Can you provide an overview of Veolia’s work within the mining sector in Québec?

Veolia offers a broad range of services to mining companies. We have a major focus on wastewater applications and issues related to toxicity to aquatic life. This typically involves removal of heavy metals and other contaminants such as ammonia. We may also design processes to remove cyanide species from wastewater. It all comes down to supplying systems that allow our clients to meet their regulatory compliance. By bundling our wide ranges of digital services for our mining clients, we can oversee their water treatment activities, provide them with preventative maintenance, advisories, and offer the full suite of technologies including mobile water services and chemicals.

Which trends have been driving growth for Veolia in the region?

There is a clear trend in companies turning towards digitalization to optimize their water systems. This is where our Hubgrade smart digital solutions platform is becoming a value add for our clients looking for expertise, efficiency, and technical support when operating their facilities. Hubgrade allows us to share data points with clients, giving preventative maintenance foresight for their plant. That digital framework will remain a key trend in the long term as it helps companies with regulatory requirements working with a trusted advisor. Direct access to our internal experts through this platform is also key, as mines built today are being constructed in remote areas, making in-person advisory all the more challenging.

The increase in demand on mobile assets, or temporary treatment, seen in the past years is unlikely to wane anytime soon. This can accelerate construction activities at a new mine. Utilizing mobile assets can also allow juniors to focus financial resources on areas that are going to generate revenue for the company such as milling, while wastewater can be part of a monthly operating expense. Veolia can replicate permanent wastewater treatment facilities based on a mobile treatment. Allowing clients to pay monthly as opposed to doing a large capex at early stages of their projects can be seen as very favorable. Veolia can design a permanent facility for these clients once they are ready for a more significant investment for a permanent plant.

How important have environmental considerations become for Québec’s mining industry?

No mining company wants to be dealing with any type of non-compliant environmental situation. The environmental aspect is now at the forefront of any project development. Firms also need engagement from First Nations, local communities, along with provincial and federal governments which can be complex. Projects can be shelved if an environmental review is not approved by these key stakeholders. Besides regulators, the financial community is also insisting companies meet their ESG goals.

What challenges do the regulatory requirements around water treatment bring?

Regulatory requirements are becoming increasingly challenging in Québec and across Canada and often come with significant investment. Having full lab capabilities in Canada is a huge asset as we can take water from the site to replicate the process, meaning companies can take that data and share it with the regulators. Veolia also helps clients developing models representing what the water quality of their plant would look like based on the data supplied by our client.

Québec is an area where there is a positive water balance. Here we have too much water. Besides regulation, a major challenge for mining companies is looking at reuse applications to deal with the volume of that water they will need to get offsite. Furthermore, as mines are becoming more remote in the far northern reaches of the province, transportation challenges also arise. Companies have tight shipping windows, and there is a considerable amount of logistics required in terms of water management in these areas.

What will make Veolia stand out in the water treatment space in the years to come?

We are going to continue investing in new technologies for the good of the environment, being driven by Veolia’s commitment to ecological transformation. Veolia is constantly looking to evolve and bring new innovation to its clients. Being a trusted adviser is something we take seriously, and Veolia fosters that image not just in Canada but abroad as well.