Republic of Mining

Investing in Remote [Canadian] Regions: Building the Business Case – by Livio Di Matteo (September 19, 2011)

September 19, 2011

Livio Di Matteo is Professor of Economics at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Visit his new Economics Blog “Northern Economist” at http://ldimatte.shawwebspace.ca/

Out of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce comes a new report titled” The Business Case for Investing in Canada’s Remote Communities,” which argues that Canadians need to start looking at remote communities somewhat differently.

Despite the perception (and often the reality) that remote communities are dependent on government assistance for their survival, the new reality is that as the demand for resources rises and the international community flocks to Canadian resources in remote areas, these remote communities are wealth generators that will enhance the living standards of all Canadians. Moreover, the aboriginal population is concentrated in these areas and resource development is an important tool to improve their economic welfare.

There are of course challenges. As the report notes:

“There is no doubt that many remote communities-which are often difficult to reach, have challenging geographies, harsh climates, limited infrastructure and sparse populations – face significant challenges to their long-term social and economic sustainability.”

Vale interferes: Union prez – by Carol Mulligan (Sudbury Star – September 19, 2011)

September 19, 2011

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper. cmulligan@thesudburystar.com

The president of United Steelworkers Local 6500 says Vale Ltd. is interfering in the union’s investigation into the June 8 deaths of two members at Stobie Mine.

Jason Chenier, 35, and Jordan Fram, 26, were working at the mine’s 3,000-foot level about 10:30 p.m. when they were struck and killed by a run of broken rock and water.

In the past, the union and the former company owner, Inco, conducted joint investigations into mining deaths. But Local 6500 and Vale were unable to agree from the outset about this investigation, so each is conducting its own.

Local 6500 president Rick Bertrand accused Vale of interference because it recalled to work two of five members of the union investigation team.

Northern [Ontario] debate the day’s priority – (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal editorial – September 16, 2011)

September 17, 2011

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

THE LIBERALS had to know this was coming. Yet they went ahead in spite of the downside, apparently preferring it to having party leaders debate Northern Ontario issues in Thunder Bay where the Liberals hold both seats. The political blowback is coming hard and fast, and with seven days to go it can only get worse.

Last month, three key regional organizations formally confirmed an invitation to provincial party leaders to debate northern issues at a conference here Sept. 23, in the midst of the provincial election campaign.

The Northwestern Ontario Regional Conference is hosted by the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association (NOMA), the Northwestern Ontario Associated Chambers of Commerce (NOACC) and the Northwestern Ontario Development Network (NODN). It brings together municipal, business and economic development leaders from across the Northwest.

Two of three will be here [Northern Ontario leadership debate] – (Thunder Bay Chronicle-Journal editorial – September 15, 2011)

September 17, 2011

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

FROM time to time, politicians find themselves in no-win situations. Such was the case for Ontario’s three leading political party leaders when they were invited to participate in an election debate in Thunder Bay on northern issues. Attend and set a precedent that other regions will notice. Refuse and face a backlash from northern voters.

Handlers for Liberal leader Dalton McGuinty, Progressive Conservative leader Tim Hudak and NDP leader Andrea Horwath did neither of these things at the outset. For weeks following an invitation from the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association, the three camps bobbed and weaved, trying to figure out what the others would do while keeping NOMA and northerners waiting.

In the end, it was Horwath who forced the issue. In a letter to NOMA on Tuesday, the NDP leader accepted the invitation. In fact, Horwath had been after her competitors from the start of talks for the televised province-wide leaders debate to have two others outside Toronto, one here in the North. Parties deferred to the TV network consortium which did not offer more than the Toronto forum.

Placer Dome Incorporated History: 1910-2002 – by International Directory of Company Histories

September 29, 2011September 17, 2011

For a large selection of corporate histories click: International Directory of Company Histories

Company History: (Please Note that Placer Dome was taken over by Barrick Gold in 2006)

Placer Dome Inc., the fifth largest gold mining company in the world, produces approximately 3.5 million ounces of gold annually. Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, the company also mines silver and copper and has interests in 18 mines, many outside of Canada, in countries including South Africa, Australia, the United States, and Papua New Guinea. A leader in mine exploration, Placer Dome spent about $60 million in 2003 on exploration.

The Creation of a New Company

Placer Dome Inc. was formed in 1987 by the amalgamation of three Canadian mining companies, creating the largest gold producer in North America with an annual output of more than 800,000 ounces of gold. Dome Mines Limited, the oldest of the three predecessors and one of Canada’s most venerable gold producers, was incorporated in 1910, following the discovery of the Dome Mine, a hard-rock mine in northern Ontario, which was still producing gold in 1997. The mine and the company got their name from the shape of the gold-studded rock structure a band of prospectors literally stumbled over in 1909.

Placer Development Limited was incorporated in British Columbia in 1926 and made its first earnings during the 1930s, dredging gold from the gravel of a river in Papua New Guinea, then under Australian mandate. “Placer,” which was Spanish for shoal, referred to water-borne deposits of sand or gravel containing particles of gold or silver. Mining that deposit was no easy task.

OMA member Osisko builds First Nation knowledge into environmental approval process

September 16, 2011

This article was provided by the Ontario Mining Association (OMA), an organization that was established in 1920 to represent the mining industry of the province

Ontario Mining Association member Osisko Mining Corporation is reaching out to incorporate Traditional Knowledge into the Environmental Assessment of its Hammond Reef gold property in Northwestern Ontario. The company recently held an Elders Forum on site. More than 65 Elders from neighbouring First Nations, company staff and government officials participated. Nine First Nations communities were represented at the Forum.

Chiefs and councils of these First Nations made hearing from the Elders about this project a main concern. Elders, while not always the most senior residents of First Nations communities, are generally respected for their wisdom, patience and understanding. They value traditional teachings and passing them along to younger generations.

“The Elders Forum provided us with a unique opportunity to approach the Environmental Assessment process from a Traditional Knowledge perspective,” said Peter Hinz, Mineral Development Consultant with the Ministry of Northern Development Mines and Forestry. “This was an excellent opportunity to facilitate an open exchange of information and perspectives between First Nations, industry and government.”

Rail-Veyor Technologies Global Inc. System Overview and Description – Backgrounder

September 16, 2011

Overview and Description – Backgrounder

The Rail‐Veyor™ system combines the best of conventional railroads and conveyors to create a unique and practical alternative for materials transport. Systems are scalable and flexible and can economically move materials over distances of a few hundred meters to hundreds of kilometers.

To accomplish this, the Rail‐Veyor™ system incorporates the use of light rail track with a series of interconnected two wheeled cars creating an open trough capable of continuous movement. The cars are connected to allow articulated movement for curves and dumping and trough lengths are designed to meet tonnage requirements. Sealing of the gaps between cars is achieved using flexible flaps which prevent leakage of materials and forms a chute for product discharge.

Energy efficiency is achieved through a unique drive system incorporating stationary drive stations consisting of dual motors and gear reducers driving foam‐filled tires which contact the car side plates providing the forward thrust. Speed is controlled by an inverter, which allows for both forward and reverse movement and provides sufficient power to start loaded trains from any position on the track.

NEWS RELEASE: VALE ANNOUNCES $49 MILLION INVESTMENT IN NEW DEMONSTRATION PLANT FEATURING INNOVATIVE RAIL-VEYOR TECHNOLOGY

September 16, 2011

For Immediate Release

SUDBURY, September 16, 2011 – Vale today announced a $49 million investment in its Copper Cliff Mine 114 Orebody Demonstration Plant. The demonstration plant will feature innovative Rail-Veyor technology and offer opportunities to test safer and more efficient mining techniques and new, specialized equipment.

“The 114 Orebody Demonstration Plant is part of the $3.4 billion investment Vale announced for its Sudbury operations in November of last year,” said Alex Henderson, General Manager, Mines and Mill Technology, North Atlantic Region, Vale. “This investment allows us to test new and innovative mining technologies that could dramatically improve mining processes across our operations.”

New, innovative Rail-Veyor technology will be installed at the 114 Orebody Demonstration Plant later this year – the first installation of its kind at an underground mine in North America. The technology is currently being tested at an above ground site near Turner Road in Sudbury.

Bullish miners on a spree of buying and digging – by Brenda Bouw (Globe and Mail – September 16, 2011)

September 16, 2011

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.

MINING REPORTER VANCOUVER – Miners are forging ahead with aggressive spending plans despite sinking stock values and retreating commodity prices, in a bet that metals demand will remain solid even as the global economy softens.

Mining giants such as Alcoa Inc., Rio Tinto PLC and Xstrata PLC advanced major new projects this week, adding to the billions of dollars earmarked by miners around the world for expansion through acquisitions, new mine construction and increased exploration.

The spending spree, made possible by years of strong commodity prices that fattened profits, is largely focused on expanding production to meet the needs of commodity-hungry countries such as China, India and Brazil.

In fact, miners are moving forward so fast they are setting records in both exploration and acquisitions.

Thompson, Manitoba Vale Steelworkers ratify three-year agreement – by Ian Graham (Thompson Citizen – September 16, 2011)

September 16, 2011

The Thompson Citizen, which was established in June 1960, covers the City of Thompson and Nickel Belt Region of Northern Manitoba. The city has a population of about 13,500 residents while the regional population is more than 40,000. ian@thompsoncitizen.net

USW Local 6166 members voted 87.8 per cent in favour of accepting an offer of settlement from Vale’s Manitoba Operations for a new three-year collective bargaining agreement Sept. 15.

“We are very pleased to have ratified a new agreement that is fair to employees and promotes our sustainability in Thompson,” said Lovro Paulic, general manager of Vale’s Manitoba Operations in a press release the night of the ratification vote. “We are proud of our positive working relationship with the union and its members. This is a good day for Thompson.”

The offer was presented Sept. 12 to the USW negotiating team, which unanimously recommended it upon presenting it to union members later that day.

“This is a positive outcome that was made possible by respecting the process,” said Murray Nychyporuk, USW Local 6166 president, in the Vale press release. “We are glad that there was such strong turnout by our members.”

BNN Reporter Andrew Bell Interviews Tito Martins, Executive Director for Base Metals, Vale and CEO, Vale Canada – (September 16, 2011)

September 16, 2011

Toronto-based Business News Network (BNN) is a Canadian cable television specialty channel owned by CTVglobalmedia. BNN airs business and financial programming and analysis. BNN reporter Andrew Bell hosts the Commodities program. From aluminum to zinc and everything in between, every Tuesday through Thursday, BNN highlights the hot world of commodities and the companies that produce …