Canada Peru: In pursuit of mining expertise
30 January 2012
Canada Peru: In pursuit of mining expertise
ALEXANDRA LAVERDURE
Trade Commissioner Canadian Embassy to Peru
This year has brought a rich exchange of mining expertise and corporate social responsibility (CSR) awareness to both Canada and Peru. In the fi rst quarter of 2011 alone, the Canadian Embassy’s Commercial Offi ce in Lima delivered the “Canadá y la Responsabilidad Social Empresarial”, a regional outreach seminar at the outset of the year in Arequipa; followed by “La Mañana de Responsabilidad Social Empresarial Canadiense-Peruana de Minería y Petróleo” in Lima, a co-organized forum which brought CSR to the forefront and asserted Canada’s leadership in the CSR discourse. Shortly thereathier, an important constituency of Peruvian officials and delegates participated at the annual Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention and Trade Show in Toronto Canada, the most important event in the world of mining exploration.
In June 2011, a technical mission comprised of twenty mine engineers from the Colegio de Ingenieros del Perú (CIP) travelled to the provinces of Ontario and Quebec to interact with key Canadian experts with regards to innovation, practices and standards in the aim to strengthen knowledge transfer. The group deepened its understanding of the range of technologies and services available in today’s responsible mining, showcased within Canadian clusters and centres of excellence built around mining. The delegates toured several mines, visited academic circles, met with product, technology and service suppliers, as well as mining associations and government representatives generating a wealth of technical exchanges and experiences and commercial prospects.
During a ten days program, the group visited notable projects and mines. First, the Goldcorp Opinaca Project, a partnership and accord between Goldcorp and the Cree Nation – an approach believed to be one of the best case studies worldwide of establishing a private collaboration and participation agreement of resource development between a mining company and a First Nations. Then proceeded onto the Osisko Canadian Malartic Mine, not only the biggest gold reserve in Canada, but one of Canada’s most exemplary resetlement case and sustainable development practice of an open pit mine residing on the outskirts of a city. Finally, the Vale Coleman Mine and IAMGOLD Westwood Project exposed the delegates to innovative solutions for air quality monitoring, ventilation systems and energy consumption optimization.
Source: Dialogue N° 51 Pág. 20 -23
