Canada is doing some really interesting work, actually. We have a program that is running through the CanmetMINING system in the federal government in partnership with industry and academia. It's called “mining value from waste”. It is really looking at old mines and the tailings of those mines, which contain many tonnes—in some cases, hundreds or thousands of tonnes—of material that is actually usable, particularly in the critical minerals space.
We're looking at extracting the nickel and cobalt that we need for those batteries that we're all looking to put into our vehicles and our storage. We are looking at how we can get those from those waste streams.
It's also a double bottom line because those tailings ponds need to be managed into perpetuity. If we look at extracting value from those tailings ponds, we can also, at the same time, look at environmental remediation to help clean them up. It becomes a source of valuable metals, so it's also an economic opportunity because it creates jobs. It's also improving the environment, which is absolutely a win-win scenario.
There's work that's being undertaken in that space. That work is accelerating as we move forward and recognize that we need to find ways to do more than greenfield mines and look at breaking new ground.
There's also existing technology and new technology that's being developed every single day that allows us to extend the life of current mines. Mines that normally would have a 25-year mine life are now being extended to 35 or 50 years. There's technology that allows people to go deeper, to find new pockets under the ground and to use remote technology so that there's no threat to human life and workers don't have to be in those confined spaces as you go deeper. You can get the ore out of the ground without creating a larger footprint. Both of those are great opportunities.
I mentioned the research, development and demonstration program. That program is very much working with industry to look at innovative approaches to the mining sector. That includes things like recycling and repurposing tailings.