Continuing to Reduce Impacts

Our Manitoba business continued to work toward its target for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity and fresh water consumption intensity by 1%. Our intensity metrics measure the GHGs emitted and the amount of water consumed per tonne of production.

The Manitoba Business Unit’s total water consumption increased by 3.9% compared to 2016, which could be explained by increased production. Water consumption intensity increased by 8.7%.

Our carbon intensity is relatively low, primarily due to the fact that much of the electricity used to run our processing plants is renewable hydroelectricity sourced from Manitoba Hydro. We do use propane for heating and diesel to run the equipment vehicles that extract and transport ore. As our 777 and Reed operations near the end of their mine life, their energy consumption increases due to the need to mine deeper and haul material farther. Efforts to offset these higher energy requirements include lowering temperatures in the Reed mine by four degrees in the winter months, turning off ventilation systems in the welding shop when not in use, and installing ceiling fans to recirculate warmer air in the sheds used to thaw concentrate.

Despite our best efforts, our overall energy usage and energy intensity increased by 5.2% and 4.0%, respectively, compared to 2016, with higher use of propane during the winter months and production ramp-up at Lalor being likely contributors to the increase. We did not meet our annual GHG target of reducing emissions by 1%.

New Plant Improves Backfill Management

At Lalor, we began construction on a new paste plant, which is a key element for growing our Lalor operation.

Tailings from the Stall mill will be diverted from the Anderson tailings impoundment area and pumped to the Lalor paste plant. The tailings will be dewatered and blended with stabilizers, such as cement, to create a paste-like material that will be used in the underground mine to backfill the voids created during the mining process. The paste plant, which is expected to begin pumping paste in 2018, will support the production ramp-up at Lalor and reduce the costs and land used by diverting the waste stream from the tailings impoundment area and converting it into a structurally strong backfill material.

In managing our material air emissions in 2017, we experienced a significant dusting event similar to one in 2016, where high winds blew the sandy material from the Flin Flon tailings facility toward nearby communities. Although our ambient monitors did indicate elevated metal levels, these remained below the relevant air quality guidelines. Our dust management plan includes placing straw over the dusted tails to prevent dust flare-ups, and we began testing other methods, such as the use of bonding agents, to better control dust generation during high-wind weather events.

As part of our Federal Performance Agreement, we began an air-sampling program to measure and verify how many kilograms of zinc per tonne of metal produced were emitted into the atmosphere.

Protecting Species

Along with controlling dust, we have biodiversity management plans in place to protect waterfowl and other migratory birds from the areas around our tailings facilities. Although these storage ponds pose a minimal risk, prior to freezing over and when they begin to thaw, we use several deterrent methods, such as propane cannons, to keep birds away from any potentially hazardous areas.

We have continued our financial backing of Manitoba’s provincial Woodland Caribou Recovery Strategy. The comprehensive multi-year plan supports recovery efforts and protection of the woodland caribou in northern Manitoba. Our participation in the plan helps us to assess any impacts of our exploration and mine development activities on the species.

Achieving Successful Mine Closure

Throughout our 90 years of operations in the northern Manitoba region, we have responsibly closed and remediated 19 mines, returning most of the land to its natural state.

At our Reed operation, which is located within a provincial park, closure activities will begin immediately after the last ore is mined in mid-2018. One of the first priorities for the closure plan will be to make sure the site is safe by removing buildings that are no longer needed and ensuring any voids, entrances and holes are filled or secured. The plan calls for the site to be indistinguishable from other public-use areas in the park, such as campsites.

Close to Reed in the provincial park is Spruce Point, a mine we closed in the 1990s. During operations at Reed, we agreed to conduct further remediation at the Spruce Point site. We engaged experts to define how best to remediate Spruce Point and, as a result, beginning in 2018 we will remove the waste rock and transfer it to one of our operating sites for further management.