{"id":4434,"date":"2022-06-28T23:13:52","date_gmt":"2022-06-28T23:13:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beyondclimatepromises.ca\/?p=4434"},"modified":"2022-12-06T19:40:06","modified_gmt":"2022-12-06T19:40:06","slug":"did-you-know-donkin-mine-factsheet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beyondclimatepromises.ca\/fr\/did-you-know-donkin-mine-factsheet\/","title":{"rendered":"Did you know? Donkin mine factsheet"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Sierra Club Canada, Beyond Coal Atlantic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coal and Greenhouse Gas Emissions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The coal at the Donkin mine is primarily subsea metallurgical coal, used in steelmaking; steelmaking with coal is \u201cresponsible for roughly 5% of global emissions<\/a>\u2014as much as the entire aviation industry.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

New research shows that mining coal emits 50 percent more methane<\/a> into the atmosphere than previously thought. Methane is an even more potent and fast-acting (i.e., atmospheric-warming) greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. In fact, the impact of a tonne of methane is equivalent to between 84 and 87 tonnes of CO2<\/sub> over a 20-year timeframe (see the International Energy Agency\u2019s World Energy Outlook 2017<\/a>, p. 405).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alternatives to using coal in steel production<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t have to use coal to make steel. There are viable alternatives, such as using green hydrogen and clean renewable energies. Steel can also be infinitely recycled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

See: Do we really need coal to make steel? \u2013 Wildsight<\/a>
How the global steel industry is cutting out coal | The Narwhal<\/a>
Swedish Steelmaker Uses Hydrogen Instead Of Coal To Make Fossil-Free Steel<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The toxic legacy of Cape Breton\u2019s abandoned coal mines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Each year, the Cape Breton Regional Municipality has to treat approximately 6 billion litres of waste water<\/a> from Cape Breton\u2019s abandoned coal mines for contamination. Taxpayers are footing the bill, not the mining companies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Better uses for abandoned coal mines<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Coal mines can be\u2014and are being\u2014converted into sites for clean renewable energy.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

See: Renewables Revive Abandoned Mines<\/a>
Experts from Across Appalachia Gather to Discuss Opportunities for Solar on Mine Lands<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know that Cape Breton\u2019s Cabot Links golf course in Inverness<\/a> was built on the site of an abandoned coal mine?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-reporting and no cap-and-trade<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The operators of the Donkin coal mine are allowed to self-report their greenhouse gas emissions to Nova Scotia Environment and Climate Change, without an expert independently verifying their reports. The company\u2019s emissions reports are based on engineering estimates rather than actual emissions testing at the mine. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emissions from Donkin Mine are not included in Nova Scotia\u2019s cap-and-trade program<\/a>, which essentially keeps them off the province\u2019s CO2-accounting radar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ownership structure of the Donkin coal mine<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Donkin mine is owned by Kameron Collieries ULC<\/a>, a subsidiary of the US-based Cline Group. ULC stands for \u201cunlimited liability company.\u201d Nova Scotia is one of only four provinces to allow U.S. companies to incorporate as ULCs. By incorporating as a ULC, a U.S. corporation becomes a \u201cflow through entity for US tax purposes\u201d and significantly reduces the amount of taxes it is required to pay in Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Contrary to its name, a ULC\u2019s liability is very much limited<\/a>. Practical Law Canada Corporate & Securities<\/a> explains:<\/p>\n\n\n\n