OBAC Releases Minerals and Mining Strategy
By 250 News
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 01:03 PM
Prince George, B.C. – The Omineca Beetle Action Coalition has released its “Minerals and Mining Strategy.” It is one of 12 strategies for economic diversification that OBAC plans to unveil in the next few months.
The report presents 7 recommendations, 8 objectives and 24 action items to step up mining exploration and development throughout the OBAC region which stretches from Smithers to Valemount, and Hixon to Mackenzie.
While the strategy outlines the importance of the involvement of all levels of government, it doesn’t put a price tag to that involvement. That is the next step says OBAC Manager Elizabeth Anderson “We don’t have a ball park figure right now, but we don’t expect that will take very long. We expect to have in the next month or so the answer to how much investment is needed in the different action planning areas.”
Anderson says the provincial and federal Governments have indicated the strategy is on the right track, “I think senior governments want to take a look at the how to and how much before they are able to make firm commitments about funding things.”
The demand for minerals is high, so is the price. 90% of solar panels require silver, hybrid cars use more copper and nickel than a conventional car, 170 tonnes of coal are need to make a 70 meter high wind turbine.
Exploration expenditures in the OBAC region have grown from $15 million in 2004 (11% of the BC total) to $100 million in 2007 (24% of the BC total).
So why have a strategy when exploration is going ahead on its own? Anderson says the strategy builds on information already gathered “The strategy straddles what has already been done and looks forward to the future about what needs to be done and what can be done.” Anderson says one of the important points in the strategy is to try to work towards reducing the time line to bringing a mine on line “We’ve got a number of properties in out region that are all ready fired up, there’s already been a lot of assessment and discussion. Those are the ones that we’re looking to see come on line in 3 to 5 years .”
The strategy is praised by GeoScience B.C. President, Dr. Lyn Anglin who says community involvement is critical to attracting the mining activity “It’s a pretty competitive environment out there. I just got back from a meeting in Australia and the Australians are working very hard to attract exploration and mining activity into their jurisdiction. We are competing with the rest of Canada so we have to do what we can to make sure we are on the mining companies and exploration companies radar screens.” She says the OBAC Minerals and Mining strategy is important because it demonstrates community engagement and support for the industry.
Here are the 7 recommendations outlined in the strategy:
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1. |
OBAC, local governments, and First Nations governments work together to identify regional and local expectations and needs. |
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2. |
Maintain and improve regional infrastructure to help mining activity and to strengthen the OBAC region overall. |
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3. |
Build upon existing expertise to become a centre of excellence for minerals and mining post-secondary education. |
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4. |
Increase public education and raise awareness of mineral exploration and mining sector activities and their benefits. |
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5. |
Achieve excellence in safe and sustainable mining practice, knowledge and expertise. |
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6. |
Improve and streamline provincial and federal permitting processes and procedures. |
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7. |
Encourage and support geoscience activities to further identify viable resources in the region. |
You can access the full report by clicking here.
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Posted by: Moses on May 14 2008 2:49 PM
BINGO ....