EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
BC’s abundant energy and mineral resources have enabled development of an innovative, growing energy and mining sector. The percentage of total provincial GDP attributable to mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction was 5% in 2012. Despite year-to-year fluctuations in mineral, metal, and energy prices, global demand for these commodities continues to grow. The recently signed free trade agreement with Korea is expected to further boost coal, metal and gas exports from BC. However, given the naturally limited supply of these resources, there is increasing pressure both to maximize the cost efficiency and to minimize the environmental impact of mining and energy operations which yields opportunities for applied research and innovation.
A competitive industry landscape, including companies, industry associations and service suppliers, an advantageous regulatory framework, and key enabling infrastructure for delivery of mining and energy products, provide incentives for investment in and development of this sector in BC. Nineteen mines are currently operating in BC (9 metal, 10 coal) and several are in late stages of permitting. The major commodities mined in BC are coal, copper, silver, and zinc. BC holds Canada’s second largest unconventional gas reserves. Current estimates indicate that there is potentially 1,200 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of shale gas in northeast BC which forms the basis of the Province’s recent Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) strategy. Most major oil and gas companies have operations in exploration, production and processing of natural gas in BC. With its proximity to Asia, BC is also an important enabler of getting extracted resources from the rest of Canada to new markets via rail, pipelines and ocean transport. The scale of activities in exploration, operations and transportation in the sector requires careful assessment of risk to environment and development of mitigation strategies.
In addition to industry assets, the mining and energy sector in BC is supported by significant innovation assets. These include strong mining and energy research capacity in research centres and institutes, education and training programs, and a robust investment environment and funding opportunities. BC is home to significant breadth and depth of mining, energy, and enabling technology researchers across its 25 publically funded higher education institutions in addition to the intensive research underway in many mining, oil and gas companies. Within the higher education sector, particular research strengths exist in geo exploration, production, and remediation. The Province supports more than 40 Canada Research and other endowed Chairs with expertise relevant to the sector, hosted by 6 of the province’s colleges and universities: University of Victoria, University of Northern BC, Simon Fraser University, Thompson Rivers University, UBC and UBC Okanagan. Many sector-relevant and government or regulatory agencies listed in such as Environment Canada and NRCan also engage in research programs.
Genome British Columbia – May 2014.
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