I THINK MINING

Monday morning brings: the continuing heat of a high pressure system;   the incessant whine of grass cutting; and the clanging of garbage collection trucks.

Monday also brings a slew of new mining-related newsletters and promotional literature.  That from The International Council of Mining and Metals is worth reading—and comment.  This issue deals with the usual: responsible mining and sustainability.  There are, however, some interesting points, including:

In Ghana: a workshop agreement between ICMM and the government to: develop new District Development funds to build local capacity; sharing of good practice; improved transparency to the local level; standard model for sharing compensation programs; sharing of experience between mining areas.  [I am not sure what all this means or implies, but it sounds good.]

From Teck Cominco:  the need for improved resource productivity based on a concern for increased demand on finite natural resources—hence the need to reduce, reuse, and recycle.  [This appears to be a mantra of Teck and I applaud them for it; it will be difficult to achieve, but why not the best from Vancouver?]

Vale:  now the second largest mining company, Vale in 2007 established a Sustainable Development Division, intends to produce a report on its practices, and has a in-house university to train staff in the right way to do thing so they can be proud to work for the company. [It is encouraging to see these initiatives and we hope they achieve their goal of attracting the best and brightest on the basis of these commitments.]

AngloGold Ashanti: is committed to implement the soon-to-be-published ICMM Plan for Integrated Mine Closure which is based on three steps:  (1) develop a Conceptual Closure Plan; (2) develop and implement a Detailed Closure Plan; and (3) advance to an efficient transition to closure based on a Decommissioning and Post-Closure Plan.  [Nothing really new here, but we are encouraged by the continued restatement of the obvious and necessary---I wonder if it will be integrated into the new Acid Mine Drainage management wiki being developed by others in Canada?]

Tony Hodge late of Vancouver Island and a consulting practice, then last year professor of sustainable mining at Queens, now takes over as head of ICMM.  It is not made clear in the report if he will give up his position as professor at Queens or take on this new duty in addition to being a professor.  I certainly hope he is not going to try to do both jobs simultaneously; for you can be sure that neither will benefit.  Nevertheless good wishes to him on his new appointment.  Does this mean they are looking for a new professor?  It will not be a sinecure given the contentious issues regarding First Nations in that part of the mining world. 

Now the grass cutting is done; the clogged bins of plastic and paper on their way to be recycled; and the heat increases; so too I am done, leaving you with a small-slice picture of the mining industry on a random Monday morning.