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Day: September 16, 2011

OMA member Osisko builds First Nation knowledge into environmental approval process

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.”  

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

 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.

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

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.

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Bullish miners on a spree of buying and digging – by Brenda Bouw (Globe and Mail – 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.

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OMA member Vale donation improves Sudbury food bank

Tito Martins, Executive Director for Base Metals, Vale and CEO, Vale Canada; John Pollesel, Chief Operating Officer, Vale Canada; Geoffrey Lougheed, Chair of the Food Bank; Marianne Matichuk, City of Greater Sudbury Mayor

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 Vale Canada has taken a big step to strengthen Sudbury’s social safety net with a $500,000 donation to the Banque d’aliments Sudbury Food Bank Capital Campaign.  The company and its employees have been supporting initiatives of this nature in the community for 23 years.  This half-million-dollar contribution boosts the Sudbury Food Bank’s level of funds raised to $1.5 million — closer toward the $1.8 million capital campaign goal.

“Vale has proud history of support for the Sudbury Food bank and we are pleased to provide this donation toward its new warehouse, which will allow for more effective storage and distribution of food to those in need in the community,” said Tito Martins, Chief Executive Officer of Vale Canada.  Mr. Martins also serves as Honourary Chair of the Sudbury Food Bank.

“This donation of $500,000 brings our campaign a large step closer to success,” said Geoffrey Lougheed, Chair of the Sudbury Food Bank.  “The personal commitment of Mr. Martins to serve as Honourary Chair will provide leadership and inspire others to bring this campaign over the top.  Both Mr. Martins and Vale have put their goodwill into action and the Sudbury Food bank is grateful for this outstanding dedication to feed the hungry.”

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Thompson, Manitoba Vale Steelworkers ratify three-year agreement – by Ian Graham (Thompson Citizen – 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.”

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BNN Reporter Andrew Bell Interviews Tito Martins, Executive Director for Base Metals, Vale and CEO, Vale Canada – (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 …

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Once upon a mine [Barrick CEO Aaron Regent profile] – by Paul McLaughlin (CAmagazine – August 2011)

CAmagazine is the leading accounting publication and preferred information source for Canadian chartered accountants and financial executives.

Paul McLaughlin is a Toronto-based freelance writer www.paulmclaughlin.ca

Two years and two risky deals later, Barrick’s CEO Aaron Regent has shown the mining community that he’s one leader not afraid of taking chances

When Aaron Regent, the president and CEO of Barrick Gold Corp., addressed the annual general meeting of the world’s largest gold producer in April, he had a lot of good news to bestow.

In a matter-of-fact tone, the 45-year-old CA, who had been appointed to the challenging role some 27 months earlier, began by telling the assembled shareholders at Toronto’s Metro Convention Centre that Barrick had “a strong year in 2010.” That was an understatement. The price of gold had surged to US$1,228 an ounce last year, up 25% from the year before and more than 200% since 2004.

In May it was nudging US$1,512 on the New York Stock Exchange and in June reached US$1,540 an ounce. Those numbers contributed significantly to Barrick, which has 25 operating mines and six projects on five continents, being able to report record adjusted first-quarter net earnings in 2011 of US$1.1 billion, up 32% from the prior year’s same period. Operating cash flow also jumped, by 27% from the previous first quarter, to US$1.44 billion.

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Sudbury officials ponder Cleveland visit [Ring of Fire smelter] – by Harold Carmichael

The Sudbury Star is the City of Greater Sudbury’s daily newspaper.

For the web’s largest database of articles on the Ring of Fire mining camp, please go to: Ontario’s Ring of Fire Mineral Discovery

The city may be sending a team to Cleveland, the home base of Cliffs Natural Resources, to present Greater Sudbury’s case for landing a smelter to process ore from the company’s chromite deposits in northwestern Ontario.

“There is something in the works,” Mayor Marianne Matichuk said when reached Thursday. “I can’t get into details. We don’t have everything firmed up.”

The Star has learned a team that includes Matichuk and chief administrative officer Doug Nadorozny could be heading to Cleveland as early as Wednesday to present a study about a former industrial site just north of Capreol. “I will be fighting for our community and giving Cliffs a good case for our community,” Matichuk said.

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