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The growing trend of working abroad has reached the mining industry, and as a result, many Canadian mining companies have set up exploration sites worldwide. In this section of Mining and Energy, we will monitor hot commodities, profile co...
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Saskatchewan's Potash may be Canada's Trump Card
An opinion piece argues that Canada should leverage its dominant position in potash production (30% of global market) as a strategic response to potential U.S. tariffs. The article emphasizes that unlike oil and gas, the U.S. imports over 80% of its potash supply and has limited domestic alternatives, making it vulnerable to supply disruptions.
National Energy Emergency
President Trump announced during his inauguration that the US will remove dependency on foreign energy and become the world leader in oil and gas production. He established the External Revenue Service to collect tariffs from foreign entities and declared a national energy emergency with the phrase 'Drill, baby, drill.'
Westshore Terminals Coal Fire 2024
A fire has broken out at Westshore Coal Port Terminal in Delta, BC, one of North America's largest coal export facilities handling 33 million tonnes annually. Emergency crews are on site working to contain the fire that reportedly started on a coal conveyor. The terminal is crucial for Canadian coal shipments to global markets, particularly Asia.
China Escalates Trade Tensions with Rare Mineral Export Ban
China has banned exports of gallium, germanium, antimony and other critical minerals to the United States, escalating trade tensions and creating supply chain disruption. This presents significant opportunities for Canada to develop its critical mineral resources and become an alternative supplier to global markets.
NZTC Clean Energy Start-up Accelerator Opens Applications with £500K Grant Funding Available
The Net Zero Technology Centre has opened applications for its 2025 TechX Clean Energy Accelerator, offering £500K in total grant funding across 10 start-ups (up to £50K each). The program targets early-stage clean energy companies developing technologies in carbon capture, low carbon hydrogen, alternative fuels, and renewable energy, with applications closing October 27, 2024.
Opinion: Canada's Railway Strike Exposes the Perils of Privatized Infrastructure for West Coast Resources
An opinion piece examines how Canada's recent railway strike exposed critical vulnerabilities in the country's privatized rail infrastructure, which is essential for transporting West Coast resources including minerals, oil, and gas. The article argues that railways built with public investment but now privately controlled create single-point-of-failure risks for Canada's resource economy.
Ciel & Terre in Germany, a favorable summer for floating solar
Ciel & Terre successfully launched Germany's first floating solar project using its Hydrelio technology, installing a 750 kWp array on a quarry lake in the Karlsruhe region. The project required an innovative parabolic mooring line system due to the challenging underwater conditions with depths up to 59 meters. The facility provides energy for quarry operations with excess power fed into the local grid.
PDAC 2020 awards honour industry leaders
The Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada announced its 2020 award recipients across six categories, recognizing outstanding achievement in the Canadian and international mineral exploration and mining industry. Recipients include leading prospectors, geologists, Indigenous community leaders, and mining companies, with awards to be presented at the annual PDAC Convention in Toronto in March.
Demand for rare earth metals and minerals—increasingly rare on land—spurs deep-sea mining
A code of conduct for deep-sea mining in international waters has been officially launched in 2020, with 29 exploration contracts already approved covering 1.3 million square kilometers. The initiative targets critical minerals like nickel, copper, cobalt, and rare earth metals needed for electronics and clean energy technologies. The International Seabed Authority is developing regulations for commercial exploitation of three types of marine mineral deposits in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.
International Energy Innovator of the Year awarded to Canada’s Joshua Lewis of Nerva Energy
Joshua Lewis, Engineering Manager at Nerva Energy, was named Energy Innovator of the Year for the Canada region by the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). The award recognizes outstanding achievement in promoting renewable and innovative energy technologies. Lewis received the honor at the AEE International Awards ceremony in Washington on September 25, 2019.
Corvus Energy strikes agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries for novel lithium-ion technology
Corvus Energy has signed a licensing agreement with Kawasaki Heavy Industries for novel lithium-ion capacitor technology, following a development partnership that began in 2017. The technology will be incorporated into a new product called Blue Marlin, targeting the offshore energy sector with improved energy efficiency capabilities.
Osisko announces sale of Brucejack Offtake to Pretium
Osisko Gold Royalties sold its Brucejack gold offtake contract to Pretium for US$41.3 million, eliminating a low-margin contract and freeing up working capital for new investments. The sale is expected to close on September 30, 2019, with payments split between closing and November 2019.
Imperial Oil Ltd. appoints new president; CEO R.M. Kruger announces retirement
Imperial Oil Limited announced the appointment of B.W. (Brad) Corson as president effective September 17, 2019, with CEO R.M. (Rich) Kruger retiring at year-end. Corson will assume the role of chairman, president and CEO on January 1, 2020.
Teck named to 2019 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index
Teck Resources has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index for the 10th consecutive year, ranking as the top mining company globally based on economic, social and environmental performance. The company scored highest in the industry across multiple sustainability categories including supply chain management, biodiversity, and corporate citizenship.
Seaspan Ferries selects Corvus to supply Energy Storage
Corvus Energy has been selected by Seaspan Ferries to supply 2034 kWh battery energy storage systems for new LNG-battery hybrid ferries operating on BC coastal routes. The previous ferry installations using 546 kWh Corvus batteries achieved 9-10% fuel efficiency improvements, demonstrating the technology's commercial viability in marine applications.
Matrix and Athabasca Catering announce their partnership to bolster the resource sectors
Matrix, a national camp and logistics provider, has partnered with Athabasca Catering to offer comprehensive remote site services to mining and resource companies. The partnership creates a one-stop solution combining Matrix's camp operations and aviation services with Athabasca's catering and hospitality expertise for remote work sites.
Brazil adopts Canada’s Towards Sustainable Mining Initiative
Brazil's national mining association IBRAM has adopted Canada's Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, becoming the seventh country to implement this environmental and social responsibility standard. The adoption comes as a response to Brazil's recent tailings dam failures and will be implemented across IBRAM's 130 member companies over the next five years.
Sustainable fuels, not just electric cars, are important to reduce transport emissions
A joint study by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and University of Cambridge finds that sustainable fuels, particularly synthetic biofuels from woody biomass, could be more cost-competitive than electric vehicles for long-range transport decarbonization. The research advocates for a technology-neutral portfolio approach to transport decarbonization rather than focusing solely on electric vehicles.
BC Construction Industry set to launch Certification Program for Concrete Pump Operators
The BC Construction Safety Alliance has launched North America's first certification program for concrete pump operators, meeting international ISO 17024 standards. The program addresses a significant safety gap where previously anyone with a Class 3 driver's license could operate concrete pumps without formal certification. The initiative was developed through collaboration with multiple industry and labour organizations to improve construction site safety.
Teck announces Dominic Barton to step down from Teck Board
Teck Resources announced that Board Chair Dominic Barton is stepping down immediately to become Canada's Ambassador to China. Sheila Murray will serve as acting Board Chair while the company searches for a permanent replacement.
Winning designs for Energy Generating Public Artwork announced at the 24th World Energy Congress
The Land Art Generator Initiative and Masdar announced winners of an international design competition at the 24th World Energy Congress in Abu Dhabi, challenging teams to create large-scale public artworks that generate clean energy. The winning design, Starlit Stratus, would produce 2,484 MWh of clean energy annually for Masdar City's grid using solar technology.
Corvus Energy opens a new battery factory in Norway
Corvus Energy opened a new automated battery factory in Bergen, Norway with 400 MWh annual production capacity to serve the European maritime electrification market. The facility features nine robotic stations and complete automation from component unpacking to finished battery module testing, built on time and on budget.
Pulsating maple leaf coin another world-first
The Royal Canadian Mint unveiled breakthrough numismatic technology with the Pulsating Maple Leaf coin, featuring sub-millimeter mirrors that create an optical illusion of the maple leaf expanding and contracting. The mint also launched multiple commemorative silver and gold coins including the first non-circular coin shaped like a loon.
Future of Mining Americas returns to Denver with a focus on digitization, innovation and the future
The Future of Mining Americas conference returns to Denver October 21-22, 2020, focusing on digitization, innovation and sustainability across the mining lifecycle. Over 250 industry professionals are expected to attend sessions covering technology integration, community relations, and talent development challenges.