CURRENT ISSUE
| Cover Story |
| Columns |
| Mining Stays Strong: Q&A with Hal Quinn |
| Column | |
| By Brian Salgado | |
| Friday, 03 October 2008 | |
 "Demand for mined products has reached near-record levels." –Hal Quinn “Since the last show, worldwide demand for mined products and the equipment that brings those products to markets around the world has hit near-record levels,” Quinn says. “The incredible increase in demand is in large part the result of rapidly growing energy and industrial needs of emerging economic giants.” Quinn, who has represented the mining industry before the executive, legislative and judicial branches over the past 20 years, took time to speak with Exploration + Processing about the issues facing the mining industry, his organization’s role with MINExpo and the future of mining between now and the next MINExpo in 2012. Exploration + Processing: What is the biggest issue facing the mining industry as we approach MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2008? Hal Quinn: The mining community faces many challenges across a variety of issues. At the moment, mitigating climate change is an issue garnering significant attention in the U.S. and around the world. NMA supports addressing climate concerns through federal legislation that provides the funding needed to bring carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology into full-scale commercial deployment. That’s going to be a big undertaking. We’ve made important strides, as CCS legislation was recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate and featured prominently in a recent climate declaration by the G-8. CCS will facilitate the continued supply of affordable, reliable and secure energy from coal to American businesses and consumers. It’s also the technology that holds the greatest promise for rapidly growing economies that are highly dependent upon coal, including China and India, and critical to global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. Our ongoing commitment to strengthen mine safety remains our highest priority, and we are currently focused on fully implementing the Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response (MINER) Act of 2006 and the comprehensive recommendations made by the independent Mine Safety Technology and Training Commission. Our ultimate goal remains to ensure that each miner returns home safely at the end of each shift. Turning to the mineral side, future economic growth in the U.S. will depend in large part on our ability to meet demand for a variety of critical minerals and metals. As such, it is vital that we enact Mining Law reforms that enable the U.S. to utilize its domestic minerals wealth, while helping to remediate abandoned mine sites in the western United States. E+P: What’s new in terms of technology at this year’s show? HQ: The effects of the worldwide demand boom on the mining community will be front and center at MINExpo. The show will highlight the newest generation of equipment and services that will provide greater productivity and safer working conditions throughout the mining community. E+P: What could be the affect on the mining industry that each presidential candidate presents? HQ: A variety of critically important mining community issues, such as climate change, energy policy and safety, promise to be key issues in this November’s presidential and congressional elections. We’re fortunate that we have enjoyed bipartisan congressional support for many of priority legislative initiatives. To ensure that both presidential candidates and their policy advisors are well aware of the vital role coal and minerals play in our country’s energy and economic security, NMA is utilizing a variety of advocacy tools to work directly with the campaigns. We’re also using our government relations, regulatory and communications staffs to advance our messages and objectives. We’ve had success in this regard, as we’ve been able to secure commitments from both presidential candidates on the essential role of coal and CCS technology in meeting our future energy needs using secure domestic coal. We’re also deploying our highly successful “Mine the Vote” program to mobilize mining community supporters for Election Day. Our program helps supporters register to vote, find their local polling station[s] and provides information on where candidates stand on the issues important to mining. E+P: What is the National Mining Association’s role at MINExpo? HQ: The National Mining Association is the sponsor of MINExpo INTERNATIONAL 2008. Through the MINExpo Ad Hoc Committee, which is comprised of NMA member companies exhibiting at the show, we provide input and advice for planning each show. Bucyrus International Inc. President and CEO Tim Sullivan is the chairman of this year’s show. Tim, along with Douglas Hardman, president and COO of J.H. Fletcher and Co., and Raja Upadhyah, president of Pincock, Allen & Holt, the program co-chairmen, have done a fantastic job putting together this year’s show, which will be the largest ever held. NMA’s leadership will open the show Sept. 22 at 8:30 a.m. in the lobby of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a state of the industry press conference featuring leading CEOs will be held, at which industry leaders will highlight the dramatic increase in worldwide demand for coal, minerals, metals and mining equipment. NMA will also have a large exhibit booth in the lobby of the convention center. NMA’s booth will highlight the vitally important role coal and minerals play in ensuring America’s economic prosperity and national security. E+P: Who would you list as the most influential figures in the industry today (excluding yourself)? HQ: The mining community is fortunate to benefit from excellent leadership in all sectors, as evidenced by the robust health of the companies that mine coal and minerals and the equipment, service and technology providers that make mining possible. E+P: What does the future hold for mining between now and the next MINExpo in 2012? HQ: Mining’s future is very bright. U.S. and international demand for coal, minerals and mining equipment is set to remain exceptionally strong, as future economic growth will continue to require energy and minerals. We also see new uses for our products, including coal-to-liquid transportation fuels, which can provide a more reliable and affordable supply of fuels for commercial and military aviation, railroads, long-haul trucking and other transportation sectors. We expect MINExpo 2012 will highlight a new generation of equipment and services technology that will further advance mining safety and allow us to mine in areas that today may be viewed as uneconomic. |
|
| < Previous Story | Next Story > |
|---|
