Canada Plans to Tap Arctic's Resources

Aug. 26, 2008
Nation will use technology to 'map' energy and mineral potential.

Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on Aug. 26 an ambitious plan to discover and tap mineral, oil and gas riches believed to be hidden beneath the cool Arctic.

"We know from over a century of northern resource exploration that there is gas in the Beaufort (Sea), oil in the Eastern Arctic, and gold in the Yukon," Harper told reporters.

He also said diamonds and other "precious resources" are buried under the ice.

"What we've found so far is merely the tip of the iceberg," Harper said.

He added that "with the retreat of polar ice, increasing navigability of the Northwest Passage and the growing global interest in Arctic resources, Canada faces unprecedented opportunities, but also unprecedented challenges in the North."

The government's plan is to use "state of the art geological science and technology to map the energy and mineral potential of the North."

Researchers on the ground and aboard aircraft fitted with specialized sensors are to gather data on the geological characteristics of Canada's three northern territories: the Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

The information, combined with local Inuit's intimate knowledge of their environment, will then be used to create geological models of the Arctic to help firms "find the treasures buried there."

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2008

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

What Does Agility Look Like for Today's Auto Industry?

Dec. 4, 2023
Without modern technologies, enterprises aren't able to fully analyze the risks and respond to ongoing supply chain issues and semiconductor shortages.

You Cannot Stay Competitive by Bolting New Technologies to a Legacy ERP

Oct. 20, 2023
Read this white paper to understand the benefits of shifting to a next-generation ERP system as part of a DOP.

7 Crucial Steps to Improve Your OT Security

Oct. 23, 2023
Enhance OT security in manufacturing and production. Uncover the crucial steps to safeguard your operational technology. Protect against evolving threats and bridge the IT-OT ...

Electric Vehicles Spark New Opportunities in the Automotive Industry

Dec. 4, 2023
Automakers have increased plans to produce Electric Vehicles to meet customer demand for low emissions. With this radical shift, new opportunities and challenges for the auto ...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!