The 2018 PDAC International Convention, Trade Show & Investors Exchange took place in Toronto, Canada from 4-7 March. The event is considered the premier international convention for the mining sector and attracted over 25,000 people from 135 countries. Some individual member states have participated in the 4-day conference in the past, but the EU had an official presence for the first time this year. 

On the afternoon of 24 January2018, European Commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska, responsible for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs, met with the Industry4Europe delegation. Euromines’ director Corina Hebestreit participated in the meeting as she is the rapporteur for skills and training. The Commissioner highlighted this issue as a top priority.

Euromines just published a new brochure on best practices on reducing NOx and CO gases in the extractive industry. Keeping workers healthy is essential to the success of mining companies, and Euromines members are driven to meet the highest standards for worker health and safety. 

Euromines welcomes the Commission’s proposal aiming to promote energy efficiency within the European Union. However, the rules aiming at removing barriers and overcoming market failures should not lead to an overall increase in pressure and economic, social and environmental costs that might subsequently undermine the fundamental principle of sustainable development by making impossible to serve the essential needs of mankind at present while protecting and ensuring the needs of future generations.