Rovaniemi, 11-13 March, 2014

Geological potentials, excellent infrastructure, and positive attitudes do make the Arctic the world’s best mining-investment destination, but the ongoing financial crisis and low raw-material prices continue to fan doubts about the profitability of new exploration ventures. Investors’ hesitations have deepened further following unfortunate mining projects that created environmental problems and adverse impacts on issuance of mining licences and permits.

The issues are set to see threadbare discussions at the upcoming three-day conference of Arctic Business Forum (ABF). The fifth ABF conference hosted by the Lapland Chamber of Commerce begins on March 11 at Rovaniemi of Finland with a session on mining slated for day three. At the session, Anton Löf, Senior Iron Ore Analyst, Raw Materials Group, Sweden will present the keynote titled ‘Mining in The European High North – Still Profitable and Sustainable?’ Löf, who embodies extensive consulting experience with the private sector and international organisations such as UNCTAD and World Bank, will table the latest trends in the sector.

Vesa Nykänen, Manager, Geological Survey of Finland will speak on the arctic mineral potentials while the mining operators’ points of view will be represented by Igor Melik- Gaikazov, Executive Director, OJSC Kovdorski GOK, Russia and Andrew Reid, CEO of First Quantum Minerals in Finland. Mining sustainability will be the focus of the presentations to be made by Vladimir Masloboev, Vice President, Kola Science Center of RAS, Russia and Harry Sandström, Senior Consultant of Spinverse.

Right geology, long mining tradition, efficiently organised data and readily available services of the type required by drilling companies make the High North a favourable investment and operating environment for the mining industry. Last year, over 700 mining and exploration companies who responded to the 2012/2013 Fraser Institute’s Annual Survey of Mining Companies ranked Finland as the best place to do business followed by Sweden. The rest of the top 10 jurisdictions found in the survey conducted by the Canadian thinktank are Alberta, New Brunswick, Wyoming, Ireland, Nevada, Yukon, and Norway.

The confidence miners have in Finland and Sweden proves that resource development and environmental protection can go hand in hand,’ noted Kenneth Green, Fraser Institute’s Senior Director of Energy and Natural Resources in the study report released in February 2013.

Finland, which aims to be the global leader in sustainable mining by 2020, demands strict environmental requirements with compliance monitoring aiming at minimizing possible pollutions. But the overall positive attitudes of the government make the country a pro-mining land. It has a developed infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and competitive operating costs. Red tape is minimal and Finland is one of the least corrupt countries in the world, according to the Transparency International.

Finland has a very strong economic co-operation and clean technology, which is the strongest industrial sector currently being developed in this country,’ observed Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen on May 27, 2013 during a visit to Poland, reports the Finland Times. Mining activities in Finland are currently concentrated in gold, platinum group metals, base metals, diamonds, and industrial minerals, but opportunities in many commodity products are still very much under-explored. At a seminar in Rovaniemi in September last, researchers said mining industries should consider social impact, social regulations and environmental aspect before, during and after mining periods.

In a research report they said residents of three northern localities – Kittilä, Kolari and Muonio – thought mines in their areas had brought about a significant development in their life.

Finland has undertaken a green mining programme (Tekes) aimed at creating new business that requires new, specialised expertise alongside the growing field of traditional mining, increasing the number of SMEs targeting the export market in the mineral cluster, and achieving a global leader status in research in the sector.

Source: www. arcticbusinessforum.com

Toronto, March 2, 2014

The PDAC’s CSR Event Series aims to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogue and peer learning on key issues related to CSR in the mineral industry. Sessions are free to attend and open to all registered convention delegates.

Sunday, March 2

8:30 to 10:00am

The Beyond Zero Harm Framework Organizers: IAMGOLD

How can the mining industry measure and demonstrate changes in well-being of mining-impacted communities? The Beyond Zero Harm Framework provides a comprehensive roadmap to tackling this fundamental question. Developed by a multi-stakeholder working group of companies, NGOs and academics, the tool establishes a participatory framework for measuring and demonstrating these changes. The session will be the first public introduction of the framework.

10:30am to 12:00pm

Getting It Right: Community engagement for junior companies Organizer: Triple R Alliance and PDAC

Community engagement is frequently misunderstood and seen as difficult, costly, and not connected to a company’s bottom line. In reality, engagement can be the most cost-effective approach to mitigating social risks. This session will provide a step-by-step approach to community engagement designed for smaller teams. Practical tools will be provided that companies can apply to projects of any size, at any stage, and in any context.

1:00 to 2:30pm

Balancing Performance in Uncertain Times: The relationship between capital markets and environmental and social risks Organizer: Environmental Resources Management (ERM)

This session will examine how effective environmental and social management translates into key finance decisions, whether the capital comes from bank loans, equity markets or cash from existing operations. This panel of top industry executives and financiers will introduce factors currently affecting the capital market climate, and discuss practical ways juniors and majors alike can make a water-tight case for additional funds if they wish to acquire, expand and/or optimize new or current assets.

3:00 to 4:30pm

What You Need to Know and Do: Lessons learned from Mesoamerica Organizer: On Common Ground

Mesoamerica (southern Mexico to Costa Rica) has a current reputation for complex social conflicts. Speakers selected for their willingness to talk candidly about the challenges and opportunities of working with communities in Mesoamerica will provide context for the realities facing explorers on the ground and describe proven tools to address this reality. Facilitated discussion with participants will allow further examination of how to avoid the greatest risks, apply the tools and gain a social license.

Monday, March 3

10:30 to 12:00pm

Local Procurement: Strategies, tools and the benefits for companies and communities Organizer: Engineers Without Borders Canada

Through increasing local procurement of goods and services, companies have an effective method of maximizing the benefits of their investment for host communities and countries, while contributing to their social license to operate. Local procurement leads to more local jobs and income, transfers skills and technology, and helps to create vital domestic business networks. This session will showcase different field-tested approaches stakeholders are taking to increase local procurement.

1:30 to 3:00pm

Water, Mining and Stakeholders: Communicating with communities, government and investors Organizer: International Finance Corporation (IFC)

The economic, environmental, social and cultural values of water are one of the most challenging aspects of a mining project to measure and communicate with diverse stakeholder groups. IFC will bring together technical experts on mine development, communications, community engagement, grievance mechanisms and finance to discuss examples of how companies can avoid conflict, engage in effective dialogue, and earn a social license to operate around water.

3:30 to 5:00pm

The Role of Government in Company-Community Relationships: Lessons from Peru Organizer: Peruvian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce

In order to solve the conflicts between companies and communities, the Government of Peru is actively working to change the dynamic between exploration and mining companies and local community stakeholders. With a panel of company, government, and civil society representatives from Peru, this session will examine relationship management at all stages of the mining lifecycle with a focus on the Government of Peru’s role in moving from dialogue tables to development tables.

Tuesday, March 4

4:00 – 5:30pm

Resource nationalism is commonly cited as the key risk for exploration Resource Nationalism: Moving beyond a narrative of threat Organizer: International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) and PDAC and mining companies. Now used as a general label for a series of policy changes, resource nationalism presents significant challenges and opportunities for companies and host governments alike. Through discussion with a panel of leaders from industry, government, and international civil society, this session will address the issues surrounding resource nationalism and start moving the conversation towards a constructive dialogue.

5:30 to 6:30pm

CSR Event Series Closing Reception

A networking reception for CSR practitioners.

More information contact: Emily Nunn – Manager, CSR at enunn@pdac.ca

http://www.pdac.ca