Tag: mining

Industry News

Alberta Oil Sands

April 20th, 2012 · ISN Team - Tags: , , ,

Alberta’s Oil Sands are the third largest proven crude oil reserve in the world. Currently, there are more than 170.4 billion barrels of recoverable oil in the oil sand deposits and more than 315 billion barrels of potentially recoverable oil in total.

Changes in technology, as well as regulatory and business environments, have positively influenced the oil sands sector, increasing job demand within three facility/operation types: in situ, mining and upgrading. Stable oil prices and strong international investment foreshadow continued expansion of the oil sands industry.

New projects are constantly being added by the Government of Alberta, in conjunction with the oil sands industry, to expand Alberta’s role as a world leading energy supplier. In 2009, the energy sector accounted for 23.4 percent of Alberta’s GDP.

In 2011, the Alberta Oil Sands allowed for the employment of more than 20,000 workers. According to a report released by the Petroleum Human Resources Council of Canada, the workforce will increase by 73 percent by 2021. 

Alberta Oil Sands Quick Facts:

  • Alberta’s Oil Sands underlie 140,200 square kilometers (54,132 square miles) of land in the Athabasca, Cold Lake and Peace River areas in northern Alberta.
  • In 2010, Alberta’s total proven oil reserves were 170.8 billion barrels, or about 12 percent of total global oil reserves (1,469.6 billion barrels).
  • Oil sands within 75 meters of the surface can be mined; whereas, oil sands below this threshold must be extracted using in-situ methods.
  • Of the total 169.3 billion barrels of proven reserves, approximately 80 percent is considered recoverable by in-situ methods and 20 percent by surface mining methods.
  • On average, it takes approximately two tons of mined oil sands to produce a barrel of synthetic crude oil.
  • Alberta Oil Sands production is expected to increase to 3 million barrels per day by 2018.

Resources:
http://www.energy.alberta.ca/oilsands/oilsands.asp 
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/oil-sands-jobs-help-drive-151600842.html 
http://oilsands.alberta.ca 

Industry News

Australia Divided on Mining Bans and Regulations

August 18th, 2011 · ISN Team - Tags: , , , ,

On Monday, August 15th, the Queensland government announced a ban on exploration and mining within 2 km of urban areas. An urban area is defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as greater than 1000 people.  The Queensland government has advised that this regulation was put in place to provide certainty and security to residents of the state and cites the main concern as providing balance between industry, environment, and the people who live and work in conjunction with mining regions. As this regulation is meant to protect urban citizens, the provision also allows communities the choice to decline the ban’s protection if they would prefer the business from mining and exploration ventures.

The Association of Mining and Exploration Companies has advised that they believe the government should consult with mining companies and landowners to discuss and build flexibility in the policy. Simon Bennison, Chief Executive of the association stated, “mining has successfully coexisted with agriculture and urban areas for more than 100 years, and this can and must continue.” Queensland is the world’s largest producer of exported sea-borne coking coal, with Bowen Basin accounting for producing almost 40% of this resource that is used for steel production. Local miners are petitioning the ban, as this will currently affect over 285 permit holders.

Other Australian states are hesitant to apply such strict restrictions to the booming coal mining and exploration industries.  However, discussions have occurred regarding raising environmental standards pertaining to the mining industry. New South Wales has advised that it will be setting a moratorium on the fracking process used in Coal Seam Gas (CSG) mining that will prohibit the use of toxic chemicals. While Queensland is currently setting the most stringent regulations, all of Australia is focused on safety in the mining and exploration industry.

Sources:
http://coalseamgasnews.org/?p=1742
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2011/08/15/miners-urge-queensland-to-rethink-urban-exploration-ban/
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/mining-ban-could-be-extended-government/story-e6frfku0-1226116184104
http://au.news.yahoo.com/vic/latest/a/-/article/10046229/nsw-and-vic-not-following-qld-mining-ban/

Industry News

A Silver Lining for Mining

May 12th, 2011 · ISN Team - Tags: , , , , , ,

Minerals, metals, coal and diamonds – they’re useful and valuable commodities that come from mines.

We can easily recognize these tangible benefits from mining. But have we considered the potential for mining by-products – the dust and particles, sludge and residue that’s left once we’ve mined what we came for?

Dr. Grant Douglas has. As project leader for CSIRO, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, Australia’s national science agency, Dr. Douglas has a suggestion:

Algae.

A joint project between CSIRO and Western Australian Department of Water found that mineral mining by-products may be a cost-effective, plentiful and yes, green, option for removing key nutrients that contribute to algal blooms – a rapid increase in the population of algae in an aquatic system.

Algal blooms can multiply quickly, turning water green, creating thick green layers under water or scum on the surface.  Algal blooms can block sunlight from reaching underwater vegetation and can wreak havoc on an ecosystems oxygen levels. Harmful algal blooms can release toxins that are harmful to fish, birds and people.

Cue mining by-products.

“The largely unexploited by-product materials we generate in Western Australia could be developed as ‘designer’ contaminant adsorbents,” Dr Douglas said.

When added to a soil, certain mineral mining by-product was very effective in removing nitrogen and phosphorous, both elements that occur naturally but can cause imbalances in aquatic ecology if present in high amounts. Using the by-product this way would be equivalent to removing about two tons of the same elements annually from groundwater in the Australian Swan Coastal Plain.

With similar mining by-products and water conditions, these findings could be valuable to any waterway in the world.

Click here for more information on the study.

Sources:
http://www.csiro.au/news/Mining-by-products-to-reduce-algal-blooms.html
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110207091756.htm
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/algal_bloom.htm
http://www.sjrwmd.com/algae/index.html#2
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Coastal_Plain

ISN Speaks

Corporate Social Responsibility: Mining Companies Reach Out to Indigenous Communities

March 17th, 2011 · admin - Tags: , , , ,

“Mining companies must engage constructively with indigenous communities,” said Aidan Davy, Senior Program Director for International Council on Mining & Metals, who spoke at the second annual Mining, People and the Environment conference on March 5, 2011.

Davy highlighted the importance of developing meaningful relationships with indigenous populations at every stage of the decision making process. Mining companies are faced with the challenge of respecting the traditional culture, while also engaging members of the community who are often overlooked, including women and young people.

For the mining industry, there are numerous social and economical benefits associated with collaborating with indigenous communities. The relationships foster credibility in the marketplace, an advantage in a competitive global industry. Other benefits enjoyed by shareholders and the indigenous people alike include land agreements and a common understanding for each other’s social ideas and merits.

Though the relationship can be a positive experience, many companies have not been properly equipped with the information vital to succeeding. To assist, ICMM published a review on Indigenous Peoples and the mining industry, which lays out practical steps and best practices for companies to follow and explores the cost of getting it wrong.

Sources
http://www.icmm.com/
http://www.mpe-conference.com/