Energy & Mines Digital Trust
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Energy & Mines Digital Trust (EMDT) is enabling digital tools to support B.C.’s sustainable economic development while maintaining high levels of environmental protection.
EMDT enables mining and energy operators to prove where and how their products were made securely and efficiently using digital credentials.
Mining and energy operators need a trustworthy way to share data internationally to better compete in global markets that prioritize sustainability.
With digital credentials, operators can efficiently demonstrate their commitment to environmental, social and governance goals, increasing trust in global supply chains.
EMDT: Building a digital trust ecosystem
A digital trust ecosystem builds confidence between organizations, businesses and individuals when interacting online.
Current processes for sharing operational or sustainability data are inefficient due to:
- Diverse regulatory models
- Varied reporting standards
- A lack of interoperable digital tools
This improved method for exchanging data allows governments and organizations to:
- Share certificates, permits, and other operational data securely
- Streamline business processes to improve efficiency and reduce risk
- Provide trustworthy and transparent information to all interested parties
As B.C. works towards a cleaner, more resilient economy, it is important to make it easier and more efficient for the natural resource sector to share sustainability data.
Mines Act Permit
Major mines operators in British Columbia can now prove their permit status using their Mines Act Permit digital credential.
The Mines Act Permit, issued by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, regulates mining activity throughout the province.
Permit status must be confirmed in many business interactions and needs to be shared in a quick and secure way.
Verified in real-time, anyone the mine operator shares the Mines Act Permit digital credential with can be confident the information is current and correct, without having to confirm with the Government of B.C.
Towards Sustainable Mining
Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) is a responsible mining standard managed by the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) with multi-stakeholder oversight provided by a national community-of-interest panel that recognizes environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance.
The TSM program measures mining companies against 9 protocols, including commitment to biodiversity, water stewardship, and health and safety. Participating mines must report their progress annually.
Through collaboration with Energy & Mines Digital Trust, MAC is exploring the opportunity for mining operators to submit their TSM scores using digital credentials, fulfilling their membership requirements while putting verified data in the hands of mining operators.
Mines can continue to use digital credentials to share their permit and ESG performance to anyone who asks, including customers and investors.
Driving progress for the Government of British Columbia
When adopted at scale, digital trust technology can drive progress on the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation’s strategic priorities.
- Regulatory transparency: Greater transparency and trust in permitting processes demonstrates B.C.’s commitment to continuous improvement and strong regulatory oversight
- Data-driven decision making: Digital credentials streamline access to trustworthy information and enable the efficient and secure exchange of ESG data
- Sustainable and competitive mining sector: The timely and secure exchange of mines’ sustainability data supports progress towards provincial sustainability goals and reflects B.C.’s commitment to high ESG standards
By fostering a digital trust ecosystem founded on emerging technology, Energy & Mines Digital Trust advances British Columbia’s goal to be a world leader in mining and energy innovation.
Mines Act Permit and Towards Sustainable Mining demonstration
In this demonstration, a British Columbia mining company, Hudbay Minerals Inc., receives two digital credentials: Mines Act Permit and Towards Sustainable Mining. Using these credentials, Hudbay Minerals Inc. can prove their permit status and their commitment to environmental, social, and governance performance, increasing trust in global supply chains.
EMDT at COP27
EMDT shared their work with climate leaders at the UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub and the Digital Innovation and DigitalArt4Climate Pavilion at COP27.
The recordings of these sessions are available to watch on the United Nations Climate Change Events YouTube channel.
What people are saying about Energy & Mines Digital Trust
“B.C.’s Energy & Mines Digital Trust project is capturing the world’s attention. With digital credentials they’re improving trust, transparency and efficiency in the mining sector, demonstrating where and how products were produced with just a few clicks. Last month saw the launch of digital credentials for major B.C. mine operators, and they also launched a joint project with the United Nations earlier this year on improving supply chain traceability and sustainability. The Global markets are increasingly prioritizing sustainable goods, and B.C., through digital credentials, can prove commitment towards those goals. It’s a real success story.”
– C.J. Ritchie, Associate Deputy Minister & Government Chief Information Officer, Ministry of Citizens’ Services
“MAC is enthusiastic about the potential for the EMDT program to help make high quality sustainability data, like that provided by the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) initiative, more mobile and accessible. This will help to more effectively demonstrate that Canadian critical minerals are produced responsibly. When combined with required regulatory digital records, including BC Mines Act permits, which were also part of the pilot, these secure digital records provide even more evidence to demonstrate the value of doing business with responsible Canadian mines.”
– Ben Chalmers, Senior Vice President, Mining Association of Canada
“To enhance the security and facilitation of international trade, The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has successfully completed real-time, standards-based testing to exchange supply chain data with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. By adopting this technology in the mining sector, the government of British Columbia is facilitating greater collaboration and transparency at the very beginning of the supply chain – the extraction of raw materials.”
– Vincent Annunziato, Director, Business Transformation & Innovation Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
“British Columbia Government’s efforts to embed trust and security in data exchanged along critical raw material supply chains using government-issued digital credentials will increase transparency in a key sector for the green economy transition. Learnings from the Energy & Mines Digital Trust are directly informing recommendations being developed by the UN/CEFACT Critical Raw Material Traceability & Sustainability Project. This will contribute to aligning extractive industries’ practice with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”
– Elisabeth Türk, Director, Economic Cooperation and Trade at United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
Learn more in the official announcement.
Program contacts
Nancy Norris
Senior Director – ESG and Digital Trust
Nancy.Norris@gov.bc.ca
Kyle Robinson
Senior Strategic Advisor – BC Digital Trust
kyle.robinson@briartech.ca
Energy & Mines Digital Trust is funded by the Strategic Investment Fund in partnership with the Government of B.C. and TELUS.