ENVIRONMENT

Osisko plans 'world's cleanest zinc' at Pine Point

Canadian zinc exploration company Osisko Metals plans to use a combination of low-carbon energy, renewables and battery storage technology to keep Scope 1 emissions low at its planned Pine Point zinc-lead project.

 Pine Point lead-zinc project

Pine Point lead-zinc project

Osisko Metals has launched its Scope 1 level estimation for the project, saying it will evaluate the potential to use natural gas in combination with a zinc hybrid flow battery storage system coupled to the local hydro-electric grid.

The Scope 1 measurements will also incorporate transport emissions from moving concentrate to the smelter - a factor usually included in Scope 3.

In addition, ore sorting at the pre-concentration stage will be used to reduce the necessary concentrator size by approximately 40%, and the project is within within 70km of a rail line to transport metal concentrates to smelters in North America.

"Pine Point is expected to produce one of the cleanest zinc and lead concentrates globally," said Robert Wares, chairman and CEO.

"We are confident that the new hydrogeological model will significantly lower the Pine Point power requirements by reducing pumping costs over life-of-mine. Combining this with the potential to reduce natural gas power generation with renewable energy and Zinc Hybrid Flow Battery grid storage technology, we are very optimistic in the potential to further reduce the Project's GHG footprint in a significant way."

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