Port-Cartier, Quebec, April 23, 2008 — Québec Cartier Mining Company today announced a research agreement with Natural Resources Canada’s CANMET Energy Technology Centre, to substantially reduce the energy consumption of the induration furnaces at the company’s pellet plant in Port Cartier, Québec. It is expected that this $550,000 research partnership could yield up to 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

 

“Québec Cartier has a long-standing tradition of reducing energy usage in the pelletizing process, which has made the Port-Cartier pellet plant among the lowest energy-intensive hematite ore operations in the world,” said President and CEO François Pelletier. “We are committed to maintaining this leadership position and continuously improving our performance according to our sustainable development policy.”

 

“The Government of Canada is proud to partner with innovative businesses such as the Québec Cartier Mining Company in developing this leading-edge technology that will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” said the Honourable Gary Lunn, Minister of Natural Resources. “This partnership with the CANMET Energy Technology Centre will bring together experts and innovators who will deliver solutions to save energy and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment."

 

With the urgent and growing need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and go beyond what current technology can achieve, Québec Cartier is pleased to partner with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) including the talented team of experts at CANMET Energy Technology Centre and the support of its Office of Energy Efficiency. Both Québec Cartier and NRCan are working together to develop and test new ways to reduce the industry’s energy consumption. Specifically, the research will explore alternative airflows in the furnaces, using various modelling tools supported by industrial data.

 

The company is interested in pursuing more clean energy-related research, tapping into the multidisciplinary expertise at NRCan.

 

NRCan works to ensure the responsible development of Canada's natural resources, including energy, forests, minerals and metals, and develops policies and programs that enhance the contribution of the natural resources sector to the economy and improve the quality of life of all Canadians. NRCan is delivering the Government of Canada’s ecoENERGY Initiatives — a set of coordinated measures designed to improve energy efficiency, increase our supply of cleaner energy, and find cleaner ways to produce and use our conventional energy resources.

 

Québec Cartier Mining Company is one of Canada's leading suppliers of iron ore to steel markets around the world. As both a mining and primary processing company, it employs some 2,000 people and operates major installations on the north shore of the Gulf of St-Lawrence. Mont-Wright is where Québec Cartier operates one of the largest open mine pits in North America, as well as an iron ore concentration plant. The site is linked by Company rail to the industrial complex of Port-Cartier where rail workshops, an internationally competitive pellet plant, a private port and the head office of the company are located. Committed to the principles of sustainable development, Québec Cartier Mining Company has built its reputation on the pursuit of excellence, quality products, talented employees and environmental leadership in its sector, as well as effective management that creates shareholder value.

 

 

 

 

Meeting together at the CANMET Energy Technology Centre (CETC) for the signing of a half a million $ plus partnership: Glenn Kidd from the Office of Energy Research and Development, Bruce Clements, Research Scientist - Group Leader at the CETC, Éloi Godin, Project Manager - Expansion, Research and Development at Québec Cartier, John Marrone, General Director of the CETC, Mary Preville from the Office of Energy Research and Development and Joe Rubino from the CETC. Both the Office and the CETC are crown agencies of Natural Resources Canada.

Information Martin Simard
 Director, Communication and Public Relations
 Québec Cartier Mining Company
 Phone: 418-766-2000, ext. 2341
 
 Louise Girouard
 Office of the Honourable Gary Lunn
 Minister of Natural Resources
 Phone: 613-996-2007