Suppliers News (February 07, 2011)

Sudbury supports new office at CEMI

The Greater Sudbury Development Corp. (GSDC) is giving $75,000 to help establish an Innovation and Prosperity Office at the Centre for Excellence in Mining Innovation (CEMI) in Sudbury, Ont.

The new office will assist in developing funding proposals to benefit miners and others in the region, and will seek out and funnel R&D business opportunities to innovators in Sudbury’s mining community. 

CEMI said it will match and further increase the funds received from the GSDC, to employ an innovation coordinator to engage a team of “innovation hunters” to identify opportunities, and focus R&D funding to accelerate pre-commercialization activities. 

“The office will also endeavour to bring together innovative community leaders who desire
to collaborate in strategic funding proposals that will position our community to become a resource for learning, expert knowledge, and out-of-the box solutions,” said CEMI president and CEO Peter Kaiser, in a press release. 

DMC lands shaft contract at Jansen

DMC Mining Services, a 100% owned mining services subsidiary of QuadraFNX Mining (QUX-Tt) has signed a contract to develop two new mine shafts at BHP Billiton‘s (BHP-N, BLT-L) Jansen potash project near Saskatoon, Sask.

The contract is valued at about US$400 million, with a five-year duration.

“The combination of BHP Billiton and DMC brings a formidable team with both companies aspiring to complete the project with zero harm to our employees, the environment and the host communities,” said William Shaver, president and CEO of DMC, in a press release. “This alignment of values, combined with the strong technical skills at both companies, will give the project teams a unique opportunity to create a new paradigm in potash shaft sinking and mining,” he said.

Crowflight sued by Dumas 

Dumas Contracting has filed a statement of claim for $7.1 million against Crowflight Minerals (CML-T) and placed a lien on Crowflight’s Bucko Lake nickel mine near Wabowden, Man. In a press release Crowflight said it will defend the claim because a significant amount of the claim is in dispute.

Mining technology in Sask. gets a lift 

The Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC) is expanding and buying new equipment for its Advanced Microanalysis Centre (AMC) with new joint federal-provincial funding.

The investment will allow Saskatchewan mining companies and other industry sectors to access a full range of analytical services and data interpretation in the province. 

“This new equipment will help small-and medium-sized business accelerate exploration and mine development, creating more jobs and opportunities in our communities,” said Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic
Diversification, in a press release.

Expanding the service offered by the AMC “will give small- and medium-sized mining businesses access to the same world-class analytical facilities used by major mining companies,” said Rob Norris, the provincial minister responsible for the SRC, in a statement.

“Enhancing the Advanced Microanalysis Centre’s capabilities will provide economic benefits to Saskatchewan by helping exploration and mining companies discover, tap into and develop new resources,” Norris said. 

The government says the AMC will better address growing industry demand to test and analyze a wider range of mineral samples, with improved technologies, analytical services and expert data interpretation. New equipment will include a high-resolution mass spectrometer, two X-ray fluorescence spectrometers and one X-ray diffractometer. 

The federal and provincial governments are providing $705,000 each through the Canada-Saskatchewan Western Economic Partnership Agreement. The SRC is providing the remaining $500,000 towards the $1.9-million project.