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WORD POWER

Weekly NewsTesla Looks to Canada for Nickel

Electric cars are seen as an environmentally friendly solution for travelling in

a vehicle. Unlike gas-powered cars, electric cars produce zero greenhouse gas emissions out of their tailpipe. In fact, electric cars don’t even have a tailpipe.

That doesn’t mean they are totally environmentally friendly. Some of the things that go into building an electric car can cause serious environmental problems. This includes nickel. Nickel is a key metal used in the production of electric batteries. It is expected that the need for nickel will increase as more electric car batteries are produced.

The problem is that nickel is mined, and mining uses a lot of power. If that power comes from fossil fuels like coal, diesel or natural gas, greenhouse gas emissions are created. Also, mining creates a mixture of mined rock, chemicals, and water, called tailings. Tailings can be toxic to

the environment if they aren’t disposed of properly.

Currently, much of the world’s nickel is being mined in Indonesia. Indonesia’s mining companies are planning to dump their tailings into the ocean. This is a major concern for environmentalists.

Elon Musk and Tesla are hoping for a cleaner source of nickel from Canada. It has been reported that Tesla is in talks with Canadian mining company Giga Metals. It is believed they are working on a deal to help Giga create an environmentally sustainable mine that produces carbon-neutral nickel.

Giga Metals is working to build a mine in British Columbia. It has said the mine would use clean hydropower to provide some of the power for the mine’s operations. The company is also exploring technology that would turn mining waste into a cement-type rock that would also be used to trap carbon dioxide so it isn’t released into the air.

The Giga Metals mine is estimated to hold 2.36 million

tonnes of nickel. That would be enough nickel to power thousands of electric vehicles.

At an event in July, Musk issued a public challenge to find low-carbon nickel. He said, “Tesla will give you a giant contract for a long period of time if you mine nickel efficiently and in an environmentally sensitive way.”

Nickel demand is forecast to grow by 30 percent by 2030—mostly as a result of increasing sales of electric vehicles.

Canada’s five-cent coin, the nickel, was made almost entirely from nickel metal starting in 1922. Today it is made from steel.

DID YOU KNOW?

CarboN NEuTraL: A process that uses or traps as much greenhouse gas emissions as it releases, so that, overall, there is no increase in global emissions.

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Tesla Looks to Canada for Nickel1. How are electric cars environmentally friendly? How aren’t they?

2. What is the problem with nickel?

3. Where does most nickel come from? Why is this a problem?

4. Describe the mine that Giga Metals is building.

5. How much nickel could come from this mine?

CrITICAl THINkING1. Do you think that building a new mine in British Columbia is a good idea? Explain your answer.

2. Why do companies do things like dump their tailings into the ocean? What can be done about it?

Weekly News Q & a

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Mining in CanadaCanada is a large landmass with many natural resources. Our country ranks in the top five producing countries for 13 major minerals and metals. We are:

• First in potash;• Second in uranium and niobium;• Third in nickel, cobalt, aluminum and platinum group metals; and• Fifth in gold and diamonds.

The table below shows which minerals and metals are mined in each province and territory.

ProVINCE / TErrITorY MINEraLS aND METaLSBritish Columbia Coal, aluminum, copper, gold, molybdenum, lead, zincAlberta CoalSaskatchewan Uranium, gold, potash, coalManitoba Nickel, cobalt, gold, zinc, copperOntario Gold, palladium, platinum, copper, zinc, diamonds, nickel, cobalt, silver, salt, Northwest Territories DiamondsNunavut Gold, ironQuebec Gold, copper, zinc, diamonds, silver, titanium, cobalt, platinum group metals,

niobium, ironNewfoundland and labrador Iron ore, nickel, copper, cobalt, goldNew Brunswick Zinc, leadPrince Edward Island Peat, sand, gravelNova Scotia Gypsum, gold, coalYukon Copper, gold, silver

1. Which minerals and metals are mined in Alberta?

2. Where are diamonds mined?

3. Which minerals and metals are mined in Nunavut?

4. Which minerals and metals are mined in Newfoundland and labrador?

5. Where is gold mined?

LEVEL 2 CLASSROOM READY WEEKLY NEWS • WEEK 2 • 2020/21

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Word PowerUsing the words listed below, fill in the blanks in the following sentences. All of the words have been used in the article.

1. It can be difficult to what the weather will be like as it can change.

2. Solar power is a source of electricity.

3. Paperclips, scissors, and scalpels are all items that are made of .

4. Some cars produce a lot of greenhouse gas .

5. Mom was looking for a way to the old clothes.

dispose of, efficiently, emissions, forecast, hydropower, sensitive, source, steel, sustainable, tailpipe, toxic, vehicle

Quiz1. Unlike gas-powered cars, electric cars produce a lot of greenhouse gas emissions out of their tailpipe.

True False

2. Nickel is a key metal used in the production of electric batteries.

True False

3. Mining creates a mixture of mined rock, chemicals, and water, called .

4. Giga Metals is working to build a mine in .

5. The Giga Metals mine is estimated to hold 2.36 million of nickel.