Republic of Mining

The New Conquistadors [Canadian Miners Conlfict/Image in Panama] – Mellissa Fung, Paul Seeler and Lynn Burgess (CBC National News Documentary – June 18, 2012)

April 5, 2015June 20, 2012

Click here to watch the documentary “The New Conqistadors”: http://www.cbc.ca/thenational/thenewconquistadors/

Starting in the early 16th Century, Spanish explorers arrived in Central and South America in search of gold, silver and spices. While the term “Spanish Conquistadors” references an era of great Spanish power and influence, for the indigenous people living in the lands the Conquistadors reached, it was considered a time of exploitation, disease and oppression.

Five hundred years later, there are some – particularly in the indigenous communities of Latin America – who are seeing this as new era of economic conquest, one with significant environmental and social consequences. This time, the new “conquerors” are Canadian mining companies.

These “new conquistadors” have generated enormous wealth for Canada and the countries in which they do business. Canadian mining companies often have “sustainable development” programs that provide a range of opportunities for locals and attempt to offset the negative environmental effects of mining. However, the economic, environmental and social changes these mines bring to rural communities have generated considerable debate in Latin America. This project is intended as a catalyst for discussion.

Ontario: The Golden Province – Global Business Reports Ontario Profile (May 2012)

June 20, 2012

Global Business Reports is an international provider of industry specific reports to the global trade and investment community. This article is from a profile about Ontario mining for Engineering & Mining Journal.

Editorial researched and written by Ramona Tarta, Karim El Badrawy, Angela Harmantas, and Amanda Lapadat of Global Business Reports.

Ontario is Canada’s leading gold-producing province, comprising 53% of the country’s output

With low-grade gold deposits now feasible, many in the mining community have looked to Ontario’s established mining camps as guaranteed moneymakers throughout this opportunistic period. Red Lake, Kirkland Lake, and Timmins are undergoing revitalization and, in addition, mining companies have ventured off into less traditional territory, exploring for gold and creating new mining frontiers.

A Rich History

Ontario’s modern mining industry can be traced back to the summer of 1903 in what is presently the small town of Cobalt. Ironically, the mining industry in Northern Ontario, a region known for its gold camps, was spurred on by the discovery of the precious metal’s often underappreciated “little brother,” silver. By most accounts, the discovery of silver at Cobalt was a fluke; a railroad worker from the Temiskaming and Northern Ontario Railway serendipitously located a huge silver vein while expressing his annoyance with a local fox.

Coal: The rising star of global energy production – by Neil Reynolds (Globe and Mail – June 20, 2012)

June 20, 2012

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

Coal has had a good run in the past five years – sweeping up the energy equivalent of the Academy Awards for best foreign film in four of them. (Though shot principally in China, these epic productions mostly starred American or Australian actors.) Notwithstanding its bad-boy reputation as a despoiler of the heavens and the Earth, coal has emerged as the fastest growing of all fossil fuel. It works hard (especially when pulverized into powder and burned super-hot). It’s relatively cheap.

And it has substantially cleaned up its environmental act. Honest. Energy expert Robert Bryce says, for example, that the cleanest U.S. coal-fired electricity plants now exceed all traditional Environmental Protection Agency pollution standards. Combine these advantages and you have blockbuster box office.

BP’s annual statistical review reports that global coal production increased 6 per cent last year, twice the celebrated rate of increase in global natural gas production. This most notorious of fuels now accounts for 30 per cent of global energy consumption – the highest percentage since 1969. It will almost certainly account for more in the years ahead. It is, after all, one of the cheapest primary sources of energy in the world. And its reserves are, for all practical purposes, inexhaustible.

Reaching agreements [Ring of Fire First Nations] – by Jodi Lundmark (Tbnewswatch.com – June 19, 2012)

June 20, 2012

http://www.tbnewswatch.com/

The chief of Neskantaga First Nation wants a government-to-government agreement for decision-making on matters concerning the Ring of Fire. Chief Peter Moonias wants to see the Ontario government and First Nations leaders sitting at the same table, talking to each other and creating an agreement on how to make decisions for resource development in the north.

“That’s what I want to see. That’s what’s needed up there or else we’re going to forever be doing this fighting all the time,” said Moonias.

The province has an obligation to consult with each First Nation and Moonias said he hasn’t been talked to by anyone from the government or any of the mining companies. He said speaking to just a few of the First Nations won’t work because one size doesn’t fit all when it comes to the Ring of Fire. Moonias also said they want an environmental assessment done before development begins.

“It has to happen whether people like it or not. The impacts on that thing is so great. I don’t think very many people know how serious that mine is going to be, how big that mine is going to be,” he said.

Neskantaga targets Ring of Fire access road – by Shawn Bell (Wawatay News – June 19, 2012)

June 19, 2012

http://www.wawataynews.ca/

Neskantanga First Nation is stepping up efforts to block Cliffs’ proposed transportation corridor to the Ring of Fire. Last week the Mattawa First Nation launched a two-pronged attack on the 340-kilometer, all weather access road that Cliffs wants to run south from the Ring of Fire to Nakina.

With its first move, Neskantaga applied to an obscure Ontario mining court to decide whether the First Nation has rights to the land over which the corridor would be built.

Then on June 13 lawyers for Neskantaga issued a letter to Ontario’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sport Michael Chan, demanding that Ontario refrain from authorizing Cliffs to do archeological work on land the transportation corridor would be built on.

“The current road proposal encompasses areas used traditionally by Neskantaga members and ancestors, and in particular sites at which Neskantaga members are buried,” wrote Gregory McDade of Ratcliff and Company LLP in the letter to Chan.

Yamana Gold snaps up Extorre for $395-million – by Pav Jordan (Globe and Mail – June 19, 2012)

June 19, 2012

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

Yamana Gold Inc. said Monday it will pay $395-million for Extorre Gold Mines Ltd., the owner of a gold and silver property in Argentina that has run into development difficulties.

Extorre’s stock price has been so battered by global market uncertainty and local politics that the company can no longer develop the property itself with solid returns.

“Extorre’s share price has suffered dramatically over the past few months due to a number of factors including: global political and economic uncertainty impacting credit markets; a broad selloff of all junior non-producing gold companies; concerns with respect to share dilution arising from a decision to develop the Cerro Moro project; and a series of events that have raised the perceived investment risk in Argentina,” Extorre co-chairman Yale Simpson said in announcing the deal with Yamana.

Marathon mine impact report delayed – by Carl Clutchey (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal – June 18, 2012)

June 19, 2012

The Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal is the daily newspaper of Northwestern Ontario.

The main environmental document outlining plans and potential impacts of a new copper and palladium mine on Marathon’s doorstep has been delayed.

The Enviromental Impact Statement (EIS) document was supposed to have been released last week, but in a letter to the federally appointed review panel for the project, Stillwater Canada said “it ran into a few delays.” The report should be submitted (this week),” the letter adds.

Planned public hearings into the open pit project just north of Marathon’s airport can’t take place until after the EIS document has been scrutinized by both the three-member review panel and the public. A date for the hearings, likely to take place in Marathon and at Pic River First Nation, have yet to be set.

Stillwater plans to employ about 350 people at the mine, expected to be in production in three to four years if the project passes the joint provincial-federal environmental review and obtains necessary permits. The projected mine life is about 12 years.

Mining school celebrates its 100-year legacy – by Kyle Gennings (Timmins Daily Press – June 19, 2012)

June 19, 2012

Alumni gather for celebration

The roots of the mining industry in Northern Ontario sink deeper than the countless resulting mine shafts do. From Cobalt to Red Lake, mining is more than just a livelihood, it is a mindset, a way of life, one that can be taught and has been since 1912.

The Haileybury School of Mines has been an integral key in the development of mining operations around the globe, known and celebrated for the quality of its graduates and the accomplishments the school and it’s students have achieved.

The school celebrated 100 years over the weekend, bringing countless alumnus thousands of kilometres to celebrate their alma mater.

“It is incredibly important to celebrate the 100th anniversary of this world class institution,” said Haileybury School of Mines alumni president Brian Dobbs. “There have been graduates from this school who have worked in virtually every corner of the globe. It is a proud moment for us here.”

NEWS RELEASE: Investment in mining and oil and gas sectors stimulates demand in other Canadian industries

June 19, 2012

OTTAWA, June 5, 2012 /CNW/ – Massive investment in the oil and gas and mining sectors is fuelling growth in industries ranging from manufacturing to engineering, according to the Canadian Industrial Profile-Spring 2012 published by The Conference Board of Canada in association with the Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC).

The Canadian Industrial Profile provides a five-year (2012-2016) production, revenue, cost and profitability forecast for six industries each quarter. The Spring 2012 edition includes forecasts for:

• Electrical Equipment
• Fabricated Metal Products
• Machinery Manufacturing
• Oil and Gas Support Activities
• Professional Services
• Textiles and Apparel

“It is interesting to note that the economic boom linked to oil and gas and mining activities is benefiting many industries – not only in Western Canada, but throughout the country,” said Pierre Cléroux, Vice President, Economic Analysis, at BDC.

Wawa returning to its mining roots – by Ian Ross (Northern Ontario Business – June 2012)

June 19, 2012

Established in 1980, Northern Ontario Business provides Canadians and international investors with relevant, current and insightful editorial content and business news information about Ontario’s vibrant and resource-rich North. Ian Ross is the editor of Northern Ontario Business ianross@nob.on.ca.

Re-tooling for growth

Wawa has taken its fair share of hits in the last 15 years. The 1998 closure of the Algoma Ore Division (AOD) sent this North Shore town’s economy tumbling, and it’s still searching for recovery.

But there appears to be some signs of hope on the horizon, or at least below it. Exploration for gold is slowly returning the municipality of 2,900, located between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie, to its natural resources’ roots.

There is a plethora of exploration activities underway and the spinoffs are slowly weaving their way through the local business community. Maury O’Neill, CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Wawa, said her department is preparing to do an economic gap analysis to figure out what Wawa must do on the supply and services end to better cater to the mining companies.

DFO pressured for opinion on Ring of Fire – Jody Porter (CBC Radio Thunder Bay – June 18, 2012)

June 18, 2012

http://www.cbc.ca/thunderbay/

Documents show federal departments concerned about Ontario mining project

CBC News has learned bureaucrats in the Department of Fisheries and Oceans felt pressured to weigh in on the environmental impacts of a major mining project before they were ready.

Documents obtained under Access to Information show ongoing concerns about requests for feedback from the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA).

“There is concern about these requests since it’s rare for us to have the information necessary to respond …,” a senior policy analyst with Fisheries and Oceans wrote in an email dated Aug. 17, 2011.

At the time, CEAA was trying to determine whether the Cliffs Natural Resources chromite mine project should be subjected to public hearings as part of its environmental assessment.

Australian exploration spending hits record US$1.09bn – by Dorothy Kosich (Mineweb.com – June 18, 2012)

June 18, 2012

www.mineweb.com

Despite the levying of carbon pollution and mineral resources rent taxes, Australian mineral exploration spending achieved a record in the quarter ending March.

RENO (MINEWEB) – Spending on mineral exploration in Australia reached a record A$1.09 billion (US$1.09bn) in the March quarter-the first time more than a billion dollars has been spent on exploration in a single quarter.

In his weekly Treasurer’s Economic Note issued Sunday, Australian Treasurer Wayne Swan observed “In fact, exploration expenditure has risen by about 35% since a price on carbon pollution was announced, and nearly 80% since the Minerals Resources Rent Tax was announced.”

“It’s yet another reality check for those who try to talk down the outlook for our resources sector or make ridiculous claims that important economic reforms are hurting investment,” he stressed.

Beginning on July 1, Australia will levy a controversial carbon tax on 294 firms for the A$23/tonne (US$22.96/tonne), with mining companies, steel makers and electricity generators among the largest polluters.

Glencore buys into seafloor mining – Peter Koven (National Post – June 16, 2012)

June 18, 2012

The National Post is Canada’s second largest national paper.

The world’s largest commodity trader has endorsed speculative undersea mining as a handful of entrepreneurs continue to try to put the industry on the map.

Vancouver-based DeepGreen Resources Inc. has struck a deal with Glencore International Inc. under which the commodity giant agreed to buy 50% of the nickel and copper DeepGreen plans to produce from a seafloor project located west of Mexico.

DeepGreen is a private company founded by David Heydon, the man who built industry leader Nautilus Minerals Inc. and kick-started the underwater mining business. He has planned to take DeepGreen public in Toronto for more than a year, and Glencore’s commitment is a potential catalyst to attract investors to an IPO. The offering has already been delayed because of weak market conditions.

Mr. Heydon views the Glencore deal as evidence that DeepGreen – and seafloor mining as a whole – need to be taken seriously.

Let’s build a Canadian oil pipeline from coast to coast – by Frank McKenna (Globe and Mail – June 18, 2012)

June 18, 2012

The Globe and Mail is Canada’s national newspaper with the second largest broadsheet circulation in the country. It has enormous influence on Canada’s political and business elite.

The last spike of the Canadian Pacific Railway was driven in 1885. This was a remarkable accomplishment pitting the indomitable will of our early railroad pioneers against the rugged Canadian terrain. In a country where gravitational forces often move north and south, this ribbon of steel has helped knit the country together both symbolically and economically.

It is time for another bold project, national in scope: A pipeline network extending from coast to coast. This essential infrastructure project would be good for all regions of Canada. It would be an extraordinary catalyst for economic growth. It would be a powerful symbol of Canadian unity.

Much has been made recently about who wins and who loses from Western oil sands. This is the wrong way to look at it. We should turn this challenge into a nation-building exercise rather than encourage a corrosive debate pitting one region against another.

Although the ripple effect of oil-sands development across this country is well documented, a national pipeline, subject to a thorough environmental and regulatory review, would put the issue beyond dispute.