Clean Mining Alliance: A Cleaner and More Environmentally Responsible Mining Industry

New advancements in the clean technology sector have provided an opportunity for mining companies to reassess their techniques and look for ways to become more environmentally responsible while engaging in mining practices which can prove to be more cost efficient. To help companies achieve cleantech goals, the newly launched Clean Mining Alliance aims to promote advancements in clean technology within the mining industry.

Partnered with American Manganese (TSXV:AMY), Kemetco Research, Nevada Clean Magnesium (TSXV:NVM) and CERM³ (University of British Columbia’s Centre for Environmental Research in Minerals, Metals and Materials), the Clean Mining Alliance is promoting industry innovators  employing processes and technologies geared towards making mining safer, cleaner and less expensive.

Speaking with Resource Investing News, Clean Mining Alliance’s Executive Director and cleantech veteran, Dallas Kachan, shared his views on the need to shift to clean technologies within the mining industry.

Resource Investing News: What has made the mining sector an important sector for cleantech innovations?

Dallas Kachan: Mining is really one of the last frontiers of relatively inefficient industrial technology waiting to be revolutionized by new materials, science, energy innovations and water innovations. Important new technology breakthroughs in cleantech are just waiting to be adopted, and we exist to help build those bridges.

RIN: Are mining companies willing to make the shift to clean technologies?  

Mining companies have a history of looking carefully at technology improvements. Not every mining company is quick to adopt new technology. But we believe we’re now standing on the edge of a disruptive change in mining because of technology innovation.

RIN: What has made the launch of the Clean Mining Alliance possible?

New materials, as well as energy and water technology from the cleantech sector can help make mining safer and cleaner and more profitable, and that is really the impetus behind the alliance.

Say what you will about mining’s past, but the future of mining will involve better, more efficient technology that will have less of an environmental impact. Technology innovation is going to play a major role for making mining better for people on the planet.

RIN: What do mining companies stand to benefit from via clean technology advancements? 

DK: Cleantech innovations are going to help make mining not just cleaner, but more profitable. Mining companies stand to benefit from increased margins from lower power requirements, less water and safer processes. Innovations in cleantech sectors like energy and water promise to lower cap-ex and op-ex and remediation costs in mining.

For instance, American Manganese is planning through use of membrane-based water filtration to recycle and reuse water. The company is also employing the use of electrowinning, which could allow it to use a fraction of the energy used by its competitors in China or South Africa.

RIN: What kinds of other clean technologies are being introduced?  

DK: Some companies are beginning to proactively address toxicity as a way to speed up the closure and remediation process and lower costs. American Manganese, for example, is pursuing benign tailings as the outcome of its process. Likewise, another member of our association, Kemetco Research, is pursuing gold extraction technology that doesn’t use the toxin cyanide.

Overall, better management of toxins can translate to lower costs for mining companies. It’s not just the right thing for the planet, but the right thing for investor returns.

RIN: Will these technologies be widely available for the mining community in the future or would they be only for members?

DK: Our organization exists to promote what our members are doing to clean up mining. Our association is not in the business of determining who gets access to these technologies. If anything, our members would welcome contact from the industry, from organizations interested in what they are doing and how best to use their technology.

RIN: What sets Clean Mining Alliance apart from other associations pursuing similar goals to the Clean Mining Alliance?  

DK:  While other organizations have done a good job describing and promoting sustainability standards, we are focused specifically on drawing attention to the new technology innovation going on in mining.

Technology, arguably, is a very important pillar of the sustainability story in mining, and anything we can do to bring more to the role of technology innovation and improvement is going to be very important for the mining sector.

RIN: What initiatives are planned for the future?

DK: In the short term we will be raising awareness of the clean mining efforts of our members. In the longer term we will be helping set the direction for clean technology in mining and driving standards. We also intend to help connect our members with the rest of the industry and, finally, foster professional development about cleaner mining in the industry.

RIN: How would other companies interested in sharing and partaking in these technologies become members?

DK: Organizations doing important things in mining technology are encouraged to contact us. We welcome working with companies doing important new technology in this space; that’s why we exist.