Engineering Carbon Neutrality
Québec’s road to net zero
In Canada, decarbonization is the watchword for mining firms and governments. And in Québec, large miners keep receiving support to advance decarbonization goals. Rio Tinto obtained substantial financial support, amounting to nearly C$700 million from Ottawa, intended for implementing cutting-edge low-carbon smelting technologies aimed at reducing emissions. Similarly, Québec Iron Ore has secured over C$300 million to advance decarbonization efforts within the steelmaking sector. Miners must therefore prioritize balancing increased production, pushed by green energy transition agendas, with overall carbon emissions reduction. This requires a thorough understanding of the emissions footprint throughout the mine's entire life cycle, with sustainability as a key factor in the design, operation, and closure stages. Decarbonizing a mine site requires a tailored approach, as no single method fits all scenarios. In that sense, engineering firms play a crucial role in driving carbon neutrality in mining operations in Québec by developing and implementing innovative technologies and sustainable practices.
Québec engineers have noted a slowdown in projects in the province in recent months. Indeed, miners continue to struggle to get the necessary funding to build mines, with engineers noting that projects that did not get financing in past years would have been important for the battery industry today. Interviews with mining engineering companies in Québec unveiled confidence in the underlying trends supporting Québec’s mining industry (namely the demand for gold and critical minerals), and an understanding that geopolitical and market turbulence have left their mark on purchase orders. Michal Gignac, VP of finance at G Mining Services, who is notably active at Arcadium’s Galaxy project, noted: “Projects have slowed down in the past few months given the high interest rates making it more difficult to raise capital for large CapEx projects. This is counterintuitive given the trend of companies wanting to invest in new mines to help in the decarbonization effort, but the interest rates will first have to come down for all these projects to get more funding.”
Looking beyond short-lasting market downturns, engineers and service providers’ role in making mining operations in the province greener will only strenghten. Incentives from the Québec government and financial ecosystem have helped to materialize the province’s active push as a critical minerals leader into a considerable influx of projects transitioning from the exploration phase to feasibility studies between 2022 and 2023. For engineers, feasibility studies demand detailed technical evaluations to determine project viability, thorough environmental impact assessments to comply with regulations, and they are also responsible for designing and planning essential infrastructure such as roads, power supply, and water management systems, ensuring efficiency and sustainability. “The magnitude of this advancement in Québec surpasses what we have observed in other regions during the same period”, shared David Anonychuk, global VP of metallurgy and consulting at SGS.
“Québec stands out as a leader in meeting the decarbonization requirements by 2050. Supported by substantial investments from key players like Rio Tinto, Québec's mining industry is at the forefront of the clean mining movement, crucial for achieving ambitious climate change objectives.”
Aziz Sene, Senior Vice President, Mining, EXP
Net zero from the onset
The biggest shift engineers noticed in Québec in recent years has been mining firm’s appetite to implement decarbonization strategies from the earlier stages of the mining life cycle. With investor pressures for GHG emission reductions rising, producers and developers have started integrating their roadmap to net zero, including their plans to rely on low- and zero-carbon energy sources from the early designing stages. And while opting for sustainable solutions does put more weight on the CapEx, this approach has been proven to make sense from an ROI, efficiency, and ESG perspective down the line. Riad Faour, CEO of engineering firm Progesys, who currently works on graphite, lithium, nickel, and copper projects in Québec (and at Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia), explained the shift: “We are seeing that clients are exploring available technologies and possibilities to electrify their equipment already from the design phase, and they are also looking at sustainable energy sources, which can reduce their carbon footprint, from an early stage.”
Adopting sustainability-focused practices from the onset will also allow Québec’s miners to navigate growingly stringent environmental regulations. To attract foreign investment, Québec is growing its brand under the banner of environmental stewardship, and several new regulations about exploration work or water management cropped up in the past 12 months. For Dominic Tremblay, VP and general manager Québec, mining and metallurgy at AtkinsRéalis: “The adoption of best practices and sustainable solutions that may be more costly – such as energy efficiency, water, and waste treatment, or process optimization-related –, should nonetheless be incorporated into projects from the start to ensure compliance with regulations that are becoming more stringent.”
AtkinsRéalis was notably commissioned by Nouveau Monde Graphite to carry out detailed engineering at the Matawine mine, which is due to be one of the lowest GHG emissions mines in the province.
Engineers are also adapting to the Québec mining industry’s evolving digital maturity. Besides electrification, the integration of clean energy sources, and process optimization, decarbonization could not be complete without digitalization. Again, Québec engineers are leaders in this space and have increasingly leveraged AI and machine learning to assist miners in their digital journeys. AtkinsRealis’ Decarbonomics tool leverages data visualization tools and machine learning to create cost and program delivery plans. Noting the intersection between decarbonization and digitalization, BBA has been optimizing Rio Tinto’s logistics by leveraging operational data. Norda Stelo, which in recent months acquired CWA Engineers and InnovExplo to bolster its offering, also launched its Stelar platform. Leveraged as an asset health information center, Stelar is cropping up at mine sites in Québec, allowing operators to make decisions aligned with operational excellence and long-term sustainability goals. Norda Stelo also worked on a project to analyze how AI could predict failures and the lifecycle of a series of static assets, such as pipeline networks, conveyor lines, and buildings. Sophie Boisvert, VP resources and industries at Norda Stelo, explained: “Over the years, AI adoption has transitioned from a conceptual phase to a practical investment for companies. There is a growing recognition of its potential to address workforce shortages and improve operational efficiency.”
“Mining is often seen as a harmful industry, and we have the responsibility to create a better image of mining to make the industry more attractive to young talent.”
Isabelle Demers, Professor and Director of the Research Institute of Mines and Environment, UQAT
Brownfield and greenfield approaches
There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to decarbonizing the mining industry. Québec’s long history of unique and well-established infrastructure keeps offering opportunities for engineers to give old assets a fresh look, and add their green touch.
With greenfield operations, miners and engineers start with a clean slate, allowing for integrated planning from inception, optimizing energy-efficient designs, and adopting renewable technologies without retrofitting existing infrastructure. Conversely, brownfield sites have established operations, often relying on outdated technologies and infrastructures that require costly retrofitting for decarbonization. BBA has been actively working on decarbonizing ArcelorMittal’s pellet plant in Port-Cartier. The project aimed at partially switching from the fossil fuel used at the pellet plant to a carbon-neutral biofuel, significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Isabelle Leblanc, vice-president, mining and metals market at BBA, said: “Decarbonization presents challenges, especially in existing operations. While greenfield projects offer more room for innovation, decarbonizing existing operations requires careful consideration and a solid decarbonization planning exercise.”
G-Mining’s Michael Gignac, added: “We are increasingly seeing miners in Québec wanting to go green, and they are deploying capital investments into digitalization and electrification technologies to reach their decarbonization goals. It is a greater challenge for older mines to go green, but we are seeing significant efforts by the newer mines in terms of green initiatives.”
Québec's mining sector is undergoing a transformative journey towards carbon neutrality, driven by rigorous engineering innovation and sustainable practices. Despite recent financial hurdles, the commitment to integrate decarbonization strategies from project inception underscores a resilient path forward. Engineers are pivotal in navigating regulatory complexities, leveraging digitalization, and optimizing energy efficiency to meet stringent environmental standards. The shift towards renewable energy sources and AI-driven solutions marks a strategic evolution towards sustainable mining practices. Québec's proactive stance not only aligns with global demands for greener technologies but also positions the province as a leader in environmental stewardship and responsible resource management for the future. As concluded by EXP’s senior vice president, mining, Aziz Sene: “Supported by substantial investments from key players like Rio Tinto, Québec's mining industry is at the forefront of the clean mining movement, crucial for achieving ambitious climate change objectives.”
Article header image courtesy of Nouveau Monde Graphite