To help ensure continuous reduction of greenhouse gases (GHGs), companies that are members of the Mining Association of Canada have pledged to decrease their energy consumption per unit of output by 1% per year for the period 1995-2005.
In metal mining, energy intensity (that is, energy per unit of metal concentrate) is now forecast to improve by 1.5% per year, exceeding the MAC’s original target of 1% per year. (From 1995 to 2000, energy intensity improved by 8.3%. By 2005, it should be 14.5% better than in 1995.)
For the period 1995-2005, GHG intensity (emissions of greenhouse gasses per unit of metal concentrate) in metal mining is forecast to improve by 1.5% per year. From 1995 to 2000, the figure improved by 9.3%, and by 2005 it should be 15.2% better than in 1995.
Meanwhile, in ferrous metal smelting and refining for the period 1995-2005, energy intensity is forecast to improve by 0.75% per year, slightly below the MAC’s target of 1% per year. From 1995 to 2000, energy intensity in this sector improved by 3.1%, and by 2005 it should be 7.5% better than in 1995.
For the period 1995-2005, GHG intensity in ferrous metal mining is forecast to improve by 1.2% per year. From 1995 to 2000, it improved by 5.8%, and by 2005 it should be 12.2% better than in 1995.
From 1990 to 2000, the metal mining sector in Canada decreased energy consumption by 21% and improved energy intensity by about 20%.
The sector’s GHGs fell by 19.2% over the same period, improving overall GHG intensity by 18.5%.
In the same period, the non-ferrous metal smelting and refining sector increased its energy consumption by 5.5% but improved its energy per unit of refinery output and matte export by 16.5%. In other words, the sector is producing a lot more metal without using a lot more energy.
The sector’s GHG emissions increased by 1.2%, but its GHG intensity improved by 20%.
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