CANADIAN TECHNOLOGY
global economy disrupted by geopolitical unpredictability. However, its remoteness presents formidable challenges, demanding considerable investment in logistical infrastructure.
The Ring of Fire is not only remote, but environmentally and socially sensitive. Located within the world’ s second largest peatland system, which plays a major role in climate stability through carbon storage. Protected under Treaty 9, the region carries obligations to protect land, water and future generations. With multiple First Nations holding stewardship responsibilities, mining success depends on strong environmental safeguards and trusted partnerships.
Meaningful collaboration between stakeholders will need to include economic participation of indigenous communities – through opportunities in construction, operations, procurement and long-term project value creation.
Mohamed states:“ The choice of mining methods and technologies in the Ring of Fire will be guided more than ever by sustainability considerations. Traditional approaches, particularly diesel truck haulage, are less suited to the region’ s terrain and environmental sensitivity. Roads built across wetlands, require deep ground preparation, increasing both capital costs and ecological disturbance. Long haul distances further compound operating costs, while reliance on diesel adds emission exposure and to fuel price volatility.”
As a result, mining companies are increasingly evaluating alternative transport systems at prefeasibility stage.“ Railveyor’ s light rail hybrid system, for instance, has been specified in a number of Tier One projects currently under consideration in northern Ontario – in addition to other global sites where it is already operational. The early integration of this technology allows projects not only to reduce running costs, but to minimise environmental footprint and energy use while enhancing stakeholder acceptance.”
She adds that among the reasons why Railveyor’ s innovative haulage system is gaining traction is that it is designed to operate on a narrow corridor with minimal ground preparation. Its infrastructure requirements are also significantly lighter, relying on a shallow layer of crushed aggregate rather than deep road construction – an important advantage in peatland terrain.
Mohamed:“ The system therefore offers a lower-impact solution compared to traditional haulage methods. By eliminating or significantly reducing diesel use within the mining operation, Railveyor reduces emissions and improves energy efficiency.”
In one study, the system has been designed for an autonomous electric haul distance of almost 340 km across a sensitive ecosystem – capable of hauling some 10 Mt of mined material annually. Another advantage is its low noise profile – the lowest of all long-distance haulage options considered – at just 70 dB at 10m.
“ This early-stage engagement with innovation options is critical: it allows mine developers to align project design with the complex environmental, logistical and social demands of the region from the outset.”
In addition to environmental benefits, she says Railveyor offers clear economic advantages. Electrified haulage systems allow for greater automation and safety, and offer high levels of energy efficiency. This saves on operating costs and provides greater cost stability over the life of mine – especially with growing oil price volatility.
“ Canadian-developed technologies such as Railveyor are also inherently designed for the country’ s unique operating conditions: harsh climates, remote locations and demanding regulatory frameworks. This makes them more fit-for-purpose than many imported and adapted solutions.”
In the interests of responsibly mining more critical minerals, government is reshaping its mining policy framework. One of its reforms is the coordinated‘ one project, one review’ approach, to allow federal, provincial and local assessments to run in parallel – to bring mining projects on stream faster.
As stated before, the government is also making significant capital commitments, including a C $ 2 billion Critical Minerals Sovereign Fund to support project investment, and C $ 1.5 billion allocated to First and Last Mile infrastructure – to unlock access to remote mineral regions.
Mohamed concludes:“ These reforms and investments will have a lasting impact on Canada’ s mining value chain if proven, homegrown technologies such as Railveyor can be leveraged to make mining smarter and more efficient while reducing costs and vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.”
Geochemical means to decarbonise mining- WSP
WSP Global is a consultancy in mining with global scope and influence. Based in Montreal, Quebec, it has just released a new whitepaper on decarbonising the mining sector – not with carbon offsets or renewable energy but using chemistry. It states:“ Climate change, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, poses a significant threat to global ecosystems and human societies. Among these gases, carbon dioxide( CO₂) is the leading contributor to the greenhouse effect, leading to increased radiative forcing and as a result, global warming. This white paper outlines how mining operators can reduce CO2 in the atmosphere using geochemical carbon dioxide removal( CDR) pathways consisting of enhanced mineralisation and alkalinity enhancement.”
WSP focuses on two geochemical pathways particularly relevant to the mining sector: enhanced mineralisation and alkalinity enhancement. Enhanced mineralisation is predominantly driven by mineral trapping, whereby CO 2 is sequestered in solid forms like carbonate minerals. In contrast, alkalinity enhancement is driven by solubility trapping, where CO 2 is retained in a soluble form, such as carbonate alkalinity. It says enhanced mineralisation can be further subdivided into in-situ and ex-situ pathways while the alkalinity enhancement pathway relevant to the mining sector occurs via enhanced rock weathering( ERW). Ex situ pathways take place at the surface and can be subdivided based on the need for new processing circuits to be developed versus the ability to adapt existing infrastructure such as tailings storage facilities( TSFs) to the pathway. In-situ pathways involve introducing compressed CO 2 or CO 2-saturated water into existing or enhanced subsurface porosity in geological formations.
The paper closes with a call to action.“ Now is the moment for mine operators to seize the opportunity to lead in climate action by embracing the integration of geochemical pathways in future, operational, and legacy mine operations. By embedding these pathways within mining flowsheets, operators can deliver meaningful climate benefits, strengthen accountability, reduce reputational risks, and unlock new revenue streams. Integrated pathways offer not only avoidance or CDR but also the potential for large-scale land rehabilitation and the creation of premium, low-carbon materials that will position the mining sector at the forefront of sustainable development. To all industry leaders, policymakers, and technology providers: let us work together to advance policy frameworks, invest in monitoring and verification, and champion knowledge-sharing partnerships that will scale mining-based geochemical pathways for the benefit of our economy and the planet.”
MEDATech driving electric transition with Bosch Rexroth
The transition to electrification for off-road mobile equipment presents significant challenges and exciting opportunities. To accelerate adoption, global leaders in mobile application and automation technology, Bosch Rexroth, and heavy mobile equipment EV drivetrain integration specialists, Collingwood, Ontario-based MEDATech Engineering, are collaborating to offer customers access to full-spectrum
16 International Mining | APRIL 2026