As British Columbia’s mining sector enjoys its second straight year of strong gains, industry stakeholders should build on their success by investing in proven dust control solutions.
As evidenced by the latest performance numbers, British Columbia’s mining industry is poised to continue its recent track record of success. While companies across the province face a number of variables — commodity price volatility, cost pressures, and high competition, to name a few — industry stakeholders remain cautiously optimistic.
That’s because a recent report from PwC Canada says that the sector enjoyed its second straight year of growth in 2018. The total gross revenue for the region totaled C$12.3 billion, up from C$11.7 billion in 2017. And in another bit of good news, capital expenditures fell to C$1.2 billion from C$1.5 billion.
While British Columbia’s mining sector enjoys rising revenues for the second year in a row, it’s incumbent upon key decision-makers to build upon this track record of success. By investing in industrial solutions that make mining worksites more efficient, more environmentally friendly, and safer, these companies can ensure they’re putting these gains to good use.
Mining by the Numbers
According to the PwC Canada report, much of these gains are due in part to higher commodity prices. While these values have yet to reach the record levels hit in 2011, they still represent a marked increase over the intervening years. Average copper prices increased by 6% year-over-year and metallurgical coal rose, on average, 5% compared with 2017. While zinc, lead, and gold remained at similar levels to the previous year, silver prices fell 8%.
Regardless, the metrics point to strong performance in other areas. Total assets, which were at C$16.9 billion in 2017, reached C$18.3 billion in 2018. Employment is also on the upswing, with direct employment in mining increasing from 10,221 employees across the province in 2017 to 11,281 employees in 2018.
Building on Growth
As British Columbia’s mining sector sees a surge in activity, it’s up to industry stakeholders to ensure that this boost in activity is managed in a safe and environmentally friendly way. Specifically, mining companies can build on recent successes by investing in proven maintenance solutions that work in both the short- and long-term.
For example, mining can get a bad rap for the dust it can kick up, affecting air quality and quality of life for workers and nearby communities. With the help of innovative dust control products and smart application strategies, it’s possible to ensure a more active mining sector is also a safer and more environmentally friendly one.
Investing in Smart Solutions
Effective worksite management is a bedrock of success for mining operations anywhere in the world. While the recent growth British Columbia’s mining sector has experienced is good news for both business leaders and employees, it’s important to ensure that growth is sustainable and handled in a strategic way. By investing in industry-leading dust control products and managed service programs from Midwest Industrial Supply, Inc., mining operations can make sure that surges in activity don’t get in the way of worksite safety or environmental protection.
At Midwest, we understand just how crucial effective dust control is to mining success. We’ve been developing, manufacturing, and implementing patented dust control solutions since 1975, and our environmentally friendly products make ongoing maintenance easier and worksite conditions safer. If you’re in the market for a tried-and-tested dust control solution, reach out to us today.
