This week on the Mining and Minerals Show, we trace the journey of a mine from its initial opening to its final closure as Deirdra sits down with experts at PDAC.
Eric Miller, CEO of Global Battery Materials, begins the discussion by detailing the strategic advantages of “brownfield” projects. He explains how reopening proven assets like their Ontario graphite mine allows for a faster path to market while building on existing relationships with local communities and First Nations partners to secure an early social licence.
The conversation then moves into the complexities of maintaining that trust during active operations with Terry Heyman, Chief Strategy Officer at the World Gold Council. Heyman highlights the industry’s push for transparency through the Gold Bar Integrity Program, which uses blockchain to track gold from the mine site through the entire supply chain. He also addresses the global challenge of artisanal mining, advocating for centralized processing plants and G7 political support to ensure that small-scale mining remains a responsible and formal part of the global economy.
Finally, Matt Breen, COO of Rio Tinto’s Diavik Diamond Mine, provides a roadmap for the end of the mining lifecycle as Diavik prepares for its 2026 closure. Breen shares the company’s “closure with care” philosophy, detailing a decade-long reclamation plan to return the land to the Northwest Territories. He also highlights the My Path program, a dedicated initiative to support the transition of their workforce into new careers or retirement, ensuring the mine leaves behind a lasting, positive legacy for the region.
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