Juggling All Aspects of Developing a Mining Project

Located in the heart of the Gulf of Saint Lawrence, on the Magdalen Islands, Mines Seleine has been the only salt mine in operation in Quebec for the last 42 years. Its exceptional geographical location requires distinct and innovative operational management. Recruitment and retention of personnel, scarcity and high cost of housing, transport of people and goods, as well as the lack of local resources are all daily challenges that the mine must face. This conference offers an in-depth analysis of the initiatives and solutions put in place to maintain safe and efficient operations, while highlighting the key role of Mines Seleine as a flagship of the Quebec mining industry.

The Horne 5 project of Falco Resources aims at the underground exploitation of a polymetallic gold deposit located in the Noranda-Nord industrial park of Rouyn-Noranda. For the Falco team, this project represents a generational opportunity to create value for all stakeholders and contribute to the development of Rouyn-Noranda and the entire Abitibi-Témiscamingue region. Of course, the establishment of such a project in an urban environment brings its share of challenges but also opportunities. With this in mind, the Falco Resources team was able to work together with the community to modulate its project and ensure that it is acceptable for its integration environment.

Developing a mining project has its share of challenges. From financing for exploration and development work, to project design at competitive costs and attractive returns. All this in a market where the price of commodities fluctuates according to the emotions of investors; the path is not a long, quiet river. A change in law, elections, a pandemic, falling demand, etc., many parameters can topple a project. Navigating through these challenges requires agility, intuition, innovation, resilience and… money. Respect for the receiving environment, wealth creation and impact mitigation are essential to the development process. In addition, acceptability of the project by stakeholders is necessary. It is our duty as an industry to focus on the development of sustainable projects which, from the development stages, must not only address environmental concerns but also have robust closure plans for the mine and social transition plans for the communities that were born with this project… so that they reorganize and continue to exist at the end of the operations.

Developing a mining project has its share of challenges. From financing for exploration and development work, to project design at competitive costs and attractive returns. All this in a market where the price of commodities fluctuates according to the emotions of investors; the path is not a long, quiet river. A change in law, elections, a pandemic, falling demand, etc. many parameters can topple a project. Navigating through these challenges requires agility, intuition, innovation, resilience and… money. Respect for the receiving environment, wealth creation and impact mitigation are essential to development. In addition, acceptance of the project by stakeholders is necessary and it is our duty as an industry to focus on the development of sustainable projects which, from the development stages, must address not only the respect for the environment but also the development of a robust closure plan for the mine and the social transition plan for the communities that were born with this project… so that they reorganize and continue to exist at the end of their life of the mine.