By October, Tesla was in talks with Vale, the world’s largest producer of the mineral, about securing sustainable nickel from its Canadian mines to power Tesla’s electric vehicle batteries.
Canada is one of the few countries in the world that can provide the materials required for lithium-ion batteries that are vital for EVs and other emerging low-carbon technologies.
Compared to countries like the Democratic Republic of Congo, which produces roughly 70% of the world’s cobalt under a cloud of human rights abuses and child labour, Canada looks like the ideal country of origin.
The question is, can Canada offer a steady, sustainable supply of critical minerals? Federal Minister of Innovation Navdeep Bains has spoken of the need for a “mines to mobility” strategy to join the growing EV economy.
However, satisfying increased demand for critical minerals holds its own set of challenges.
The mine, wedged between Mont-Tremblant National Park and Lac Taureau Regional Park, has raised concerns because of its potential production of millions of tons of acid waste, which would be permanently stored in the watershed of the tourist area.
While some First Nations in the region support the mining of nickel, palladium and copper, opposition from others who say they haven’t been adequately consulted remains strong.
Though the promise that Nouveau Monde’s graphite mine will be all-electric hasn’t smoothed over community opposition, meeting ESG standards is becoming increasingly important to everyone from clean economy allies to institutional investors.
The use of plasma technology can potentially boost the yield of precious metal ores like gold and platinum by more than 1,000% and reduce GHG emissions and costs for iron ore pellet production.
But work still needs to be done to ensure Canadian mines don’t fall behind on the path to responsibility.
The Mining Association of Canada program in 2004 to drive performance improvement in environmental and social issues – the first program in the world to require site-level assessments.
“Energy and GHG Emissions Performance Targets” and “Operational Water Management” had the lowest grades, although both still saw 53 and 50% of members, respectively, achieving an A or higher grade.
MiningWatch Canada’s Jamie Kneen says the TSM standard isn’t being enforced consistently and companies must be held to a higher bar if Canada wants to become a genuinely sustainable supplier of choice.
The Initiative for Responsible Mining Assurance has gained momentum in the last year and recently completed its first audit of Carrizal Mining’s Zimapán Mine in Mexico, which produces lead, zinc, copper and silver.
Though still in its infancy, the certification is already a selling point for companies – and nations – when searching for sustainable suppliers.
MAC’s Ben Chalmers says there is ongoing cooperation and knowledge transfer between MAC and IRMA, with potential for more integration in the future.
Many countries are developing their own or joint networks, among them the European Battery Alliance, which already counts Leading Edge Materials – a Canadian company developing projects within the EU – as a member.
Government assistance in stabilizing critical mineral prices may be valuable, as well as public procurement and supply partnerships – a strategy that has proven effective in Scandinavian countries and the EU.
Canada will have to show both quality and quantity of minerals extractions to qualify for emerging responsible minerals markets.” In other words, the reserves are there, but attaining the sustained benefits of mining these minerals will require a willingness to change how we supply them.