MABC: Reducing Water Use in Mining Challenge
Coordinated by the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) and Foresight Canada, this Challenge sought to identify innovative solutions to reduce water use intensity in mining operations.
Challenge Launch: December 2021
Reducing Water Use Intensity in Mining Operations
Coordinated by the Mining Association of British Columbia (MABC) and Foresight Canada, this Challenge sought to identify innovative solutions to reduce water use intensity in mining operations.
With the global clean water shortfall predicted to reach 40 per cent by 2030, water scarcity poses a significant social and economic risk to the mining industry.
The challenge aimed to improve water use practices critical to mining, while contributing to the global low-carbon transition by ensuring the sustainable extraction of minerals needed for renewable energy technologies.
Read more about this Challenge below.
Challenge Statement & Opportunity
Challenge Statement: In light of the increasing physical and material risks associated with water, this challenge sought to identify innovative solutions that can help the industry improve water use.
This challenge provided an opportunity for innovators to develop technologies that could:
Reduce Water Use Intensity: Decrease the amount of water required for mining operations and increase the reuse of industrial water, thereby reducing the need for freshwater consumption.
Enhance Environmental Performance: Implement solutions that improve the environmental sustainability of the mining industry, setting a precedent for responsible resource management.
Cross-Industry Learning: Develop solutions that could be shared with other water-reliant sectors to foster broader environmental and economic benefits.
The challenge offered a $150,000 prize and potential pilot opportunities for the winning solution.
Solution & Winner
Sepro Mixing and Pumping was selected as the winner of the challenge. Large Scale Linear Fluid-Driven Peristaltic Pump. The technology limits water waste for slurry liquefaction and enables tailings to be delivered to a storage facility with much higher density than currently possible. It also allows water to be reclaimed for use at the concentrator and will enable more sustainable tailings storage techniques.
We believe we have achieved a breakthrough in peristaltic pumping that will substantially reduce the amount of water taken from the environment for mineral processing and allow construction of safer tailings storage facilities at lower cost than previously achievable.
We are hopeful the credibility gained through this Challenge will allow us to advance the schedule for field trials by at least one year.
Steve McAlister Director, Sepro Mixing and Pumping Ltd.
The Partner
MABC is the voice of mining in British Columbia, representing operating steelmaking coal, metal and industrial mineral producers, as well as smelting operations and advanced development companies in the province.
Their mandate is to encourage the safe, responsible development and operation of mining and related facilities across British Columbia.
The mining industry generated more than $12 billion in economic activity and supported over 35,000 direct and indirect jobs in 2019, while contributing more than $1 billion in direct payments to the provincial government.
BC’s mines are committed to continuous improvement, and this challenge is another example of how we are always looking for new technologies that can enhance our operations and environmental stewardship.
The Challenge attracted applications from BC and around the world, and we are very pleased to be moving forward with five high quality candidates to the final stage of the competition.
Michael Goehring President and CEO, MABC
Challenge Background & Considerations
Reducing water use and improving water use are among the top priorities for the mining industry as it continues to adopt and implement responsible practices within its operations. Mining is crucial to the global low-carbon transition, with minerals and metals needed to deploy wind, solar, and geothermal power, and energy storage.
In light of the increasing physical and material risks associated with water, this challenge sought to identify innovative solutions that can help the industry improve water use. While the challenge was specifically to improve the environmental performance of the industry, it also created the opportunity to share learnings with other sectors reliant on water.
The challenge was conducted over two distinct phases: Expression of Interest (EOI) and Full Project Proposal (FPP).
Updates
January 2023: Sepro Prototype
Sepro Mixing and Pumping used the Challenge winnings of $150K to build a prototype novel linear pump, which provided an opportunity to confidently design and build the larger prototype pump. Initial testing of the pump prototype shows very promising results.
The real leverage Sepro Mixing and Pumping Ltd. gets from winning the Challenge is submitting another application to the BHP and Rio-Tinto Open Tailings Call.
March 2022: Winners Announced
Sepro Mixing and Plumbing was selected as the Challenge Winners.
December 2021: Challenge Launches
Industry Challenges are a fantastic way to energize innovation. By connecting corporate leaders facing sustainability hurdles with market-ready cleantech innovators, we can accelerate Canada’s path to a green economy. Solutions for this Challenge could have enormous environmental and economic benefits.
Our Partners
This two-phase Challenge is led by MABC and Foresight Canada, in partnership with the Government of British Columbia, Newcrest Mining, Teck Resources Limited, Natural Resources Canada, PwC, the Bradshaw Research Initiative for Minerals Mining (BRIMM), the Global Mining Guidelines Group, and the Mining Suppliers Association of BC (MSABC).
Find Market-Ready Innovation without the Risk
We connect industry with the world's best clean technologies. From agriculture to water to oil and gas, our Challenge program works to connect end-users with cleantech solutions to overcome sustainability and operational hurdles.