Nethmi Amarasekera’s Post

The Pebble mine saga continues, now with various lawsuits filed by the mining company and the state to try to overturn EPA's action barring permitting. The state has an eye-popping claim: that the feds owe Alaska $700 billion in compensation for disallowing the Pebble mine to be built. This mine is very controversial and public opinion polls have consistently shown that a majority of Alaskans oppose it. Especially opposing it are people in the Bristol Bay region (with some notable exceptions) because of what they (and EPA) believe would be irreparable harm to salmon, salmon habitat and all those who depend on it. Bristol Bay is home to the world's largest sockeye salmon runs. #Alaska #Pebblemine #salmon #BristolBay https://lnkd.in/gMgauSJ5

#Montney development in Pouce Coupe, Alberta: L-shaped wells hugging a 1 mile section with stacked wells, to maximize horizontal reach within land and mineral rights constraints. #geosteering #oilandgasservices #chinookconsulting

Most operators in the resources sector across the state are working hard, meeting all their obligations and performing to a high standard. The Earth Resources Regulator is focussed on those falling short of this benchmark to ensure their poor practices don’t put the environment, infrastructure and communities at risk. ERR is highlighting recent examples of non-compliance to send a message to minerals and quarry operators to comply with the regulations that enable their commercial activities.

At Mopani Gold, we limit negative environmental impact and aim to increase positive impact. We focus on brownfield redevelopment, rehabilitating historic operations rather than targeting pristine landscapes. #SustainableMining #EnvironmentalStewardship #EcoFriendlyMining #BrownfieldRedevelopment #PositiveImpact #MiningRehabilitation #ResponsibleMining #MiningEthics #EcoConscious #MiningPractices #EnvironmentalPreservation #SustainableResourceManagement

NSW Government Forges Ahead with Seabed Mining Ban In a significant move to shield New South Wales' pristine beaches and coastal ecosystems, the NSW government has implemented a ban on seabed petroleum and mineral mining along the NSW coastline. This pioneering decision positions NSW as the first state in Australia to enact such a prohibition, underscoring a steadfast dedication to marine conservation and environmental preservation. The Environmental Planning and Assessment Amendment (Seabed Mining and Exploration) Bill 2024, which garnered bipartisan support in the NSW Parliament, amends the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 to enforce the ban effectively. By prohibiting seabed petroleum and mineral exploration and recovery activities within NSW coastal waters, the legislation aims to mitigate potential harm to marine life, habitat destruction, and detrimental impacts on sediment levels. The ban serves as a crucial preventive measure against environmental hazards like oil spills and greenhouse gas emissions associated with offshore exploration and drilling operations. While comprehensive in scope, the legislation provides exemptions for specific activities geared towards coastal protection, including beach nourishment and beach scraping initiatives aimed at fortifying beaches, dunes, and cliff systems against erosion. Select dredging activities unrelated to mineral exploration or recovery, such as laying pipelines or submarine cables, will be permitted, provided they offer tangible environmental and economic benefits. This landmark legislation sets a precedent for other states and territories, paving the way for enhanced protection of marine ecosystems and sustainable coastal management practices nationwide. #miningjobs #energyjobs #infrastructurejobs #projectresourcing #recruitment #collaboration #teamwork #team #corporateculture #concentis #energynews #miningnews #infrastructurenews #recruitmentnews #projectmanagement #projectmanagementjobs #assetmanagement #assetmanagementjobs

Million Dollar Splinters It’s a tactic as old as time itself but playing out in the largest area of Australia’s economy. Mining and energy companies avoiding working with certain Aboriginal owner groups instead seeking out splinter groups.  The aim of this is to find a minority group of Aboriginal owners that are willing to agree to terms that are otherwise unacceptable to other representatives with interests in land under the same native title determination. Proponents know this creates division within traditional owner groups but are still prepared to take advantage of groups where it could secure an agreement cheaper or quicker. This is a cost to Aboriginal communities and is not how proponents should engage. Not all PBC’s (especially on the east coast compared to west coast) have minerals to unearth and have mining companies knocking on the door. Many more are land rich but dirt poor. I agree with the Jamie Lowe’s call for base funding for PBC’s which has to come from both proponents and government. In a space with there is an enormous power and resource imbalance between PBC’s and proponents, PBC’s must be able to access funding to be able to meet and discuss partnerships, have legal advisers, and access to other resourcing to kickstart economic opportunities and other acts of self-determination. Isn’t that the goal? Where specific energy and infrastructure projects are identified, additional funding must be available for PBC’s that reflects not only the potential return to proponents and government but also enable traditional owners to properly understand the impacts to Country and their proper equity position. Having a process that ensures Aboriginal stakeholders are properly funded and equipped to negotiate with proponents at the earliest stages of a potential project is more likely to see community consultation and agreement, manage project timelines, and avoid litigation.  https://lnkd.in/gziFuMDz

Many have read the recent article published by the NYT titled "Monster Fracks Are Getting Far Bigger. And Far Thirstier" (don't worry, we know it's spelled Frac). The article talks about the demand the shale industry has for water in completions. Blackbuck Resources is helping operators meet these needs while saving money and preserving precious groundwater in the arid regions within the Permian. Green 🌿 and GREEN 💵 https://lnkd.in/ge_c2FG9

Glencore wants to inject CO2 into the Great Artesian Basin. What does that mean for towns reliant on its water? - ABC News https://lnkd.in/gGYbA5iJ What a stupid idea! Glencore should not be allowed to inject substances into The Great Artesian Basin. Glencore doesn't have the right to perform this preposterous act & the Queensland Government needs to be more vigilant about this proposal. The Great Artesian basin is one of the largest underground freshwater reservoirs in the world, stretching south from Cape York in Queensland to Dubbo in New South Wales, west to Coober Pedy in South Australia and into the Northern Territory. The Great Artesian Basin provides water to over 180,000 people throughout Australia with estimates of its size can fill Sydney Harbour over 130,000 times. This water has been the lifeblood of Aboriginal & Torres Strait peoples for over 60,000 years and continues to be today. No independent evaluations have been performed. The Queensland & Federal Governments have relied upon Glencore studies to evaluate. Have your say, spread the word! #glencore #water #qld #qldgovt #australia #environment #stupid #

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced today the final Public Lands Rule, which gives conservation the same importance as other land uses, such as oil drilling and mining. HECHO supports this rule, which will modernize how the Bureau of Land Management manages the 245 million acres under its care, conserving and restoring degraded public lands and waters while balancing responsible development. Thanks to President Joe Biden's administration for this step forward to more sustainable land stewardship. Read more in our statement: https://ow.ly/bLQR50Rjt0H #publiclands #conservation #publiclandsrule #oilandgas #oilandgasreform

🌿THE NEW ESG FRONTIER: Unfunded & Contingent Liabilities 🎯💰💸 🤔 I’ve compiled a short list of random musings regarding recent mining sustainability related news from the financial media, which may be of interest. Let’s start with Tony Boyd, the former Chanticleer chook (AFR) who has just penned a fascinating opinion piece in The Australian Financial Review, which provides remarkable insight (great investigative journalism) into the environmental legacy of mining. ⛏ PANGUNA COPPER MINE A few key quotes: “Class action skewers Rio Tinto’s Bougainville redemption: a secretive company is disrupting efforts to finally make amends for the environmental devastation caused by its #copper mine in Bougainville some 30 years ago.” Tony outlines the strategic mistakes by Rio Tinto, only to be followed by: “The class action, which is seeking billions of dollars for the environmental damage caused by the Panguna mine, has capitalised on the uncertainty and distrust toward Rio and its former subsidiary Bougainville Copper Ltd.” “One compensation figure that resonates with locals is the 10 billion kina ($3.7 billion) figure that was used in a failed compensation effort.” https://lnkd.in/g2zK6TGB ⛏ RANGER URANIUM MINE I’ve covered the challenges here previously, but the inevitable news was confirmed last week that, “Rio Tinto is taking control of a $2.4 billion #uranium mine rehabilitation project in an attempt to resolve decades of disputes”. Unfortunately, in terms of timeline and budget, this project is further from completing rehabilitation now than where it was several years ago, noting the rehab was scheduled for completion by 2026, which clearly isn’t going to happen. https://lnkd.in/g2zK6TGB ⛏ ESG ENTERING JORC CODE Another interesting development, this time on reporting ESG related factors. “ESG factors are increasingly capable of killing projects, even if they have attractive geology.” Whilst the junior miners are upset, the truth is, if exploration prospects had to screen against access to water or ability to safely store waste, many would be scratched before starting. https://lnkd.in/g9uKeGNR 🤔 🔭 MY TAKE • It is self-evident, that extractive industries are not provisioning adequately to cover environmental rehab related costs. • This process is creating liabilities for not only project owners, but also host communities and governments.  • We are increasingly seeing chain of responsibility mechanisms adopted, to keep former project owners liable for rehab related costs, even if these liabilities were incurred decades prior.  • With the rapid emergence of remote sensing and digital provenance tools, it is essentially impossible for any reasonable sized mine and or oil/gas field operator to walk away from their environmental liabilities. #mining #environment #rehabilitation #esg #oil #gas #energy #sustainability #investment #water #wastewater