Decarbonizing mining operations requires more than simply rolling out a battery-electric haulage fleet. This story, by regular contributor Lynn Greiner, explored the challenges and constraints that engineering firm Sedgman had to address in designing a gold processing plant for Artemis Gold’s Blackwater project in British Columbia that replaced fossil fuels with hydroelectricity. It is another great case study in the potential and limits of using renewable energy in mining operations. – Ryan Bergen
As part of our , who is speaking up about his experiences in the hopes of encouraging other workers to get help if they need it, believes that workplaces need to prioritize building a speak-up culture so that people do not stay silent when something is wrong. Read the series here. – Silvia Pikal
With the mounting demand for critical minerals to serve the energy transition, the mining industry is looking outside the box for innovations to meet that demand. What was once the stuff of science fiction, deep-sea mining and space mining are not only becoming more viable but, more importantly, may help to solve some of the industry’s most daunting environmental, social and problems. Regular contributor Alexandra Lopez-Pacheco looked at the possibilities and the hurdles involved with mining in these two frontiers. – Michele Beacom
The Canadian mining industry has had difficulty meeting its labour needs in recent years; meanwhile, female mining engineers in Latin America can face hurdles when looking for work in their field. In a great example of lateral thinking, the Artemisa Mining Challenge aims to address both issues by helping mining companies to hire talented female mining engineers from Latin America to work at their Canadian operations. Reporter Alice Martin found out more about this important initiative and spoke to some of the women selected for the program who are now working at mines in Canada. – Ailbhe Goodbody
With the planned closure of the Diavik diamond mine in the Northwest Territories set for 2026, senior editor Ailbhe Goodbody reported on Rio Tinto’s commitment to leaving a lasting positive impact in the region once operations come to an end. This commitment includes prioritizing responsible land and water reclamation to ensure the post-closure site is safe for local wildlife and surrounding Indigenous communities. The company’s closure plan also emphasizes sustainability through forward-thinking actions, like integrating renewable energy infrastructure, which will continue to benefit the region in the years after closure. – Ashley Fish-Robertson
Regular contributor Lynn Greiner explored the potential of using environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling as an additional tool to enhance biodiversity monitoring at mine sites before, during and after operations, offering a complementary approach to traditional assessment methods. While considerable hurdles still remain before broader implementation, integrating eDNA surveys as part of environmental monitoring has shown promise in expediting environmental assessments and gathering more accurate results. This approach aligns with the growing emphasis on nature-positive initiatives in mining, which promote proactive environmental stewardship. – AFR
This entertaining article is our inaugural column in a series dedicated to dispelling myths surrounding National Instrument 43-101. This first entry, by securities commissions regulators Victoria Yehl and James Whyte (retired), specifically challenged the oft thrown about catchphrase “NI 43-101 compliant.” In an approachable, conversational tone, they clearly explained what is—and what is not—“NI 43-101 compliant,” something that everyone in our industry needs to understand better. Future entries in the series will cover what makes a qualified person qualified, myths surrounding technical reports and clarity on metal equivalency. – MB
Inspired by all the wonderful historical material we dug up for CIM’s 125th anniversary in 2023, this year we launched “” the back page department of the print edition of CIM Magazine, as a means of digging deeper into the vast catalogue of CIM publications. Senior editor Ailbhe Goodbody took on the project of capturing the history of the Canadian mining industry. With this piece, she kicked off the series, expertly stitching together archival material from multiple decades to tell the origin story and development of potash mining in Saskatchewan. Read the series here. – RB
We witnessed a landmark year for Indigenous people in Canada asserting their rights on their lands. Regular contributor Kelsey Rolfe reported on the federal government’s promised Indigenous loan guarantee program intended to help Indigenous communities purchase equity stakes in projects. acquiring equity participation in mining projects include the formation of Canada’s largest majority Indigenous-owned public company, which acquired the rights to several mining projects, Selkirk First Nation purchasing the abandoned Minto copper-gold mine in Yukon and Norway House Cree Nation buying the Minago nickel project in Manitoba. Next year, our Indigenous Participation in Mining series will go more in-depth into the people, the ideas and the models that are moving mining projects and economic reconciliation forward. – SP
Many mining companies have made commitments to reduce their Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but Scope 3 emissions—indirect emissions produced throughout the value chain, other than energy—can represent up to 95 per cent of a company’s total GHG emissions. In the August feature, seasoned reporter Christopher Pollon outlined that while accurately tracking, reporting and reducing Scope 3 emissions requires transformative changes in business practices, the mining companies that lead the way in addressing this aspect of the value chain could reap benefits such as growth opportunities and improved environmental, social and governance ratings. – AG
