Founding partner of Falkirk Environmental Consultants, Ltd. and mining industry consultant Michael McPhie has over two decades of experience in executive positions within the sector. Michael McPhie has worked in natural resources all over Canada and is an expert on regulatory and sustainability issues relating to large-scale mining projects.
The mining supply chain is usually spoken of in four broad operational steps. The first is exploration, which refers to prospecting, deposit appraisals, equipment purchasing, and any regulatory actions related to starting extraction operations.
In the development phase, mining companies enter into agreements with consulting firms to arrange the construction of infrastructure to support mining operations. Development takes place over five to ten years.
The operations phase typically lasts between two and twenty years and encompasses all the production and supply chain processes related to the mine’s everyday functioning.
Finally, when the mine is depleted, a multi-stage closure process begins. It starts with shutting down and removing equipment followed by reclamation and site restoration and the eventual remediation of the space.
Michael McPhie 