The OSTC represents a significant step forward in fostering innovation and collaboration on research and development related to tailings, reflecting the companies’ strong commitment to socially and environmentally responsible operations.
Member companies include: Total E&P Canada, Imperial Oil, Shell Canada, Syncrude Canada, Teck Resources, Suncor Energy, Canadian Natural Resources Limited.
Each company has pledged to:
- Share its existing tailings research and technology
- Remove all monetary and Intellectual property barriers to collaboration on future R&D
- Pool their resources and work together to create a strong foundation that will help lead to developments and improvements in tailings management
Current new technologies being tested across the OSTC companies include:
- Consolidated/composite & non-segregated tailings
- Water capped MFT
- Mature Fines Treatment and Drying
- Tailings thickening and Drying
- MFT Centrifugation and Drying
- CO2 enhance fines capture and clarification
- Froth Tailings Thickening and Drying
The OSTC’s membership brings together decades of experience and investment in tailings management. To date, our members have collectively invested over $400 million into tailings research leading to the development of many first-of-their-kind technologies. Building on this strong foundation of innovation, OSTC members have begun pooling resources and exploring avenues for collaboration.
Earlier this year, a working session was held where existing knowledge and technologies from each company were openly shared. From this session, several opportunities for collaboration were identified and a number of smaller working groups initiated to advance opportunities in key areas and plan new research pilots.
Member companies have dedicated $90 million to support tailings research conducted through the OSTC in 2011.
Download the OSTC Tailings Overview for more information:
Tailings Overview
(OSTC | PDF | 165 KB)