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Sustainability & Environment.
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Senator Jon Tester urges US Government to address coal mining pollution concerns of Lake Koocanusa
U.S. Senator Jon Tester urged the Obama administration to address water quality concerns at Lake Koocanusa caused by coal mining pollution from British Columbia operations in the Elk River Valley. Teck Resources responded by highlighting their water treatment facilities and comprehensive watershed protection plan currently being implemented.
A successful sunny garden
Nelson Hydro is developing Canada's first community solar garden near its Bonnington generating station, allowing customers to purchase shares of centralized solar generation. The 75-kilowatt project using 250 panels is nearly sold out and expected to begin operations by November 2016.
Innovative technology takes on glacier climate and wins
FilterBoxx successfully deployed innovative membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment plants on Knipple Glacier in northern British Columbia, overcoming extreme weather challenges. The system treats up to 150 cubic metres of wastewater daily for a 660-person mining camp, demonstrating how advanced technology can enable mining operations in harsh remote environments.
B.C. and Alaska strengthen commitment to protect shared environment
British Columbia and Alaska signed a Statement of Cooperation establishing a bilateral working group to enhance water quality monitoring, environmental assessments and permitting for transboundary mines. The agreement implements a 2015 MOU and creates technical working groups to share water quality data and coordinate mine oversight across the border.
Province and FVRD set foundation for commercial gravel operations
The Province of British Columbia and Fraser Valley Regional District signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a new commercial gravel operations bylaw after 13 years of consultation. The bylaw creates clear zones where aggregate operations are allowed or restricted, with over 90% of rural areas remaining available for operations.
Carbon pricing is pushing mines to look at renewables
Carbon pricing in Canada is driving mining companies to adopt renewable energy solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stabilize energy costs. Leading companies like Barrick Gold, IAMGOLD, and Goldcorp are investing in renewables and mine electrification to mitigate carbon risk and improve their social license to operate.
Enerkem’s facility in Edmonton becomes the first ISCC certified plant in the world
Enerkem's Edmonton facility became the world's first ISCC certified plant to convert municipal solid waste into biomethanol, enabling European biofuel exports. The certification confirms compliance with stringent sustainability requirements and positions the company to benefit from Europe's renewable energy mandate requiring 10% renewable transport fuels by 2020.
The green way to extract gold
University of Saskatchewan researchers have developed an environmentally friendly gold extraction process using concentrated acetic acid that works in seconds and can replace traditional cyanide-based methods. The process works for both mining low-grade ore and recycling electronic waste, with several North American mining companies and e-waste producers already expressing interest.
Glencore goes two for two in the 2016 TSM Excellence Awards
Glencore's Raglan Mine in northern Quebec and Kidd Operations in Timmins, Ontario both won 2016 TSM Excellence Awards from the Mining Association of Canada. Raglan Mine received the Environmental Excellence Award for implementing wind power that reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 11,870 tonnes and displaced 4.45 million litres of diesel fuel.
Glencore sweeps the 2016 TSM Excellence Awards
Glencore received two 2016 TSM Excellence Awards for innovative sustainability projects at its Canadian operations. The Raglan Mine in northern Quebec won the Environmental Excellence Award for its 3-megawatt wind turbine project that saved 2.1 million litres of diesel in its first year, while Kidd Operations in Ontario won the Community Engagement Award for its $1 million community partnership fund.
Global mining sector prepares to meet with renewable energy leaders in Toronto
Energy and Mines World Congress brings together over 40 senior mining leaders with renewable energy experts in Toronto on November 21-22, 2016. The event focuses on collaboration between mining and renewables to reduce energy costs and carbon exposure, featuring case studies from global mining operators including Goldcorp, Barrick Gold, and Newmont.
Vancouver-area company named electric and hybrid supplier of the year
Corvus Energy, a Richmond-based company, won the Electric and Hybrid Marine Awards supplier of the year for the second consecutive year and launched its new Orca ESS product line for heavy-duty industrial marine applications. The company secured new contracts for Norwegian vessels and partnered with LG Chem to reduce battery costs.
Keep coal burning, but reduce the footprint
Clean Coal Technologies Inc. has successfully tested its patented Pristine-M coal dehydration process at a test facility in Oklahoma, producing cleaner, more efficient coal that burns with no dust or ash. The company is now ready to commercialize modular plants starting at 160,000 tons per year capacity for $17-18 million.
Society sways towards sustainable solutions in mining and energy
Terrapure Environmental is helping Canadian mining and energy companies transition to sustainable operations through tailored waste management, mineral recovery, and recycling services. The company recycled 20 million litres of lube oil and 80,000 metric tons of lead batteries in 2023, demonstrating how environmental solutions can also improve operational efficiency.
Mining’s Innovation Mission
The Canada Mining Innovation Council launched the Towards Zero Waste Mining (TZWM) strategy to eliminate mine waste and tailings while reducing environmental footprint. The initiative now involves 40 mining companies and service providers investing in clean technologies including electric mining equipment and advanced environmental management systems.
Morgan Solar Wins Contract to Build Largest Solar Project in Alberta
Toronto-based Morgan Solar won the contract to build Alberta Solar One, a $23-million, 10-megawatt solar project near Vulcan, Alberta, which will be the largest solar facility in the province. The project uses Morgan Solar's proprietary Sun Simba concentrator photovoltaic technology that eliminates traditional mirrors and lenses, promising nearly double the efficiency of conventional solar panels at lower costs.
SunMine engineer thinks the future looks bright—and green
Michel de Spot, CEO of Ecosmart Foundation, received the National Award for an Engineering Project from Engineers Canada for his role as principal engineer of the SunMine, a 1.05-megawatt solar installation in Kimberley, B.C. The $5.4 million project, done in partnership with Teck Resources and the City of Kimberley, is the largest solar project in British Columbia and the first to sell power to BC Hydro.
Iron & Earth Promotes the Unification of Oil and Gas with Renewable Energies
Iron & Earth, a non-profit with 400+ members, launched two major campaigns to retrain oil and gas workers for renewable energy jobs, including a program to retrain 1,000 oilsands tradespeople for solar energy starting summer 2016. The organization challenges the notion that fossil fuel and renewable energy sectors are mutually exclusive, promoting economic diversification that benefits both industries.
Ktunaxa and Teck sign historic Impact Management and Benefits Agreement
Teck Resources and the Ktunaxa Nation Council signed a comprehensive 40-year Impact Management and Benefits Agreement covering Teck's five steelmaking coal operations in BC's Elk Valley region. The agreement addresses consultation, environmental stewardship, employment opportunities for Ktunaxa citizens, and cultural resources management.
New Edmonton biorefinery turns vegetable oils into renewable fuels
SBI BioEnergy Inc. has opened a $20 million biorefinery in Edmonton that converts canola oil and animal fats into renewable diesel and jet fuels. The 35,000-square-foot facility uses proprietary PICFTR technology and plans to produce 10 million litres of renewable fuel annually by Q1 2017.
Ontario to convert largest coal plant in North America to solar farm
Ontario Power Generation is converting the former Nanticoke coal plant, once North America's largest coal-fired facility, into a 44-megawatt solar farm. Construction is expected to begin in late 2017 with completion in 2019, marking a significant transformation from one of Canada's worst polluters to clean energy generation.
BC’s Auditor General issues scathing report on Mount Polley disaster
BC's Auditor General released a scathing report criticizing the province's mining regulatory oversight following the Mount Polley tailings dam failure. The report found major gaps in compliance and enforcement that failed to protect against environmental risks, with the disaster releasing 25 million cubic metres of wastewater into water systems.
Huckleberry Mines wins award for mine reclamation
Huckleberry Mines Limited won a British Columbia Technical and Research Committee on Reclamation award for successful fishway restoration at its copper mine near Houston, BC. The company restored fish ladders in a local creek and engaged First Nations communities in reclamation planning, marking a significant improvement in community relations.
UBC and industry partnership spurs metallurgical sector development in BC Interior
UBC has partnered with Teck Metals, Fenix Advanced Materials, and other companies in a $293,000 three-year research project to develop sustainable methods for extracting valuable metals from lead-zinc smelting byproducts. The initiative aims to create economic development opportunities in BC's Southern Interior by turning waste materials into value-added products for secondary industries in the Kootenay region.