Green Mining Investment Coming to North Eastern Ontario

OTTAWA, Aug. 28, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canadian mines and minerals industry is important to our economy and to communities across the country. Developing Canada's natural resources in cleaner, more sustainable ways will create good, middle-class jobs, increase competitiveness and reduce pollution as we move toward a clean energy future.

Paul Lefebvre, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today announced an investment of $2.1 million for a green mining project aimed at developing an alternative to the mechanical compressors currently used in underground mining, one that is expected to reduce energy consumption and costs for compressed air by almost 40 percent. The alternative compressors will be deployed at Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd.'s Holloway Mine.

Kirkland Lake Gold will use Sudbury-based Electrale Innovation Ltd's hydraulic air compressor (HAC) technology, which relies on water and gravity to compress air. The cooler, drier, oil-free compressed air will also improve equipment maintenance and reliability at Kirkland Lake Gold's Holloway Mine.

Funded through Natural Resources Canada's Clean Growth Program, this project is harnessing the HAC technology to bring it to commercial scale in an operational underground mine and to build a new industry standard for compression in applications beyond underground mining. 

The Clean Growth Program is a $155-million investment fund that helps emerging clean technologies further reduce their impacts on air, land and water while enhancing competitiveness and creating jobs.

Canada's climate plan includes measures to protect the environment and leave a healthier planet for future generations, including actions to protect our oceans, phase out coal-fired electricity, invest in renewables and public transit and reduce plastic pollution. Green mining technologies are a key part of Canada's plan to combat climate change while growing the economy.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada continues to invest in projects that are positioning Canada's mining industry to lead the clean energy future. Through strong government partnerships and a commitment to innovation, we are building the sustainable and competitive mining industry of tomorrow."

Paul Lefebvre 
Parliamentary Secretary to Canada's Minister of Natural Resources

"Kirkland Lake Gold is delighted to be working with NRCan and the project partners on this hydraulic air compressor deployment. By reducing energy consumption without negatively impacting costs and performance, Electrale's hydraulic air compressor is a perfect fit with our sustainable mining objectives, and we are proud to take a leading role in the commercial deployment of this technology."

Alasdair Federico
Executive Vice President of Kirkland Lake Gold

Associated Links
Energy Efficient Compressed Air Production for an Underground Mine
Canada's green future
Canada's energy future
Electrale Innovation Limited

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SOURCE Natural Resources Canada