By ADELLE LARMOUR
Aligning interests between mines and First Nation, and energy conservation were two keynotes delivered at the second annual Marathon-Hemlo Mining and Prospecting Expo.
Byron LeClair, Pic River First Nations economic development officer, and Peter Love, Ontario Power Authority’s chief energy conservation officer, addressed a diverse section of mining industry gurus as well as the general public.
Approximately 170 people attended the conference, travelling from as far west as Kenora to southern Ontario, says Daryl Skworchinski, Marathon’s manager of community services and economic development.
The event stemmed out of Marathon’s economic development strategy as an avenue to bring the mining sector and community together to network and gain a better understanding of projects. Skworchinski says it was meant to bring mining to the fore in Marathon, highlighting the town as a mining community and centre for exploration and development.
Themed “Environmental, Exploration and Innovation Excellence” in the mining and natural resource industries, Love spoke of OPA’s mandate in terms of energy conservation and sustainable developments that provide long-term electricity in Ontario.
Love pointed out four types of conservation: fuel switching; conservation/demand management; energy efficiency; and self-generation/co-generation.
He provided examples of OPA’s Renewable Energy Standard Offer Program that supports small grid-connected wind, water, solar PV and biomass generated power offering price stability and security with a 20-year contract.
Other programs are the Technology Development Fund and the Conservation Fund, both of which provide funding for projects that promote the development and commercialization of technologies that improve electricity supply, conservation or demand management, and conservation education and electricity reduction pilot projects.
Love said many of the mines in Northern Ontario, including Williams Operating Corp. (WOC) have taken lead roles in energy conservation with energy management initiatives. These projects not only save companies significant costs in reduced electrical consumption, but have created a culture of energy conservation.
Love completed his address by awarding WOC with a Certificate of Recognition for advances in energy conservation with their Sustainable Leak Prevention Program through compressed air systems.
The second keynote speaker, Byron LeClair, spoke of establishing partnerships between the Pic River First Nations and the mining sector. By aligning interests, consultation and accommodation occur, providing cornerstones to partnership agreements.
It was approximately five years ago when Hemlo’s general manager Vern Baker came in and recognized the lack of First Nations presence. By working with LeClair and the economic development office, he initiated the first labour contract for the provision of labour services between Pic River First Nations and the mine.
“Attached to that contract were training and apprenticeship opportunities for members of our community,” LeClair said. “We went from zero people working at the mine to 27, in relatively short order.”
Although it took 20 years for someone from the mining community to recognize the potential of its area First Nations people, LeClair prefers to look forward to the economic benefits of this partnership, as well as future partnerships with other mining companies.
Sidebar – on Williams Operating Corp. Sustainable Leak Prevention program
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Williams Operating Corp. was awarded a Certificate of Recognition by Peter Love, Ontario Power Authority’s chief energy conservation officer, for their energy conservation with the Sustainable Leak Prevention program.
As part of an energy initiative implemented in the mine three years ago, a team was formed to focus on managing leaks in compressed air systems, which can present between 20 and 40 per cent of energy costs, according to Love’s keynote address.
Since an unchecked one-inch compressed air leak can run as high as $172,542 per year at WOC, a system to measure compressed air performance, track costs of air leaks and an improved management reporting system was put in place.
Attention has also been focused on water conservation, ion metering system, heating and ventilation systems, and education seminars for employees by Natural Resources Canada, to help reduce energy consumption.
“We did a whole education component for our employees about conserving energy at work and at home,” says Roger Souckey, WOC’s public relations officer.
WOC spends between $23- and $25 million annually on electricity. The three-year program set targets to reduce energy consumption by five per cent each year, which to date, has been successful.
