Políticas Integrales para los lugares de trabajo

The recent formation of Canada’s Oil Sands Innovation Alliance (COSIA) is a good example of industry collaboration on environmental issues. COSIA brings together 13 of the largest companies involved in Canada’s oil sands, representing almost 90% of oil sands production, and focuses on performance improvements for four key environmental challenges: tailings, water, land and greenhouse gas emissions. Member companies have agreed to break down some of the barriers of funding, intellectual property and human resources that sometimes impede the discovery and implementation of breakthrough technologies in these areas. COSIA is building and expanding on the progress made in recent years by

several industry research and development organizations. By setting clear environmental goals, and working together to achieve real solutions, this new and larger alliance is taking collaboration and sustainable development to the next level.

• An estimated reduction in GHG emissions of 43%, with significant reductions in NO₂ and SO₂

For many mines, however, there are other considerations. Given that natural gas prices are subject to volatility— such as winter price spikes—questions over the viability of switching require detailed analysis. In many situations, miners face similar challenges in accessing natural gas as they do with other diesel-replacing alternatives. In remote areas, particularly in the North, no direct transmission or distribution pipeline network exists—and building one would be a capital-intensive investment. Maritime transportation of natural gas is also expensive as it requires ships and unloading and storage facilities—a compounded challenge as very little port infrastructure currently exists and all-weather road systems are scarce.

Natural gas technologies, however, continue to improve, and incrementally enhance the fuel’s usability for miners. Some natural gas generation technologies have been designed to retrofit existing diesel systems, making a fuel switch less capital intensive. From an end-use perspective, progress has been made towards the development of liquid natural gas engines for heavy vehicles. As well, partnerships have formed to co-develop natural gas technology for off-road equipment, such as mining trucks, enhancing the viability of fuel switching for a mining fleet.

MINING AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Renewable energy technologies and their economics continue to improve. Renewable power is appealing to miners because it has the potential to reduce energy costs and environmental impacts while enhancing energy security and strengthening a company’s privilege to operate.

From 1999 to 2011, the annual bill for energy required for mining processes more than doubled, costing Canadian miners $2.4 billion in 2012. This cost increase can largely be explained by the remote location of many Canadian mines, the lack of regional energy infrastructure, and the resulting dependence on diesel. From 1999 to 2013, the average price of oil increased tenfold, from roughly US$10 to more than US$100 per barrel. Heightened transportation costs have also increased the price per unit of delivered fuel, pushing the cost of generation for some remote mines up to $0.30 per kilowatt hour.

Given the heightened cost of powering mining operations, miners are giving the benefits of renewable technologies greater consideration. The levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) for wind, solar photovoltaic, concentrated solar power and some biomass technologies has steadily decreased,

enhancing their competitiveness, particularly for off-grid generation. A recent International Renewable Energy Agency report noted that the average LCOE for wind, solar and biomass technologies in North America was $0.08, $0.16 and $0.08 per kilowatt hour, respectively.

While attractive, these average prices do not account for additional capital costs associated with remote development. They also vary based on the quality of the renewable resource. Just as miners need to go where the viable deposits are located, renewable generation is contingent on the strength and reliability of the renewable asset. This restriction prevents renewable generation from becoming an industry-wide energy solution, no matter how improved the technology is.

But for mines that have access to a viable renewable asset, diversifying energy portfolios with a reliable intermittent power source that simultaneously offsets their reliance on diesel has benefits that may merit the investment. Recent examples include Diavik Diamond Mine, IAMGOLD’s Rosebel Mine in Suriname, and Glencore’s Raglan Mine in Quebec. GHG EMISSIONS TRENDS AND POLICIES

According to a recent report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, global GHG emissions have continued to increase over the past four decades despite a growing number of climate change mitigation policies. The report also states that emissions have increased more rapidly in recent years than at the beginning of this time period. In fact, total GHG emissions were the highest in human history from 2000 to 2010, reaching 49 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent.

THE ENVIRONMENT: SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

countries to unique country-specific targets. The deal marks the first time that China acknowledges that it must cap and eventually reverse its emissions—a significant statement for the world’s largest GHG emitter. Some believe this deal represents a challenge to Canada. Given that Canada’s two largest trading partners have reached this agreement leads some analysts to suggest there may be greater impetus for Canada to follow suit.

Recent examples of measures the Canadian government has taken to tackle climate change include steps to reduce GHG emissions from heavy-duty vehicles, regulations to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from the coal-fired generation of electricity, and, most recently, regulations governing the use of industrial boilers. As a component of these targeted actions, it is expected that regulations will be developed for both the oil and gas sector and the mining sector.

Regardless of the scope of the Canadian climate change policies being implemented, or the shape they may take, it is important for any federal policy on GHG emissions to engage all Canadians in the solution and avoid overlap with existing or developing provincial policies. Otherwise, complicated regulatory and reporting systems could result, causing unnecessary duplication. Industry needs clear and consistent regulatory processes if it is to make the right investments in abatement technologies and emissions management systems. The federal government should also avoid a “one size fits all” approach, and should focus on the facilities and regions that will deliver real environmental benefits.