Issue link: http://resourceworld.uberflip.com/i/783264
78 www.resourceworld.com F E B R U A R Y / M A R C H 2 0 1 7 Register before March 24 and save! PLAN TO BE IN MONTREAL FOR A NEW STATE OF MINE 5,000 participants 9 technical streams 500 exhibitors 47 countries + + + ALL UNDER ONE ROOF [ ] TECHNICAL PROGRAM WORKSHOPS MARKETPLACE PLENARY Join the CIM community #CIMTL17 TECHNICAL PROGRAM THEMES HEALTH AND SAFETY SHOWCASE | OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE | NEW AND RECENT PROJECTS | GEOLOGY AND EXPLORATION | ROCK MECHANICS | EMERGING LEADERS | GENOMICS | EXPLOSIVES AND BLASTING | INNOVATIONS IN ENERGY | DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION | FRANCO-MINE | INNOVATION: PRESENT AND FUTURE | MINING STANDARDS AND BEST PRACTICES | ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY DEVELOPMENT | PLANETARY AND TERRESTRIAL MINING SCIENCES SYMPOSIUM (PTMSS) | MANAGEMENT AND FINANCE C M Y CM MY CY CMY K CIM17_AD_ResourceWorld_FebMar_FINAL.pdf 1 2017-01-20 2:29 PM control for climate change. Solar winds, a flux of energy particles entwined with magnetic fields, flow outward from the sun. During solar periods the winds are stronger and impede the flow of cosmic rays to the troposphere, which causes less cloud formation and thus global warm - ing, while during quiescent periods there is less interference, which increases cloud formation and albedo (solar reflection), bringing cooling. Experts say solar and wind power have never been proved economically or tech - nologically feasible. That leaves the widely despised nuclear option, as the average nuclear plant produces 1000mw of power. Should we consider nuclear again? Studies show the energy flux density of the fission of a single uranium atom is 20 mil - lion to 20 quadrillion times greater than other fuels, even natural gas. Plus, nuclear power can be used to create hydrogen- based fuel, thus reducing the need for imported oil. Nor is the energy industry standing still. "The world is moving away from emis - sions from fossil fuels – not away from the energy of fossil fuels," said Chelsie Klassen, Media Relations Manager for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP). She said the International Energy Agency forecasts that global energy con - sumption will increase 32% by 2040 but "innovation and technology will allow Canadians to continue benefitting from the development of the oil sands with less impact on the environment." Canada is leading in energy transition with initiatives like Canada's Oil Sands Initiatives Alliance (COSIA), formed in 2012 by industry representatives who came together to "enable responsible and sustainable growth of Canada's oil sands while delivering accelerated improvement in environmental performance through collaborative action and innovation". The industry has voluntarily contributed $1.33 billion to create 933 technologies to improve their environmental performance in the oil sands. Some of these technologies include carbon capture and storage; COSIA in space, which is investigating the use of satellite technology to more accurately mea - sure greenhouse gas emissions from tailings ponds and mine faces with the potential of reducing them; and the gas turbine once- through steam generator, a fit-for-purpose co-generation technology that reduces operators' reliance on electricity from the power grid, resulting in a net reduction in carbon intensity per barrel of product. "Technology and innovation is allowing producers to produce oil and natural gas while reducing GHG emissions from our operations," Klassen said. The debate will no doubt continue, but more will be accomplished by col - laboration between industry and the environmental sector than by slinging mud from their respective ideological mountaintops. n