Nevada Mining Association discusses important aspects in the future of mining
Evolving in an ever-changing environment is crucial to Nevada’s mining industry. From diversity to sustainability, the future of mining holds many different promises and the Nevada Mining Association (NVMA) is pioneering education and communication efforts amongst mining professionals and other important industry leaders.
The first ever Mining into the Future symposium was held in Winnemucca on Nov. 3 at the Convention Center. Sponsors NVMA and ExxonMobil invited stakeholders to cover various topics in regards to the future of mining.
“The truth is that if we want to continue to gain support, we have to be intentional about how we diversify our industry,” said Tyre Gray, President of the NVMA.
Part of the evolution and diversification of the industry is dependent on its ability to be a voice for a world that understands the importance of environmental stewardship and the role that mining critical minerals plays in lasting sustainability.
From utilization of more renewable energy from NV Energy, to more batteries created with lithium mined by Lithium Nevada, major players in the mining industry are continuously working to not only align with federal and state regulations on environmental goals and health, but to use their best practices to truly help achieve goals for a zero emissions and renewably sourced future.
“Our goal internally is to serve customers with 100 percent renewable energy,” said Ryan Bellows,NV Energy’s Vice President of Government and External Relations, and added that opportunities to achieve this goal are dependent on reliability of renewable energy sources, maintaining affordability to customers and time.
Other stakeholders such as: PATHION, BioAccelergy, P&C Recruiting and HR, ECI with Kiewit Corporation, Imperial Oil, and Vincent “Bluto” Saporito, were also present to discuss industry innovations, and opportunities.
Perception is another one of the key factors in how the NVMA is able to benefit the mining community. Making sure that people recognize mining’s potential to cultivate growth and opportunities is essential in efforts to diversify, as is the ability of mining professionals to recognize the opportunity in some of the untapped communities in Nevada.
The NVMA’s Mining Vegas for Talent program has changed lives by taking people from underserved communities in Las Vegas and investing into their futures’ with access to jobs in mining.
According to Joe Riney, the Vice President of Operations of the NVMA, these individuals, sourced through local employment hubs, have access to three months of training, free housing, transportation assistance, and life-changing wages.
By purposefully reaching communities that would not otherwise have access to such opportunities, the NVMA is successfully expanding connection and therefore knowledge, that is vital to the future of critical minerals.
“Our ability to provide people good-paying jobs, quality salaries, and wages, has a wonderful impact because those people can provide for themselves, they can contribute to their communities, and then that cycle continues to reinforce and we’re able to make a better Nevada,” said Gray.