< PreviousVisit us online at www.CanadianMiningMagazine.com 13 FEA TURE hile Saskatchewan’s mining sector is a major contributor to the provincial and national economy, and is globally recognized as a critical minerals powerhouse, it hosts a unique portfolio of minerals. It is the world’s largest producer of potash, generating over 30 per cent of the world’s supply and is host to the world’s largest high-grade uranium deposits, traditionally being the world’s second largest producer. The industry also produces a range of other commodities, including coal, gold, salt, silica sands, sodium and potassium sulphates, clay, and kaolin with advanced projects in uranium, copper, lithium, and Rare Earth Element (REE) processing. In 2021, Saskatchewan’s mining sector generated $8.6 billion in sales, representing 12.1 per cent of provincial gross domestic product (GDP). In 2021, Crown royalties, taxes, and fees from minerals (dominantly potash) contributed over $1.5 billion to provincial revenues, supporting government programming in health, social services, education, and infrastructure, amongst other programs valued by its residents. Additionally, the exploration sector invested $214 million in assessment activities, primarily in northern Saskatchewan. The minerals sector directly employs over 13,000 individuals and purchases over $2 billion annually in goods and services from Saskatchewan suppliers, including over $370 million from Indigenous-owned businesses. The world needs Saskatchewan It is a gratifying time to be a part of the Saskatchewan exploration and mining What Sets Saskatchewan Apart? What Sets Saskatchewan Apart? An Abundance of Mineral Wealth, and Strong Support from the Government and Public! By Pamela Schwann, Saskatchewan Mining Association industry. The geopolitical significance and importance of Saskatchewan’s production of potash and uranium has never been so stark. The world needs what Saskatchewan has to offer. Global unrest related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has provided an opportunity for Saskatchewan producers to help address real concerns related to food and clean energy security by stepping up and increasing production of potash and uranium, and offsetting some of the Russian and Belarusian production of these commodities. Nutrien Ltd., The Mosaic Company, and K+S Potash Canada have all announced planned potash production increases at their Saskatchewan facilities in response to global supply uncertainty. BHP will be accelerating construction of their Jansen potash mine, so it is in production by 2026. Nutrien announced they will be ramping-up annual potash production capability to 18 million tonnes by 2025. This represents an increase of more than 5.0 million tonnes, or 40 per cent, compared to 2020, and will lead to approximately 350 new jobs in the province. Mosaic is also taking action to increase its annual potash operating capability by a further 1.5 million tonnes by the second half of 2023 at their new Esterhazy K3 operation and Colonsay mine. Since resuming production at Colonsay in 2021, Mosaic has added 150 jobs at the site. K+S Potash recently announced plans to increase production to 4.0 million tonnes per year over the next few decades at their Bethune facility. K+S is looking to hire more than 70 new employees to carry out these operations. BHP is looking to accelerate the timeframe for the construction of its $12 billion Jansen project with its first production expected in 2026. Jansen is likely to produce around 4.2 million tonnes of potash per year during a first phase. Stage 2 would add an additional 4.0 million tonnes per year. A mining machine at the ore face at Nutrien’s Allan Potash site. Photo courtesy of Nutrien Ltd.14 Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter ESG is top of mind While the forces underpinning the increased potash demand are unfortunate, the circumstances highlight the positive environmental, social, and governance performance of the Saskatchewan potash industry relative to global competitors. For example, Saskatchewan potash is produced with approximately 50 per cent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than global competitors such as Belarusian or Russian potash mines, and royalties and taxes from potash produced in Saskatchewan goes to the provincial and federal governments to fund programs like health and education. This is why potash production from Saskatchewan is better for Saskatchewan, Canada, and the world. Canada is traditionally the world’s second largest producer of uranium. All of Canada’s uranium is mined from the world’s highest grade uranium mines located in the Athabasca region of Saskatchewan. Kazakhstan is the world’s leading producer of uranium, providing about 40 per cent of the world’s supply, with Russia providing approximately 15 per cent. What SETS SASKATCHEWAN'S mineral sector apart? That can be captured by three factors: geological framework; supportive provincial government policies; and strong public support. Earlier this year in February 2022, Cameco announced the restart of the world’s highest grade and largest uranium mine – McArthur River – in response to sustained increased demand for uranium related to generation of clean nuclear energy. The McArthur River mine will restart uranium production in 2022 (5.0 million pounds) ramping up to 15 million pounds planned production capacity yearly by 2024, reinstating Canada as world’s second largest producer of uranium in the process. Often overshadowed, SSR Mining’s Seabee Gold Mine continues its very strong history of gold production. In production for over 30 years, this high-grade underground gold mine produced 118,000 ounces in 2021. And while conventional coal operations are being phased out in compliance with federal environmental regulations, Westmoreland’s two coal mines continue to provide a reliable and cost-effective source of the province’s baseload power generation. A unique set of attributes What sets Saskatchewan's mineral sector apart? That can be captured by three factors: geological framework; supportive provincial government policies; and strong public support that is underpinned by a treasure trove of high potential geological formations, such as the Athabasca and Western Canada Sedimentary Basins. This is complimented Visit us online at www.CanadianMiningMagazine.com 15 by supportive provincial government policies and open-door discussions, all of which has helped Saskatchewan retain its number one ranking as the most attractive jurisdiction in Canada, and the second-best jurisdiction globally, for mining investment attractiveness, according to the 2021 Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies. With mining sector activity evident in virtually all regions of the province, providing employment and business opportunities and supporting community priorities, the mining sector is valued and supported by residents across Saskatchewan. Recent polling of 1,000 residents indicates 92 per cent are supportive of the mining industry, with 93 per cent acknowledging its importance to the province. A long-time leader in involving Indigenous peoples’ businesses and communities in their operations, the mining sector continues to be a primary pillar of Indigenous economic reconciliation in Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan has a pipeline of exploration activity from grassroots through to advanced exploration in a diversity of commodities – including Foran Mining’s McIlvenna Bay Project, the world’s first carbon neutral copper development project; Denison Mines innovative in-situ field-test recovery of the Phoenix uranium deposit; NexGen Energy’s EIS submission of their Rook 1 uranium project; and Prairie Lithium’s piloting direct extraction of lithium from brines. The Targeted Mineral Exploration Incentive (TMEI) program, which provides a 25 per cent rebate, up to a maximum of $50,000 per year, to encourage drilling activity in support of exploration in Saskatchewan, along with the Saskatchewan Mineral Exploration Tax Credit, offer attractive incentives to investors. While the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) has offered significant expertise in mineral geochemistry and analysis, it will capture more of the downstream mineral value chain through the development of the Rare Earth Processing Facility. Funding from the provincial government has enabled it to be an early world leader in rare earth element processing and separation technologies, creating a diversified supplier to trading partners who currently rely on China to provide more than 80 per cent of the worlds rare earth elements required for the transition to the green, digital economy. Cheetah Resources, owned by Vital Metals Ltd., is building on the hub of REE expertise developing in Saskatoon, with their own metallurgical processing facility adjacent to the SRC. This facility recently successfully processed its first trial feed of ore concentrate from Cheetah Resources’ operating mine in the Northwest Territories (the Nechalacho Rare Earth Project) into a rare earth oxide concentrate. The future’s so bright What does the future hold for mineral resource activity in Saskatchewan? Saskatchewan has 23 of the 31 critical minerals noted on Canada’s Critical Minerals List, including potash, uranium, helium, lithium, copper, and REE. According to the International Energy Agency, the total market size of the critical minerals needed for the green energy transition could grow almost seven times between 2020 and 2030. This is certainly good news for our uranium producers who are powerhouses in leading the clean energy transition. While Saskatchewan is already a global leader of key critical minerals, it is exciting to build on the existing strengths of the global leaders in potash and uranium production and see the emergence of an even more diversified critical mineral production and processing industry that will further strengthen Saskatchewan’s mineral sector. M PAMELA SCHWANN IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE SASKATCHEWAN MINING ASSOCIATION. PAM IS AN INNOVATOR AND HAS INITIATED MULTIPLE FORUMS TO ADVANCE AND PROMOTE SASKATCHEWAN’S SUSTAINABLE MINERAL INDUSTRY. A Cameco employee operates a raisebore drill at the company’s McArthur River Mine. Photo courtesy of Cameco Corporation.16 Connect with us on Facebook and TwitterVisit us online at www.CanadianMiningMagazine.com 17 FEA TURE he Mining Association of British Columbia’s (MABC) first-ever Mining Innovation Challenge was won by Sepro Mixing and Pumping Ltd. in June, for their high-capacity high pressure linear peristaltic pump. Sepro is a Langley, British Columbia- based supplier of mineral processing and aggregate equipment with locations in South America, Europe, Africa, and Australia. Sepro will receive a $150,000 cash prize, and the potential opportunity to trial their technology at a British Columbia mine if an appropriate site is available. The purpose of the Mining Innovation Challenge was to solicit new technologies and ideas from tech, cleantech, and mining supplier companies that could help reduce water use at operating British Columbia mines. All mines require water to operate, and ‘reducing water use’ was chosen as the Challenge topic because of the potential broad application of the winning idea, if it successfully develops into a commercially viable concept. The Challenge was coordinated by Foresight Canada, a leading cleantech accelerator, and the winner was selected by a panel of three independent experts. The Challenge generated strong interest from all around the world, with more than 25 companies from across Canada and the globe entering the contest. MABC, Foresight, and the expert panel who evaluated the submissions are excited about the potential for Sepro’s linear peristaltic pump to reduce water use and improve operations at mine sites. Sepro believes its invention has the potential to increase the size and capacity of peristaltic pumps at mines by several multiples. “We’re pleased our Challenge has identified a new technique to reduce water use and potentially enable better tailings storage techniques at British Columbia mines using an innovation designed by Sepro Mixing and Pumping. Congratulations to Sepro and thank you to all the sponsors, partners, and contributors who made our first Mining Innovation Challenge a success,” said Michael Goehring, President and CEO of MABC. Peristaltic pumps are frequently used at mines for several purposes, including to transport slurry from the mine’s mill to a tailings storage facility (TSF). Historically, peristaltic pumps have been limited to smaller sizes/diameters because the hose needs to be folded to create a seal. As the hose size increases, the stress required to make the seal Reducing Water Use in Mines: New Technology Wins Innovation Challenge BY THE MINING ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Managing water resources is an important priority for mines and communities. MABC's Innovation Challenge sought new technologies focused on 'reducing water use.' Pictured: Newcrest's Brucejack Mine, courtesy of MABC.18 Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter can become too much for the rubber in the hose. This limits the capacity of the pump. “The industry would use peristaltic pumps wherever capacity allows, but existing peristaltic pumps have limited volumetric and pressure capacity,” explained Steve McAlister, Director for Sepro. Sepro’s design is in the patent process, so complete details about what makes the invention potentially groundbreaking aren’t available yet. But there are two key features which they are confident will make their pump a meaningful upgrade over currently available designs: they’ve altered the shape of the hose and developed a way to drive the hose with fluid as opposed to a traditional mechanical pressing means. In addition to reducing operational costs, this approach will also enable the transport of thicker and coarser materials. Importantly, this will enable less water to be used and transported to TSFs, reducing water use and potentially reducing the size of some TSFs. The next step for Sepro is to begin testing a prototype which will be about 50 per cent larger than existing peristaltic pumps currently available on the market. They’ve already built a prototype hose and are completing the detailed engineering of the infrastructure that goes around it to make it a pump. The initial testing will take place in their Langley, British Columbia factory. If successful, the prototype could be deployed at an operating mine, with the end goal of enhancing the capacity of the pump considerably more. Finding the right opportunity to pilot the technology at a mine site is important, as it will help to provide the proof of concept that mine operators (and regulators) will want to see before implementing it themselves. It will take more time to confirm the efficacy of Sepro’s device, but at this juncture, the first MABC Mining Innovation Challenge has been a definite success. The Challenge has identified an emerging technology that may reduce water use at British Columbia mines, and the prize is contributing to the advanced development of the technology. Importantly, the Challenge was able to attract many high-quality submissions, reinforcing the significant opportunities for ongoing collaboration between British Columbia’s mining, mining supplier and tech/clean tech sectors. In addition to Sepro’s winning entry, 2S Water Incorporated also received a special mention for their AquaValid Sensor. This innovative solution offers British Columbia’s mining sector real-time data collection on metal concentrations in water in order to increase water reuse and reduce freshwater consumption. Foresight Canada provided the structure and format of the Challenge and led its day-to-day operations. They were supported by PwC, the Fairness Evaluator for the Challenge. McAlister says he found out about the Challenge by reading about it online, and the company found the application process a challenge – but one that paid off for them. “The structure of the application was very well thought out, we thought, and required a lot of effort and introspection on our part,” said McAlister. As an entrant, Sepro highlighted the benefit of shortlisting the full competition down to five finalists before requesting applicants develop a complete proposal and pitch. Sepro employs about 100 people in British Columbia and estimates that the successful development and adoption Visit us online at www.CanadianMiningMagazine.com 19 of their technology could add 30 to 100 additional jobs, depending on future supply chain and manufacturing considerations. The Challenge was made possible with the support of its sponsors, including: the Government of British Columbia, Newcrest Mining, Teck Resources Limited, Natural Resources Canada, the Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals Mining (BRIMM), the Global Mining Guidelines Group, and the Mining Suppliers Association of BC (MSABC). “With our abundance of minerals and our ingenuity, Canada can become an even greater mining superpower in a world where critical minerals and rare earths are used to move toward a greener future. Congratulations to Sepro Mixing and Pumping Ltd, and all the finalists in this year’s Mining Innovation Challenge that represent the kind of ingenuity that will drive Canadian mining toward an even brighter future,” said The Hon. Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources (Government of Canada). “Mining is a foundational industry in B.C. and will continue to play a critical role in the growth of our province and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Congratulations to Sepro Mixing and Pumping Ltd, and all the finalists in the Mining Innovation Challenge for demonstrating clean-tech innovation and commitment to safety,” said The Honorary Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation (Government of British Columbia). M THE MINING ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (MABC) IS THE VOICE OF MINING IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, SPEAKING ON BEHALF OF OPERATING COAL, METAL, INDUSTRIAL MINERAL PRODUCERS AND SMELTERS, AS WELL AS ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT COMPANIES IN THE PROVINCE. Thank you to the Sponsors and Partners who made this Innovation Challenge possible.Next >