Mainland Machinery Ltd

Canadian Ports Carbon Footprint

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ports carbon footprintCanadian Ports Carbon Footprint: Encouraging Energy Efficiency through Incentives

Controlling greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and pollution caused by the marine shipping industry has always been a serious problem. Many of the marine shipping vessel companies do implement carbon emission control norms and do their best to bring down their carbon foot print. To help boost the efforts by the shipping companies, Canadian ports have implemented the Echo Action and Green Wave programs to help further encourage shipping companies to control their ports carbon footprint.

Marine ports intend on running each shipping vessel through an emissions test, each time it enters the port. This is to determine the amount of emissions released by the vessel. The vessels will be examined and rated using an A-G rating.

Rewards of Meeting the Canadian Port Energy Efficiency and Pollution Standards

The reward for achieving low carbon emissions and pollution standards will be a 10% discount of the vessel’s sea harbour dues. This may not seem like much, but with vessels paying harbour dues based on the tonnage being loaded and offloaded from the vessel, the total costs are large and saving 10% is a great incentive for any shipping company. Many vessel owners visiting the Canadian ports have been noted to take radical action towards reducing carbon emissions and meeting the required pollution level recommendations.

Other areas that port authorities examine and evaluate on each vessel include:

Engine fuel consumption with relation to exhaust emission levels

When measuring a ship’s pollution level, the test begins from the tail pipe, where the exhaust is released by the vessel. Combustion gasses released through the exhaust are the most damaging to the environment and health, since they escape freely in to the atmosphere. Today, there are several technologies developed to help manage exhaust gases released by marine vessels, but the most efficient are carbon scrubbers. Carbon scrubbers help filter the exhaust gases, retaining the majority of Co2 in the scrubbers’ filter, which can later be disposed of in a safe manner. Vessels that use or install the scrubbers are more likely to score better grades and secure more discounts from the Canadian ports.

Oil and lubrication waste management

Vessels also require lubrication like oil and grease to function properly. Oil lubrication is one example of a lubricant which can be used and repacked for proper waste disposal or recycling. This means that shipping vessels must maintain an accurate record of all incoming and used lubrication, which will also contribute towards determining the vessel’s energy and fuel efficiency.

Human Waste Management

Another important area which shall be closely examined is the management of human waste. This includes sewage, laundry and any other polluted water which requires being treated and neutralized before being released in to the open ocean. There is also the concern linked to solid waste produced by the vessel’s employees while on voyages. In this case, a record of food stocks, consumption and the amounts of solid waste, like packaging, will be evaluated to determine how the vessel’s staff has been managing their synthetic waste. More waste will generally mean they stored synthetic packaging for proper processing while at port, while less waste will suggest they have been dumping their solid waste out at sea which is bad for marine life.

The discount incentives being offered by the Canadian ports have seen many of the regular shipping vessel owners taking the necessary steps to improve the energy efficiency of their ships. This is because being able to pass the test on just 10 visits will result in the company having saved full trip dues at the harbour.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Proper Welding Safety for Miners

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welding safety for minersProper Welding Safety for Miners

Mining is a hazardous work environment. There is a risk of death, which is why miners must wear protective gear and follow safety guidelines. One of the most dangerous activities for miners is welding in a closed environment – especially underground. Even if all the safety rules are followed, the welder is in constant danger, because a spark could set off an explosion. Therefore, welding is usually done in locations where there is ample space.

However, when the mine is being built, welded metal arcs hold the entire structure of the mine together. They keep the ground overhead from collapsing down into the mine. That is when miners face the dangers of welding in a cramped enclosed area. In order to protect oneself while welding, safety must be a priority.

A number of accident scenarios may occur if proper precautions are not taken. These scenarios can include:

Electrocution

An electric shock can occur if you touch two metal objects that have a current between them. High voltages of electricity can cause major injuries, or even death. This is why it is important to avoid touching any metallic object directly, while welding within a mine. It is also necessary to insulate yourself from the ground, to help reduce the risk of suffering from an electric shock. Additionally, since water conducts electricity, you must remember to wear dry clothing that will help protect you from electrocution.

Extreme Inhalation of Fumes and Gases

Welding fumes can be extremely dangerous when inhaled in large quantities. Since mines usually have an air shortage, the gases emitted from welding procedures can become twice as dangerous in the small confined spaces. To help protect you from inhaling excessive fumes while welding, there have been exposure limits set by various agencies. Based on these limits, there should never be an overexposure to hazardous gases, because it can be injurious to your health. Furthermore, proper ventilation should be provided within your work area such as an exhaust system or fan.

Explosions or Fires

Welding creates high temperatures conditions, which may lead to fires or explosions. To avoid any chance of fires, it is best to remove all flammable materials from the welding area. As a rule, every workplace is required to have fire extinguishers and alarms on site. This requirement ensures worker safety in the case of a fire. If the mine contains flammable materials that cannot be removed, a second person should be appointed to watch the procedure to watch the welding sparks.

Injuries from Lack of Protective Gear

Wearing the proper gear is important for miners due to their high risk work environment. While welding, you should be fully clothed and avoid rolling up your pant cuffs or sleeves. You should wear a welding helmet and safety goggles, which prevent sparks and debris from injuring your face or eyes. Thick leather boots and gloves should be worn to protect your hands and feet from the welding heat.  Additionally, it is best to wear protective earmuffs to avoid hearing loss caused by the loud noises in the mines.

The right safety procedures can help protect you from severe welding related injuries or death. Therefore, miners and their employers must make safety a priority. If safety guidelines are followed, the risks of welding underground in the mines can be reduced.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Arctic Shipping in Canada

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arctic shipping in canadaArctic Shipping in Canada: Is it in our future?

Global warming has been viewed as a drawback by many industries, but it brought with it a silver lining; the promise of some important arctic shipping lanes and routes in Canada being opened up. However, recent reports show that the opening of arctic shipping routes may be more of an illusion than a reality. The hesitation has been linked to the melting of sea ice, due to the climate change. Shipping insurance companies, as well as shipment clients are concerned regarding delays. Specifically, what if shipments are trapped or even sink in the arctic, due to the floating ice?

Since they have a wider choice of service providers, consumers have become much more sensitive and are not willing to compromise with the quality of the service they receive. As the competition in the shipping industry intensifies, shipping companies must take every aspect in to consideration to ensure they remain competitive.

Some major concerns raised regarding arctic shipping in Canada have been the shallow, unmarked passages which pose the extreme danger of the shipping vessel running aground. This could result in time wastage, damage, as well as extra costs linked to freeing vessels while in transit on the Canadian arctic shipping routes. Marking the arctic shipping lanes does not assure that the shipping companies will opt for this route. There are also additional constraints such as special modifications required on the hulls of arctic ships. The shipping vessels have to be modified to be icebreakers, in order to be able to use these shipping lanes.

Arctic shipping vessels are also considerably smaller than open ocean vessels, which is a major concern for any shipping company. Smaller means less cargo transported, which translates in to having to push up the cost of the cargo being shipped. In today’s competitive world, whereby the consumer is paying very close attention to cost, shipping companies cannot afford to hike shipping prices, as it will definitely result in loss of business.

It is these major concerns that have resulted in the proposition of Arctic shipping routes in Canada becoming more of an illusion then a reality. However, all’s not lost, since the arctic shipping lanes will remain very useful with respect to the transportation of mined raw materials. In demand resources such as coal, ore, oil and gas must continue to be shipped out of the region, despite the hardships and costs of shipping.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Leading in the Mining Industry

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leading in the mining industryLeading in the Mining Industry

Recently, a dramatic increase has been recorded in the number of graduates intending to join the white collar job force. Lawyers, engineers and other office based jobs have seen a dramatic increase. However, this has also led to serious shortfalls in certain industry departments across the globe.

The Canadian mining industry has also noticed a serious reduction of young professionals taking up blue collar professions. Projections show that 40% of the current Canadian mine workforce is expected to go in to retirement in the next decade. Due to this, paired with only a fraction of students taking up mining-related courses, it is projected that there will be a serious shortfall in the mining workforce in the future.

To help improve the careers of each person that joins the mining industry, and to set yourself as leading in the mining industry, certain skills must be observed, practiced and perfected.

  • Enjoy the profession you choose to pursue: Not having a real interest in the profession is a major reason linked to the career failure of many professionals. It’s vital that a person joining the mining industry has interest in the industry, as well as the department they are joining. It is also the responsibility of the mining company to interview the candidates and determine what they are good at doing and what they are comfortable with, so as to start them off in a posting where they will be successful.
  • Learn to broaden your skills in the mining industry:  You may have a degree linked to a specific field in the mining industry, but this should not restrict you to pursuing only one skill. In fact, this may be considered a crippling point by some mining companies in Canada. This is because they prefer workers who are willing to learn and perfect different skills in the industry, making them more diverse and capable of contributing more towards the mining company’s growth. It’s important to be diverse in the mining industry, since it ensures you are in high demand and capable of handling many different jobs throughout the industry.
  • Avoid chasing after salary and concentrate on building your career: Many people entering the mining industry concentrate more on the amount of money they will be receiving, rather than building their career. It’s important that you first place more emphasis towards learning and perfecting your job, as well as diversifying your skills in the industry. Income increases as you acquire more skill and become more valuable to mining companies.
  • Find a mentor in the mining industry: Being new to the mining industry can be confusing. Having an experienced person provide their knowledge and experience can help you reduce stress, while gaining experience. The mentor doesn’t have to be from your current employers’ firm, they may even be retired from the mining industry. Make sure to select mentors linked to the department you work in. For instance, mining office workers won’t have the same insight as field workers and vice versa. This makes the department you work at important to consider when choosing a mentor.
  • Be prepared to take up new tasks: One of the ways your employer may test your willingness to progress, is by allocating new tasks to you. These may not be directly linked to your expertise, but linked to your department and industry, meant to determine your willingness to take up new challenges. When offered these new tasks, always take them up, even when you know nothing about them. Make sure to tell your boss you have no experience in the job, but are willing to try it with proper instruction. This shows your willingness to progress and learn more skills in the mining industry, making you more valuable to the company.

Success in the Canadian mining industry mainly depends on how you intend to build your career and make it thrive. It’s important that you be passionate about the profession and industry, so as to help your drive in building a successful career.  

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Helicopter Safety Offshore

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helicopter safety offshoreHelicopter Safety Offshore: Keeping Workers Safe

Worker safety is a major concern for any industry. For offshore oil rigs it is especially important since the workers are confined to an oil rig platform, surrounded by nothing but the high seas.

Working on an offshore rig is considered one of the most trying jobs on the planet. The challenges range from the rig workers needing to live and work in confined spaces for an extended period of time, to dangers such as fires, hurricanes and equipment malfunctions.

With offshore rigs located several hundred miles out at sea, it’s important that oil and gas companies have an effective mode of transportation to extract employees in case of an emergency. With this in mind, helicopter safety offshore, and overall rig safety is a serious topic that companies with rigs, located in Canada or elsewhere, need to contend with.

Training and Equipment Involved in Offshore Safety Practices

Currently, the most effective mode of transportation linked to offshore rig evacuation is the helicopter. Being able to utilize it in almost any weather condition, along with the ability to maneuver it in tight spaces, makes the helicopter a great option for rescue situations. Furthermore, storage is valuable as a rig rescue may require additional equipment, such as early weather prediction equipment and warning beacons.

Employers also need to invest in proper training to help their employees be prepared for emergency situations. Obtaining Basic Survival Training Certification so that your personnel can keep themselves and their colleagues alive in case of danger could proof to be a lifesaving investment.  Some of the recommended training is to have health and safety forums, know the proper procedures for fire emergencies and learn emergency helicopter escape protocol, in case a rescue helicopter was to go down. Training should also include instruction on the proper use of warm wet suits, which rig workers are required to use if they have to abandon the rig before a rescue team can get to them during a storm.

This is a prime example of the fact that offshore safety is more than just having an effective mode of evacuation transport. In some situations, you will find that the rig workers may need to wait for some hours before help can reach them. Being able to stay safe after abandoning ship is a very important part of the safety training.

Preparing Rig Workers for Helicopter Rescue

In most situations, weather surveillance equipment will issue bad weather warnings well before a weather system reaches the offshore oil or gas rig. If there is an indication that storm weather will affect the rig, it will notify the team to execute helicopter evacuation procedures. It is important for rig workers to receive proper safety training regarding helicopter evacuation. Some safety precautions covered in this training may include:

  • Ensuring the rescue harness is fastened correctly, before being hoisted;
  • Learning how to combat sway while being hoisted in to the helicopter;
  • Handling water rescue operations, since you may be in water when being rescued.

With oil and gas rig workers located hundreds of miles from the mainland, it’s important that they be prepared for every possibility. This is especially true today, as climate changes have made weather systems more extreme. Only by being prepared, getting the proper training and using the latest technology and equipment to promote offshore safety, can accidents and injuries be avoided while working on offshore rigs.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Liability in Marine Ports: Who Pays?

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liability in marine

Liability in Marine Ports: Who Pays?

Who pays for damage or loss of containers and cargo during shipment? There is no straight forward reply to this question, since there are several situations which must be evaluated before compensation can be issued. The situations also vary, whereby some may be asking who pays for the damage or loss of cargo during transit, while others will ask who pays compensation during storage at ports. This clearly shows how vast the nature of claims is in the maritime industry. To help shed some light on the topic and make it more understandable, some important situations linked to maritime related compensation cases and solutions need to be addressed.

Container Loss and Damage During Shipment

In most situations, the freight agents will usually take responsibility of the cargo after inspection and payment of the shipping charges. By law, all shipping agents are required to have compensation insurance, which covers any loss or damage to the containers and cargo while in transit. Failure of having the insurance can result in the agent being liable to pay compensation from their own pocket. Even with insurance protection, the insurance company still must investigate the situation to determine who is responsible for the damage or loss and hold them responsible for compensation.

During the shipping process, cargo will usually change hands from the inspection and freight agent to road transport companies, port authorities, marine vessels and vice versa. This means the time and place of the accident will play an important role towards determining who is responsible for paying for the damage or loss of cargo. For this precise reason, you will find that each of the handling companies require deliveries to be signed after inspection, before passing the consignment over to the next handler. This allows easy tracking of the shipment, which helps determine when the damage or loss occurred and therefore, who is responsible for paying the compensation for the damage or losses incurred.

Consequently, each of the handling companies must have effective accident and damage protection insurance policies. Furthermore, they should ensure that they have qualified staff, minimizing the risk of any accidents or losses occurring. In most cases, maritime accidents, such as the loss or damage of containers at port, are linked to the shipping vessels or port authority.

However, for vessels out at sea, weather and other natural causes could result in the loss or damage of cargo while in transit. A different insurance policy will come in to effect in either situation, since some policies require the shipping company or port to offer compensation for damage or loss caused by them. However, accidents related to bad weather will usually be compensated by the general maritime accident insurance companies.

Other types of liabilities can be:

  • Theft of cargo from containers: The responsibility of safeguarding a container carrying your cargo begins from the time the shipping agent inspects the container and places the seal on the container door. At this point, the agent should sign a receipt stating that they have received the container and cargo in good condition; removing any kind of liability for the primary shipper. For this reason, it’s best to contract shipping agents to take over container shipments right from their origin, since this reduces the overall risk and hassle on the container owner.

The delivery note must have the door seal number, which must be verified by the owner, before the container is given over to the next handler. In most situation, the original seal will remain on the container until delivered and only broken when the container owner is present. Situations requiring seals to be broken in transit, require the shipping agent’s representative to be present at the breaking of the seal. Furthermore, the representative must also take responsibility and be accountable for the container and its cargo, before resealing the container and recording the new seal number. This helps to prevent theft, which could occur during transit.

  • Road traffic accidents:  Road accidents could find either the shipping agent or transport vehicle paying compensation for losses, if the container is damaged. It is possible to find container transport trucks tipped over across the road and containers damaged or even looted. In such a situation, the transport vehicle liability insurance would be responsible for compensation of the losses.
  • Marine vessel container loading and port storage: In some situations, containers have also been noted to slip from the hoisting cranes while being arranged and stacked at the port storage facility or while being loaded on to ships. In this case, the port authority would be responsible for the compensation of the container and cargo it bears.
  • Ship listing and container overboard: Although rare, container ships list or tilt due to improper arrangement of the container loads. This could result in the containers falling over board at port or while at sea. In both situations, the container ship is responsible for compensation of the lost containers and cargo. Listing mainly occurs due to human error, but weather conditions may also be responsible. Advances in weather technology prediction have greatly improved evidence that most ship listing cases are blamed on human error; making the vessel responsible for the compensation of lost containers.

Compensation in the maritime shipping industry plays an important role towards protecting each stakeholder involved in the shipping of cargo. Each of the different organisations handling the containers and cargo are held responsible and must have proper insurance protection to avoid liability.

Container damage and loss has greatly reduced in the marine shipping industry due to advances in technology. However, it is still important that each person understands the exact process linked to claiming compensation for loss or damage to containers while in transit.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Cyber Security in Oil and Gas Industry

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cyber security in oil and gasCyber Security in Oil and Gas Industry

As the Canadian oil and gas industry expands to cater for demand, the adoption of modern technology is key to the industry’s efficiency and increased productivity. However, with this increased dependence on computers and digital technology to manage and run the oil and gas industry, the risk of cyber-attacks has also increased.

Recent vulnerabilities, such as Heartbleed, have made it clear that the industry and even the government, must be ready for any attacks against their IT and web infrastructure. The risk of these attacks comes from different sources, each one having its own intention; some of which are to target the gas and oil production companies. Reports show that in 2012, 41% of the malware attacks were targeted at oil and gas companies, which was a 600% increase compared to 2010. The attacks directed at the oil and gas production industry have been noted to come from the three main sources discussed below.

State Sponsored Cyber-Attacks

The main risk linked to malware and virus attacks in the oil and gas industry comes from state sponsored sources. Today, many countries have stressful relations among neighbouring and other countries, prompting some to attempt the disruption of oil and gas production in those countries. A perfect example of this kind of cyber-attack was experienced by Saudi Aramco, which saw a computer virus named “Shamoon” wipe out data from 30,000 of the oil and gas company’s computers. However, it did not stall oil and gas production by Saudi Aramco, but it is considered a perfect example of state sponsored cyber-attacks.

Hacktivism Cyber-Attacks

Hacktivists are people who use computers and computer networks to raise awareness and perform demonstrations regarding different issues and topics. They use digital technology to create awareness regarding different concerns, but can also hack in to computer systems with the intention of stalling oil and gas production. The biggest threat to the Canadian oil and gas industry comes from environmental hacktivists who are constantly attempting to disrupt the expansion and production of oil and gas fields.

Terrorist Cyber-Attacks

Globally, terrorism has become a common term and has many people constantly looking over their shoulder. The Canadian oil and gas industry isn’t immune from terrorist attacks either. Being a western country, Canada must remain vigilant to avoid any terrorist cyber-attack which could cripple or destroy their oil and gas industry.

The threats to the Canadian oil and gas industry can only be expected to increase in the near future and simply developing anti-virus and anti-malware software may not be the ultimate solution. To improve security, it’s important that the Canadian oil and gas companies consider developing their own unique computer operating systems. They can do this by performing penetration tests (Pentests) to uncover any weaknesses, making them less vulnerable to attacks. The energy sector is the second most targeted sector by cyber-attacks, making it a major concern for the industry to develop an effective and lasting defense against cyber-crime.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Best Practices to Manage Shipping Freight Costs

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shipping freight costsBest Practices to Manage Shipping Freight Costs

In a freight market that’s seeing signs of an uptick, a company’s success or failure could come down to a matter of efficient supply chain logistics. Due to rising fuel prices, the cost of maintaining and operating a fleet of trucks has gone up in the past several years. This has affected the next few years of revenue projections for logistic companies.

However, the majority of shippers have managed to dodge the rate increase bullet. This is due, in no small part, to carriers being proactive with their cost management strategies. In these changing economic times there have been some proven practices that help shippers manage their transportation costs. Consider these practices:

Ongoing Procurement and Sales Evaluation

A shipper needs to constantly be on top of their sales and procurement figures. These numbers will have a direct impact on bringing down higher freight fees. Currently, there are many businesses adopting lean initiatives as a way of reducing their inventory levels. In a perfect world, small and consistent shipments would work to provide higher inventory turns. However, as those shipping costs continue to rise, those who embrace lean initiatives will need to find a way to strike a balance between maintaining those minimal levels and their overall shipping costs. Ask yourself, “Are you saving money in one sector, only to lose it in another?”

Review Core Carrier Status

As a concept, utilizing a core carrier shipping mode can provide a level of dependability. However, it can also work against a company when a particular shipment needs to be transported out of the core carrier’s network. For that to be accomplished, the rates will go up. On the other hand, using a secondary carrier to pick up the slack without a rise in costs or breakdown in the supply chain can be an effective practice.

For instance, let’s consider the base tariff. There are many shippers who don’t give those costs a second thought with their core carrier. Yet, those tariffs can add up to a substantial amount. Choosing which of those tariffs can be adjusted by using other carriers could have a positive effect on a shipper’s bottom line. Remember, the goal is to offset as much of these shipping costs as possible to minimize the need for rate increases.

The tide is definitely turning towards reducing freight costs. At boardrooms everywhere, C-level executives are now targeting shipping costs as their company’s prime objective. This shouldn’t be looked at as a belt tightening measure, but instead as a way for shippers to adjust to the changing economic realities. Fuel costs aren’t going to go down any time soon and as economies improve, the basics of supply and demand will kick in to affect. That’s what shipping companies need to contend with in order to stay competitive.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Mining Safety: High Pressure Injection Injury

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mining safetyMining Safety: High Pressure Injection Injury

The unpredictability of a mine’s infrastructure is not the only potential hazard for workers. If they’re not paying proper attention, mine operators can also be injured by various pieces of mining equipment. Among the most insidious types of injuries are those caused by a high pressure injection.

This happens when fluid, that is meant to be channeled through a high pressure injection tube, is accidently injected into a hand or limb. This could occur as the result of a faulty hydraulic hose, a break in an air pipe or an errant grease gun. The typical amount of pressure used by these types of machines can run in the range between 1000psi and 1500psi. Imagine that kind of pressure being injected into your body? That’s not an experience anyone would want to go through.

The Symptoms of a High Pressure Injection Injury

At first, a high pressure injection injury might feel like a minor bee sting or needle prick. The spot where the injury occurred may not even bleed. There could be some initial numbness, but often the person affected by the accident doesn’t feel anything. That doesn’t mean the damage hasn’t been done; furthermore, the pain and irritation may intensify later on. The real concern is not so much the damage to the skin, but what foreign elements could have been injected into the body at such a high volume.

The Treatment

A high pressure injection injury can be thought of as a “liquid bullet,” which can cause as much injury as a real bullet. This type of injury is easy to overlook; even if symptoms aren’t immediately present, a rapid response is key. Anyone who has felt that stinging or jabbing sensation, or knows they have suffered a high pressure injection injury, should immediately seek medical attention. Hopefully, the medical professionals in the area will be familiar with the proper treatment of these types of injuries.

The treatment will often require some type of surgery that will alleviate the pressure surrounding the wound. The injured may also require antibiotics to combat the effects of whatever was injected in to their body. These types of wounds should be taken very seriously. Left untreated, they can result in infection, disfigurement, amputation, and in extreme cases, death.

The Prevention

The obvious goal is to prevent these types of accidents from happening in the first place. That could be accomplished by immediately responding to any equipment or hose leak. This doesn’t mean checking that piece of equipment with your bare hands. Instead, allow for the proper maintenance personal to handle the situation. Only someone who has been certified to work on hydraulic systems should be attending to that type of equipment. When there is a leak in this type of machinery, proper isolation procedures need to be implemented.

It will help if mine operators become familiar with all the potential “hot zones” where these types of injuries could occur. It all comes down to constantly being observant on the job.

Mainland Machinery Ltd

Is Thorium the Future of Mining?

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thoriumIs Thorium the Future of Mining?

Canada is heavily reliant on hydro and nuclear electrical energy production to power our cities and industries. Being in the northern hemisphere also means that Canada experiences shortages of electrical power during certain months of the year, especially during the winter. This also makes it important for Canada to develop a secure source of energy which can continue to produce electrical energy despite climate changes, fuel availability or the season.

Since the seventies, nuclear power stations have been one of the most reliable power sources to produce electricity. However, recent research and studies being conducted on thorium reactors in India and China have provided a new and safer solution as a perfect alternative for nuclear power production plants.

The thorium reactor is set to deliver some huge benefits, ranging from costs to safety. Some of the major benefits are:

Thorium is a safer reactor material to use: Unlike uranium used with nuclear reactors, thorium has been proven to be a much safer reactor material to use. It cools down faster and its waste neutralizes in a considerably shorter period of time. Thorium is also safer to use when producing electrical energy, since simply breaking the liquid-fluoride flow will stop the entire reaction and result in a faster shut down. The waste material produced by thorium reactors also biodegrades much faster than nuclear reactor waste.

Thorium is more abundant and easier to mine: Unlike uranium, thorium is much more abundant and is easily mined in most countries across the globe. This makes it much easier for countries facing energy crises to develop thorium power stations; without needing to be dependent on certain nations to supply the thorium required for the reaction.

Thorium produces less hazardous waste material: A major drawback linked to nuclear reactors is the nuclear waste they produce, as well as the need for expensive nuclear waste management. The waste remains hazardous for thousands of years and this poses some major problems for humanity in the future. Thorium waste, on the other hand, is less hazardous and usually dissipates or is neutralized naturally over hundreds of years, making it much more manageable after use.

With China and India facing huge energy crises, it can only be expected that they will develop a technology to harness the energy from thorium. Canada has always been in the lead when it comes to clean energy development and mining. Therefore, finding an alternative to nuclear power stations is something that the Canadian government is pursuing.

A successful Thorium reactor development will have a major positive effect on the Canadian mining industry, as it will create new opportunities for exploration. It will also ensure that the country produces adequate electrical energy at low cost to power Canada and keep the country sustainable and attractive for investors in the future.