Tuesday 7 May 2024

Proposed volcanic-rock mine divides northern New Brunswick town

 
 

Proposed volcanic-rock mine divides northern New Brunswick town

Some Dalhousie residents welcome prospect of jobs, others fear environmental impact

In a vast quarry on New Brunswick's north shore, Réjean Carrier looks up at towering walls of ashen-grey rock, cut deep into the landscape. 

"We have this presence of volcanic ashes in a zone around Dalhousie," he explains in French, pointing out a rock called pozzolan. "It will bring good jobs to the area."

Carrier, president of Quebec-based Carboniq Inc., hopes to turn an existing quarry into an open mine to extract the material as a low-carbon alternative for the cement industry.

His vision is to take the pozzolan from a small mountain, process it at a plant in the area, and export it globally using nearby port and rail lines.

WATCH | 'Yes, it's jobs, but a job at what expense?':
 

Could a volcanic-rock mine change life in northern New Brunswick?

Duration 4:28
Residents on New Brunswick's north shore are divided over a proposal to operate an open-pit mine in the community of Dalhousie. While many are embracing the potential for a boost to the struggling economy, others fear the project could harm the environment.

The existing rock quarry has operated as a non-conforming use within Dalhousie town boundaries but is much smaller than the project Carboniq imagines.

In the community of Dalhousie, the prospect of a new mine is raising questions over how to balance the economic benefits with potential impacts on the environment.

The community has faced economic struggles in recent years, struggling to reinvent itself after the loss of three major industries. The closure of a paper mill, a chemical plant and a power generation station has led to shuttered businesses and a declining population. 

The idea of a new mine is being embraced by some residents, with talk of hundreds of jobs during construction and as many as 168 once the processing plant is in operation. But others fear an open pit mine, near a school and residential areas, could impact their quality of life and harm the environment.

Réjean Carrier, president of Carboniq Inc., stands in a quarry Réjean Carrier, president of Carboniq Inc., stands in a quarry he hopes to convert into a mine for the cement industry. 'It will bring good jobs to the area,' he said. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

Mayor Normand Pelletier said residents have lots of questions and the developers will have to make their case to the community. He said people are divided on the issue.

"We have a lot of people that are interested and would like to see a project as such take place," he said. "For one, it's going to create good-paying jobs.

"We're kind of anxious to hear the company and how they're going to promote it and make those public consultations to ease the pressure on the citizens."

Volcanic rock

The natural resource is the result of the region's prehistoric past. Four hundred million years ago, Sugarloaf Mountain in nearby Campbellton was a volcano. As it spewed ash across the landscape, it created layers of pozzolan rock.

At the Dalhousie site, studies have revealed the deposit of rock is deep enough to last at least 100 years, according to the developers.

Pozzolan is now being looked at as a potential solution to drastically lower emissions in cement manufacturing. In current mixtures, limestone is added to a kiln and decomposes under high heat, which produces greenhouse gas emissions. But with pozzolan, that step in the process is avoided entirely.

Grey and pink coloured rock Pozzolan is formed by layers of volcanic ash. Four hundred million years ago, Sugarloaf Mountain in nearby Campbellton was a volcano. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

The material is currently being extracted at some sites in the western United States and around the Mediterranean Sea.

The project has received backing from the federal government. In 2022, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency made a conditionally repayable contribution of $1.2 million to cover geological and environmental surveys.

Carrier is working on the project with Guy Rousseau, president of cement company Cimbec Canada. The pair launched their venture in 2022.

Two men look at map on wall Guy Rousseau, left, and Réjean Carrie explain the deposit of pozzolan they've identified through geological analysis in the Dalhousie area. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

Carrier said the geological analysis of the deposit has been completed and the project is now focused on how pozzolan might need to be processed to meet the needs of the industry. The rock is being tested in a laboratory.

"The demand will increase because we're searching for products to decarbonize the production of cement," he said.

'It's going to leave a scar in the landscape'

The municipality of Heron Bay held a public meeting last month to discuss new zoning, including changes that would allow quarries and mines to operate in parts of the community of Dalhousie.

Residents filled the room to question councillors about the project, raising concerns about noise, dust, truck traffic and pollution. Many demanded more information about the mine, questioning why they haven't heard directly from the developers.

Gail Fearon, who spoke at the meeting, said she wants to see greater transparency so her community can make an informed decision.

"My problem is yes it's jobs, but a job at what expense?" she said in an interview, overlooking post-industrial brownfields on the community's waterfront.

Gail Fearon Gail Fearon, a former town councillor, spoke at a recent meeting about proposed zoning changes to allow quarries and mines to operate in the community. She said residents need more transparency to be able to make an informed decision about the project. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)

Fearon said the project could lead to a permanent impact on the environment and the potential consequences need to be seriously considered. Growing up in the community, she remembers seeing waste from the paper plant being released into the bay.

"The industries that left, they left at least a flat piece of property. Whereas this project, it's going to leave a scar in the landscape," she said.

Carrier said he is listening to residents and recognizes some have questions and concerns. But he said it's too early to bring plans to the public for feedback. The project is still in a planning stage.

Overhead view of quarry The developers have completed geological analysis of core samples extracted from the existing quarry in Dalhousie. They expect to have a detailed plan for the project by the end of the year. (Michael Heenan/CBC)

"We don't want to design a project in public, but we are taking these concerns into account, from an environmental survey, a social acceptance survey," he said.

Carrier said a walking trail near the top of Dalhousie Mountain will not be affected, since the geological deposit stops well before that point in the landscape. He said possible impacts to neighbours could be controlled and mitigated.

"We're making the plan taking into account the different constraints imposed, that citizens impose, the environment imposes, laws impose," he said.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


Alexandre Silberman

Video journalist

Alexandre Silberman is a video journalist with CBC News based in Moncton. He has previously worked at CBC Fredericton, Power & Politics, and Marketplace. You can reach him by email at: alexandre.silberman@cbc.ca

 
 
 
125 Comments 

 
David Amos
Isn't there a "scar" already there?  
 
Don Corey
Reply to David Amos
Sure looks like it to me. Apparently it must be ok though with the local greenies. 
 
 
 
Don Corey 
This will be a great project for Dalhousie and area, with a new viable industry providing much needed employment and a big economic boost. Hopefully the always vocal NIMBY crowd won't throw a wrench into the whole thing.  
 
David Amos
Reply to Don Corey  
Good luck
 
Don Corey
Reply to David Amos
Thanks, the area will need a lot of it.  
 
 
 
Frank Blacklock  
Green energy projects are not environmentally friendly, but take in billions for big corporations and their friends in government.
 
Mike Fowler 
Reply to Frank Blacklock 
You could just drop the first word from your post.

And the second, for that matter.

Corporations exist to earn shareholders money.

Bob Leeson 
Reply to Frank Blacklock
Luckily the 602 square km of open pit mines run by the bitumen oil industry are environmentally friendly. Everyone knows that bitumen extraction, processing, and later downstream combustion only produces unicorn gases, delivered by fairies.   
 
William Barron 
Reply to Frank Blacklock   
What projects do absolutely no harm at all?
 
David Amos
Reply to William Barron 
Good question 
 
Don Corey
Reply to Mike Fowler 
So what's wrong with that? They also provide excellent pay and benefits to millions of Canadians, significantly contribute to the local economy, and are the #1 key to both the country's productivity and GDP. Canada has been going downhill since 2015. We need to provide an environment where businesses (and therefore the country) can get us back on track. Many comments here reflect the all too common liberal negative mentality to developing our natural resources.
 
Mike Fowler 
Reply to Don Corey
I didn't say there's anything wrong with it.

(By law), corporations are beholden to their shareholders. Not "the environment", the collective, or feelings.

I'm not the one getting hysterical about how "environmentally friendly" (just) green energy projects are.

BTW: the most common liberal mentality to developing our resources is fake "conservativism" which involved giving tax pay dollars to "private" businesses, rather than letting the free market work.

Jimmy Vee  
Reply to Don Corey
Downhill not since 2015 but 1996, honesty is a good thing but its hard for some. Funny thing about Canada productivity numbers they started to level off and fall with each tax cut that benefited corporations. 
 
Don Corey
Reply to Jimmy Vee  
We're heading in the wrong direction, and have been since 2016. Speaking of honesty, there are indeed some who struggle to accept such and simply respond with unsubstantiated allegations and excuses.
 
Don Corey
Reply to Mike Fowler 
I totally agree with you on subsidies to privately-owned enterprises. You seem to think the practice is "conservatism", but it sure is alive and well in Ottawa. 
 
Jimmy Vee  
Reply to Don Corey
check the stats they are very interesting, it seems every time industry gets a tax cut they decide to do less, maybe because margins have improved. 
 
Mike Fowler 
Reply to Don Corey
And "conservative" provinces like Ontario and Alberta.

It's not real conservatism - it's an attack on it while wearing a disguise.

 
 
William Peters  
Here we ago again with he interviewing of people who have an economic interest in doing this. What we have is a collective wealth which is not to be wasted chasing personal examples of well building. None of us are permanent. Converting your landscape to saleable commodities and a externalities is an equation that promises some temporary material gain in exchange for certain environmental impacts. There is no sugar coating the downside to make it go away. A mine is a stress on the planet. They are examples of economic economy that we are doing that are contributing to our current unsustainable path. That path is not helped by dollars. Arguments that are meant to appeal to your wants always omit to ask you if you might prefer to not lay the planet to waste and to focus instead on things that respect the much slower speed we must take in exploiting energy for our benefit. It cannot just be a mindless race for more that has appeal to people who are given less in order that they might want to allow for more activity to be done. The economic benefit that is sought can be achieved by better economic distributions of the wealth benefit of existing levels of activity. If we had better distribution we would not concede that the world be wasted in order to possibly content us. To want more is to want to be given less by those who will promise more. Find a way to achieve your goals politically and put an end to the many occasions of you being poisoned by industrial chemicals and bad thinking. 
 
Don Corey
Reply to William Peters 
Nice but meaningless diatribe. This is the mentality that contributes toward our stagnant (at best) GDP/capita.  
 
MR Cain  
Reply to William Peters
Time to get off the pulpit and research the benefits. https://www.dalhousiepozzolan.com/en 

Allan Green
Reply to  MR Cain  
You linked a marketing page by the company proposing this project. That's propaganda, not research.
 
Allan Green 
Reply to Don Corey
And your comment is shortsighted. That's the mentality that's lead to worldwide environmental degradation.
 
William Peters 
Reply to Don Corey 
That's your own belief system speaking from being threated. Endless growth chases endless GDP growth. It's a meaningless measure which is faulty accounting neglecting what is lost to produce growth. You grow and lose some things, but with GDP you seemingly always win. Also, when you have someone paying a rent that's a contributor to GDP as rental payments are counted as valuable economic activity when they are not. The trick is how you such people into believing they are always going forward by wasting what is given to us and extracting value for the passage of time. We' re on to you amateur economists. 
 
William Peters 
Reply to Allan Green 
The game is up. Growth in energy demand or growth in emissions is not desirable unless we value dollars (a form of obligation) more than well being where we are. Dollars can never secure us well being. That's an illusion. It gets you stuff at the company store. The attitude that pushes us to want more demands more obscenity. We don't suffer from a lack of affluence. We suffer from obscene levels of affluence and horrible distribution of wealth. Nobody should be telling people they'll be better off, like a socialist, when they are fronting for free market capitalism. It surely is propaganda of the sort that typically silences people.  
 
MR Cain
Reply to Allan Green  
of course it is; you will find more info on the other company involved and the fact that the project appears to be a done dea; research all the info and make up your own mind. 
 
Don Corey
Reply to Allan Green  
Yep, you're in that group that wants everything except economic development. 
 
Don Corey
Reply to Don Corey
I'm not feeling threatened by anything except politicians and others who thrive on stifling economic growth. Canada's GDP/capita has been stagnant since 2015 and projections have us falling far behind every country in the OECD.  
 
MR Cain
Reply to Allan Green
Cimbec Canada Inc. and Carboniq Inc. are developing a volcanic rock extraction project located in Dalhousie, New Brunswick. It shows milestone dates. It has already been provided federal funding. This IS the project. Do some research. There are other sites that are marketing the companies involved. 
 
Robert Brannen
Reply to Don Corey
If you take a look at Canada's GDP growth/capita you will find it has been essentially in a decline since 2003. The few occasions in which it has increased have followed periods like the real estate melt down and the pandemic.

Growth of GDP/capita, Canada: 2003 - 16.68%, 2004 - 13.58%, 2005 - 13.19%, 2006 - 11.33%, 2007 - 10.26%, 2008 - 4.59%, 2009 - minus 12.49%, 2010 - 16.36%, 2011 - 9.800%, 2012 - 0.85%, 2013 - minus 0.06%, 2014 - minus 3.19%, 2015 - minus 14.44%, 2016 - minus2.94%, 2017 - 6.65%, 2018 - 3.14%, 2019 - minus 0.37%, 2020 - minus 6.06%, 2021 - 20.55%, 2022 - 5.73%.

Year over year increases in total GDP do not necessarily translate to an increase in rate of growth in GDP/capita.

In the above time span, the rate of growth in GDP/capita was only on the increase in 2010, 2016, 2017 and 2021.

Allan Green 
Reply to Don Corey
And you're part of that group that wants economic development at the expense of everything else, including a habitable planet.  
 
Don Corey
Reply to Robert Brannen 
As per StatsCan (April, 2024) our GDP per capita has now fallen to 2017 levels (so nothing to brag about there).

Furthermore, our GDP per capita (inflation adjusted) has grown by only 1.9% since the current federal government took office in 2015. During the same period, for comparison's sake, the United States growth has been a whopping 8 times higher.

And, looking ahead, from now to 2030 Canada is projected to have the slowest rate of GDP per capita growth among the 38 developed countries in the OECD.

Simply put, our economy is stalling relative to past performance and all other comparable countries around the world.

It's time to stop pretending that all is well.

Don Corey
Reply to William Peters
First time I've ever been called an economist, amateur or otherwise. I suppose it could be worse since you didn't call me an accountant.

Your socialist leanings are quite obvious, and you need to realize that there are (thank goodness) many who disagree with you.

Don Corey
Reply to Allan Green
Where did I say that? Can you be more specific? A lawsuit requires a bit more detail.  
 
Allan Green 
Reply to Don Corey
Where did I say I wanted everything except economic development? Black and white generalizations are a two way street. 
 
 
 
Walter Vrbetic  
Interesting science... I'v never heard of pozzolan let alone its ability to replace limestone in cement production.

Though I had read that early Romans used volcanic ash in their cement formula.

Louis Léger 
Reply to Walter Vrbetic 
By many metrics, pozzolan also makes better quality concrete. It's a neat substance! 
 
 
 
John Cash  
Such a beautiful piece of land there. I hope they don't wreck it with jobs and other nonsense.
 
Don Corey
Reply to John Cash 
There are always those who thrive on standing in the way of progress, with exaggerated and/or fabricated excuses for why the status quo is the way it has to be. 
 
 
 
John Cash 
These jobs in depressed areas always get fast tracked through the environmental impact stages.... It's just good for votes. 
 
Don Corey
Reply to John Cash  
Votes are a non-issue for this part of the province. 
 
David Amos
Reply to Don Corey  
For Higgy anyway
 
Don Corey
Reply to David Amos
That's for sure. 
 
 
 

Government of Canada supports a net‑zero industry transformation

News release

November 8, 2022 · Dalhousie, New Brunswick · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

By investing in strategic projects that leverage regional assets and target greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, we can create a healthier environment and new economic opportunities. This will foster a strong, sustainable recovery and build a greener economy for all Canadians. The Government of Canada is investing to help Carboniq Inc. and Cimbec Canada Inc., the codevelopers of the Dalhousie Pozzolan project, conduct studies to produce a cementitious material to help decarbonize the cement industry, which is alone responsible for 7%–8% of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Diversifying for the future

Today, René Arseneault, Member of Parliament for Madawaska‑Restigouche, announced a conditionally repayable contribution of $1,223,361 to Carboniq Inc. and Cimbec Canada Inc. as part of the Canada Coal Transition Initiative – Infrastructure Fund. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.

This investment will help Carboniq Inc. and Cimbec Canada Inc. complete the initial steps of a project to extract a natural pozzolan deposit, a rock of volcanic origin. These steps include assessing deposit size and quality and conducting environmental surveys in the work area in preparation for a future environmental impact study. The extraction and processing of this pozzolan have the potential to create up to 500 jobs during the construction phase, as well as 168 permanent jobs once the processing plant is in operation.

Dalhousie’s natural pozzolan deposit, the result of an accumulation of volcanic ashes over 400 million years ago, may play a significant role in reducing the carbon footprint of cement manufacturers by providing a material that does not need to be calcined to offer cementitious properties.

This project must be completed before any major mining developments can take place. The codevelopers also recognize the importance of engaging in dialogue with First Nations for any subsequent projects.

Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to focus on economic diversification to ensure the creation of good jobs and wealth, both now and for the future. 

Quotes

“Transitioning to a low carbon economy is a priority for our government. The economy and the government go hand in hand, which is why we are committing to working with partners to create new opportunities as we transition to a greener, more sustainable economy.” 

– Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA

“As New Brunswick moves away from coal, we are working with partners to help make this transition. This investment will help the proponents of the Dalhousie Pozzolan project and neighbouring communities diversify the economy, create jobs and prepare for the future.”

– René Arseneault, Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche

“We are especially pleased that the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, has agreed to support this project. This support will help us accelerate the development of this project, and therefore the decarbonization of our economy.”

– Réjean Carrier, President, Carboniq Inc.  

Quick facts

  • Incorporated in 2014, Carboniq Inc. provides expertise to identify and deploy solutions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of greenhouse gas (GHG) emitting companies.

  • After founding what would become McInnis Cement in the Gaspé Peninsula, the largest cement plant in Canada, Cimbec Canada Inc. is continuing to develop initiatives that complement the cement and concrete industry.

  • The Canada Coal Transition Initiative (CCTI) – Infrastructure Fund is a $150 million fund that aims to help communities move away from coal by investing in infrastructure. 

  • In Atlantic Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is delivering $55 million under the CCTI initiatives to support investments in infrastructure and economic diversification within communities preparing to transition away from coal.

Associated links

Contacts

Marianne Blondin
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Official Languages and of the
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Marianne.blondin@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Dominique Bouchard
Director of Communications
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
Dominique.Bouchard@acoa-apeca.gc.ca

Réjean Carrier
President
Carboniq Inc.
Rejean.Carrier@carboniq.com

 
 
 
 
Cement Association of Canada
Green Party of New Brunswick Leader David Coon praised the Canadian cement and concrete industry action plan to net-zero today at
 
 Image
Hmmm I wonder if he meant it
 
 
 
https://www.britannica.com/technology/materials-processing

pozzolana

hydraulic cement
 
Also known as: pozzolan, pozzuolana, pulvis puteoli, volcanic-ash cement

Baths of Caracalla

pozzolana, hydraulic cement perfected by the Romans and still used in some countries, traditionally made by grinding a material of volcanic origin (the pozzolan) with powdered hydrated lime. Roman engineers used two parts by weight of pozzolan mixed with one part of lime to give strength to mortar and concrete in bridges and other masonry and brickwork. During the 3rd century bce the Romans used pozzolana instead of sand in concrete and mortared rubblework, giving extraordinary strength. Used with an aggregate of broken tuff, travertine, brick, or marble, the material contributed to the evolution of new architectural forms in such monumental constructions as the Pantheon and the Baths of Caracalla at Rome.

Pozzolana was first found at Puteoli (modern Pozzuoli), near Naples, where there are still extensive beds, and also around Rome. Natural pozzolana is often composed mainly of a fine chocolate-red volcanic earth. Industrial, artificial pozzolans are produced in furnaces where organic materials, such as coal, are burned and the ash is reclaimed. Fly ash is the most common form of industrial pozzolan.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Contacts

Rejean Carrier

President

Carboniq Inc.

+1 (514) 466-2744

rejean.carrier@carboniq.com

Guy Rousseau

President

Cimbec Canada Inc.

+1 (514) 618-6864

guy.rousseau@cimbec.ca

Address

Dalhousie Office

419 D Adelaide St.

Dalhousie, New Brunswick

Canada E8C 1B7

 

No comments:

Post a Comment