Drilling and Blasting
Minimal impact, maximum effectiveness
Regulatory scrutiny on drilling and blasting activity in Québec was stepped up a notch in 2024. The new Authorization for Impactful Exploration Work (ATI), a mandatory permit for exploration companies conducting activities with potential to cause environmental damage or social disturbance, came into force in May 2024. It requires the exploring company to submit a description of work to be carried out to their project’s local authorities, including municipalities and First Nations communities, and answer any questions submitted within a period of up to 30 days. The policy thus offers a space for transparent dialogue and local community engagement.
In the run-up to the ATI’s introduction, though, as exploration companies prepared for potential challenges during its rollout, Québécois drilling and blasting firms noted a delay in exploration contracts during the first half of the year. That effect was compounded by juniors’ well-documented financial challenges, which have put a squeeze on their exploration spending, reducing the availability of drilling and blasting service contracts. Across Canada as a whole, meters drilled declined slightly between 2023 and 2024, falling by 1.5% to 4.6 million m.
The potential for environmental harm as a result of these activities is quite clear – the use of heavy machinery and explosives to excavate the ground causes significant ecological upheaval. That does not, however, mean it is impossible to reduce impact, as Québécois drilling company Diafor seeks to demonstrate. The company implements solution including wood padding for use on delicate ground, mud recovery, sound dampening and other low-impact equipment to deliver an approach that is as environmentally friendly as possible.
Mathieu Dionne, Diafor’s CEO, argued that the industry should place more emphasis on such measures for the sake of its long-term sustainability: “Environmental and social sustainability are core priorities. Naturally, these commitments imply additional costs, but sustainability and customer satisfaction are valuable too. While our services may be priced higher than some competitors, our operations are both sustainable and structured to generate long-term value for clients.”
Groupe Rouillier, which provides both drilling services and equipment via its MBI Global brand, has also placed a focus on sustainable practices at the center of its operations. “Our sustainability strategy begins with understanding the full life cycle of drilling operations. We know the on-the-ground realities. This gives us a unique advantage when it comes to helping our clients improve efficiency, minimize waste, and reduce energy consumption,” said the group’s president, Mario Rouillier. He also emphasized the role drillers are play in the strategic minerals market, driving forward the energy transition. It is a segment the group is targeting for expansion, with Rouillier highlighting how his company’s “efficient, flexible and community-friendly solutions” leave it positioned well to contribute tools and expertise to clients across eastern Canada and beyond.
Another company approaching this issue from a different angle is HY2GEN. At its Courant project in Baie-Comeau, HY2GEN is gearing up to produce green ammonia and ammonium nitrate, for use in explosives destined for the mining sectors of Québec, Ontario, as well as in European explosives supply chains. The project, approved by Québec’s government in March 2025 and advancing towards a final investment decision in early 2027, takes advantage of Québec’s hydroelectric supply to generate the green hydrogen needed for its ammonia products. “This will contribute directly to decarbonizing the province’s mining sector,” asserted Pietro Di Zanno, HY2GEN’s managing director for North America.
It offers an avenue to reduce reliance on traditional ammonia production – which releases climate-damaging carbon dioxide as one of its primary byproducts.
Article header image by Velem at Adobe Stock