Major Drilling leaned into the mineral exploration upturn in 2021 with key news emerging from its teams around the globe. Branches achieved new safety records in Canada and the Philippines. The company’s environmental, social and governance initiatives continued to progress with a first-ever Sustainability Report on the horizon for early 2022. Another year of successful mining partnerships increased drill bookings and worldwide staff that now exceeds 3,500.
“Major Drilling’s future is looking bright as we continue to partner with our customers and communities to discover minerals for building a better future,” Denis Larocque, Major Drilling President and CEO, said. To mark the accomplishments of an extraordinary year, enjoy five of Major Drilling’s top stories from 2021.
1. Drilling in Their Blood
Employees are the vital force of Major Drilling. Every June, Canada and U.S. divisions celebrate Father’s Day. A recent tradition of featuring fathers and sons highlights those who are creating a legacy with Major Drilling.
In 2021, the spotlight shined on Surface Operations Manager Shaun Fleming, his father, Larry, and Shaun’s son Eric. Their family’s drilling days began in 1955 with Shaun’s grandfather, Chet, in Idaho, USA. He started a family legacy in drilling that proves how the industry can support those who choose drilling as their lifetime careers.
From left to right, Eric Fleming, Shaun Fleming and Larry Fleming hold photographs during a meet-up at the Fleming Family Ranch in Swan Valley, Idaho, USA. The photos are of Shaun’s maternal grandfather, Chet Baker, who established their family legacy of career drilling.
Now with nearly 40 years in the drilling business, with 25 of those years at Major Drilling, Shaun knows that drilling was his destiny. “When drilling is in your blood, it feeds the drive to succeed,” he said. Read the full story of “Four Generations of Drillers with a Major Connection” here.
2. Supplying Success for Resolution Copper
To the south of the Fleming family, success also came to USA teams at the Resolution Copper Project in Superior, Arizona. The developing copper miner commended Major Drilling for its work on a vast geotechnical characterization drilling program. It also named Major Drilling America as 2020 Supplier of the Year.
Major Drilling’s contribution is helping Resolution become one of the largest undeveloped copper projects in the world, with prospects to be one of the largest copper producers in North America. Discover more about Resolution Copper and Major Drilling’s work together here.
Major Drilling underground staff are part of the larger Major Drilling team named Resolution Copper’s “Best Supplier of the Year” in 2020. Photo credit: Resolution Copper
Resolution Copper staff presents Major Drilling operations and safety teams with the Supplier of the Year Award. From left to right: Adam Schwarz, Kartik Vommi, and Jamie White of Resolution Copper; Nguyen Do, Norbert Baumann, and Richard Sichling of Major Drilling; Scott Stilgenbauer and Bryan Seppala of Resolution Copper.
3. New Building, New Opportunities in Canada
Quality relationships with partners in Canada have an even stronger foundation through a new 29,000-square-foot operations head office building in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The facility houses an enlarged maintenance shop, parts warehouse, and administrative offices with an adjacent eight-acre storage yard. In line with mining industry’s focus on the environment and sustainability, Major Drilling chose to include electric car charging stations and energy efficient designs in the facility.
The new building adds to the already strong and established framework of Major Drilling branches and shops throughout Canada including locations in Flin Flon, Sudbury, Rouyn, Timmins and Yellowknife. It also increases capacity for clients across Canada such as Foran Mining, Nighthawk Gold Corp., and Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.
In December, Canadian teams celebrated a significant safety milestone of operating a phenomenal 7.5 million hours without a lost time incident. This accomplishment echoed a landmark safety record by the Philippines Branch which observed a substantial 1.4 million hours LTI-free the month prior.
Learn more about Major Drilling Canada’s head office and staff here.
4. G ‘Day and Welcome to McKay Drilling
On June 1, 2021, Major Drilling began a new chapter of Australian drilling through its acquisition of McKay Drilling, a leading specialized drilling company based in Perth. The purchase brings 20 innovative, late-model rigs to the Major Drilling fleet, now totaling well over 600 drills, and the addition of more than 200 McKay Drilling employees.
Canada teams are proud to achieve 7.5 million LTI-free hours in 2021.
Major Drilling Philippines teams celebrate 1.4+ million hours LTI-free.
McKay Drilling prides itself on “setting the standard” in drilling services in Western Australia. It strives to be the drilling provider of choice for several top-tier mining companies including BHP, RioTinto and Newcrest. Specializing in diamond and RC drilling, services complement specialized drilling provided in the Australasia region and other global Major Drilling branches.
Dig deeper into Major Drilling’s return down under here.
McKay Drilling teams are diamond and RC drilling experts headquartered in Perth, Australia.
5. A Sustainable Path Through ESG
Since establishing a formal ESG Policy in June 2020, Major Drilling continues to make strides on its path toward sustainability. As the worldwide leader in specialized drilling, and as a top expert in mineral exploration and mine services, Major Drilling is committed to continuously monitor and improve operations, seek to minimize environmental impact and bring positive contributions to communities.
Several ESG areas of progress are consolidated as a series called “Our ESG Stories” as explained by Major Drilling directors, executives and staff. Topics include:
- Leading With Integrity
- Workforce Diversity
- Charting a Sustainable Path
- Corporate Stewardship
- Team and Community Safety
- Strengthening Communities
- Positive Work Environment
- A Proactive and Ethical Workplace
- Reducing GHG Emissions
- Giving Back
- Maintaining Superior Reporting Standards
- Prioritizing Worker Safety
View all of Our ESG Stories here.
In May, Major Drilling submitted its third greenhouse gas emissions report to the CDP. In June, the Board of Directors adopted a free-standing Human Rights Policy. The company is also actively implementing the Onyen software system used to report sustainability practices. It is anticipated that Major Drilling will produce its first sustainability report in early 2022.
Major Drilling is committed to lead on ESG in the mineral drilling industry and carry out business through following the highest standards of business ethics and social behavior. As signed by Chair of the Board of Directors, David B. Tennant, the policy states, “It is through adhering to this policy that we will become a better and more sustainable company and corporate citizen.”
Learn more about Major Drilling’s ESG path to sustainability here.
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