Canadian company Arca Climate Technologies has signed a 10-year agreement that gives it the exclusive right to assess the carbon removal potential of the ultramafic waste rock and mine tailings at the Turnagain Nickel Project.
Positioned in British Columbia, the Turnagain project is the focal point of a collaboration between Arca, Giga Metals Corporation, and the Mitsubishi Corporation.
In 2022, the Canadian government identified nickel as a critical mineral, and Paul Needham, CEO of Arca, points out that the Turnagain site stands out as one of the largest undeveloped nickel resources in Canada.
According to his estimates, by deploying technology at this location, Arca will create a lifetime potential to remove up to 220 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Founded on research from Dr. Greg Dipple at the University of British Columbia, Arca excels in a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approach that leverages pre-existing infrastructure and alkaline waste to accelerate the natural process of CO2 mineralization.
By activating the minerals present in ultramafic rock, its technologies accelerate the carbon mineralization, which in turn converts atmospheric CO2 emissions into stable minerals in solid form.
Last year, the company secured a major deal with Microsoft, agreeing to deliver 300,000 tonnes of carbon removal over the coming decade.
Through the Turnagain project operations, where critical mineral development will be paired with permanent carbon dioxide removal, CEO Needham is confident that Arca and Giga Metals will succeed in demonstrating a new mining paradigm with enhanced project economics and broader societal benefit.
Relevant: Microsoft Purchases Nearly 300,000 Tonnes Of Durable CDR From Arca
Giga Metals CEO Scott Lendrum notes that the two companies have been working together on carbon sequestration for more than 10 years, stating,
“We are pleased to formalize our arrangement and to allow both companies to focus on what they do best: produce nickel concentrate with high ESG credentials and maximize the permanent sequestration of carbon dioxide by converting mine waste into reactive sequestration minerals.”
“Working with Arca allows us to evaluate emerging technologies that could enhance the environmental and economic performance of the Turnagain Project while supporting innovation in the mining sector.”
Read more: Arca Carbon Removal Methodology Successfully Validated By DNV
