Conserving energy and water

Due to the location of most of our operations in high country, much of the electricity we use comes from hydro-generating stations. At our Pyrenean processing plant in France, we operate our own hydro-generating plant, which provides 15% of the electric power demand.

The Company has an Energy Management plan to identify and monitor energy efficiency projects across the organization. In Montana, a year-long feasibility study was completed in 2007 to determine the potential for installing wind turbines on the property to provide 100 percent of the electricity needed at its Yellowstone mining operation. Our Canadian operations have also been cooperating with government to reduce energy use as part of a national program.

At Luzenac's mines and plants, water used to clean equipment is degreased in separation tanks whereas the water containing solids such as talc particles is channelled into sedimentation ponds to remove suspended particles prior to discharge. At the processing plants, water is recycled back into the production circuit wherever possible. In fact, being an essentially dry process, talc processing requires very little water. Before the water is released back into the rivers, it is monitored to ensure that it meets all the appropriate quality standards.