The City of Greater Sudbury capped its time at MINExpo 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada, this week by summarizing it as further affirming the area’s role in the global mining industry.
Their presence at the international mining conference “has reinforced the community’s role as a vital hub for the global mining sector, showcasing the innovation happening within the local mining supply sector,” according to a media release issued by the city on Friday.
Over the course of three days, the city reports that Mayor Paul Lefebvre and city representatives met with key industry leaders during the conference, and that several foreign companies “expressed interest in expanding or establishing operations in Greater Sudbury, drawn by the city’s mining ecosystem.”
“The conversations we’ve been having this week at MINExpo confirm what we’ve always known – Greater Sudbury is a critical player in the global mining industry,” Lefebvre said in the media release.
“Hearing firsthand from these industry leaders that we are vital to their expansion plans is a testament to the strength of our community and the sector.”
In a social media post on Wednesday, Lefebvre also congratulated MacLean Engineering and RufDiamond (both based in Greater Sudbury) for their partnership on a new Agilis mobile batchplant system which is designed to have shotcrete on demand, which is slated to reduce costs and waste from traditional shotcrete applications.
During the conference, Australia-based iron ore mining company Fortescue announced a partnership with MacLean, which the media release notes “signals an important step toward sustainable mining, as MacLean is set to deliver a fleet of 30 battery electric graders, powered by Fortescue Zero battery systems, to Fortescue’s mining operations in Western Australia by 2029.”
Lefebvre joined Ontario Mines Minister George Pirie and consul general of Canada in Los Angeles Zaib Shaikh by announcing that Sudbury’s MineConnect would be Ontario’s official mining supply representative.
In the city’s media release, it’s noted that Lefebvre met with Pirie and associate minister Stephen Crawford to discuss economic opportunities that will benefit Greater Sudbury and the broader region and that a Northern Ontario reception hosted by MineConnect “provided an additional platform to meet with industry stakeholders, building connections that will continue to support the city’s long-term economic goals.”
The City of Greater Sudbury sent six people to this year’s MINExpo, including Lefebvre, at a cost to taxpayers of $36,392 partially offset by federal funding to cover travel costs through CanExport. More than 70 Nickel City exhibitors took part in the conference.
