Mining’s old guard needs strong medicine
A new report details subpar investor returns in the mining industry over the last decade, particularly big cap diversified companies which have not adapted to new realities.
In a recent clash over the cleanup of the shuttered Touquoy gold mine in Moose River, Nova Scotia, Atlantic Mining Nova Scotia, a subsidiary of Australia’s St Barbara, has failed to overturn the province’s reclamation requirements.
The company’s appeal, submitted in April, argued that the criteria set by Environment Minister Tim Halman were too stringent and unachievable, suggesting they might lead to legal trouble for non-compliance.
The letter, which was released through Nova Scotia’s Environmental Registry, criticized the provincial guidelines for being overly restrictive and claimed that the required water quality standards were impossible to meet. Atlantic Mining Nova Scotia threatened to escalate the issue further if their appeal was denied.
On July 2, Minister Halman rejected the appeal, giving the company until Aug. 2 to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia.
St Barbara has stated that while the appeal is under review, reclamation work at Touquoy is already in progress. The company emphasized its commitment to restoring the site, despite its concerns about the imposed requirements.
Currently, St Barbara is required to post a C$79.9 million bond to ensure the cleanup is completed. So far, C$41.2 million has been paid, with the remaining C$38.7 million due by September 3. Halman has stressed the importance of meeting this financial obligation.
The ongoing dispute highlights broader concerns within the mining industry in Nova Scotia, with St Barbara arguing that the regulatory environment could threaten the future of mining in the province. However, Halman insists that while the province supports mining, it will enforce a strict regulatory framework to ensure compliance.
Recently, St Barbara has explored turning the Touquoy site into a renewable energy storage facility in partnership with a local company. Despite this initiative, reclamation efforts remain a separate priority. The Touquoy mine, which began operations in 2017 and ceased in early 2023, had a processing capacity of 2 million tonnes per year.
