More ONLINE

Passive closures

JDS Energy and Mining supports mining ESG goals by helping to plan and implement passive closure methods to replace traditionally used active management. Passive closure reduces the use of energy and labour by reducing required site presence and utilizing natural features such as the sun and gravity to move sites towards an acceptable final state that minimizes risk for communities and wildlife.

Smart parts

Kal Tire is focusing efforts on material intensity and looking at using less material to do more. This means extending a tire’s life and reducing the manufacturing of new tires. One new mining tire is 8K pounds of steel and rubber. By repairing rather than replacing a mining truck tire, Kal Tire can reduce 450 litres of oil from being consumed, or 18 tonnes of CO2 from being released.

Reducing power

The move towards a low carbon economy is already happening as Sacre-Davey Engineering works closely with UBC graduate researchers to advance the latest technologies for reducing power consumption, waste and emissions associated with mining operations. This includes ongoing research at UBC’s Coal and Mineral Processing Laboratory to find new ways to sort ore, such as using duel-energy x-ray transmission and optical sensing systems to separate valuable ore from waste rock. This technology limits the waste being sent to tailing dams and reduces the environmental footprint of mining operations.

“British Columbians want clean mining,” says Cheryl Gray, Vice President of Finning Canada. “We all recog- nize that we’re in a wonderful province with an abundance of resources, but we all want to be thoughtful about how we mine and doing that means we leverage new technologies and better ways of doing things than we did in the past.”

Environment, water protection and overall ESG initiatives are now key conversations and imperatives in industry and British Columbia’s mining industry is leading the way towards decarbonization. In a short period of time, MSABC’s members have helped mine operators make significant advancements towards emission reductions and the work continues. Beyond these highlighted ways that the industry is redefining mining, many other innovative advances are being made for the common goal of carbon reduction and a global shift towards increased sustainability.

“ESG has brought a new wave of initiatives across the mining industry, and it is something that the industry can rally behind and make serious changes,” Daniel Jenkins, General Manager – Reclamation of JDS Mining.

About Mining Suppliers Association of BC

Formed in 1986, the Mining Suppliers Association of BC (MSABC) provides equipment, products, and related services to the BC mining industry. MSABC comprises a network of suppliers, contractors and consultants within the province as well as Alberta, Ontario, and Washington State. It is affiliated with the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) which represent the corporations engaged in operating and developing mine sites within BC. As a strong partner of MABC, MSABC focuses in building industry initiatives that focus on sustainability, land use, engagement within Indigenous communities, government relations and public awareness.

By recognizing the importance of mining to the economic well-being of the province, MSABC promotes the development of a sustainable mining industry in BC and commits to building a better future for mining. SP

Source: MSABC