coming from
Thompson and Hudbay Minerals Inc.’s
have in common? A dependence on
non-GHG emitting sources, Canada
copper and zinc mines in Flin Flon and
metals, like nickel, iron, cobalt, uranium,
produces some of the lowest carbon
Snow Lake are just two examples of
zinc and copper, to function. The
intensity mineral and metal products
leading Canadian mining companies
question is not whether we require
anywhere in the world and can and
operating in the province that are
minerals and metals to reach our
should play a much more significant
providing the raw materials to literally
climate goals, but rather if Canada will
role in providing the materials the world
piece together the tech that will lower
become the supplier the world needs.
needs to get to net-zero.
our GHG footprint.
As a recognized global leader in
Manitoba’s mining sector is a key
Our leadership in sustainably
responsible mineral production
contributor to Canada’s leadership
producing the materials is undeniable,
and with markets and consumers
in this space. The mining industry is
but there are other major reasons
increasingly demanding cleaner and
one of the largest primary resource
beyond climate change for Canada
greener materials at every stage of
industries of Manitoba’s economy and
to increase its production of critical
the supply-chain for the products they
in 2020 its minerals and metals sector
minerals. One reason revolves around
MANITOBA MINING REVIEW 2021-2022