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Beyond Board: How Nova Scotia can Add Value to its Gypsum Resources

Beyond Board: How Nova Scotia can Add Value to its Gypsum Resources. Kent Ward – Gypsum Consulting Services Inc. In cooperation with Innogyps Inc. About GCSI and Myself. Based in Halifax Honors BSc in Applied Chemistry from Guelph 13 years in the gypsum Industry

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Beyond Board: How Nova Scotia can Add Value to its Gypsum Resources

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  1. Beyond Board:How Nova Scotia can Add Value to its Gypsum Resources Kent Ward – Gypsum Consulting Services Inc. In cooperation with Innogyps Inc.

  2. About GCSI and Myself • Based in Halifax • Honors BSc in Applied Chemistry from Guelph • 13 years in the gypsum Industry • North America, Europe, Middle East & Asia • Support for – business start-ups, operational improvement, product and process development, people development

  3. About Innogyps & Bob Bruce • Based in Hamilton, ON • PhD in Sulphur Chemistry • 35 years in the gypsum industry world wide • Global Leader in gypsum technology and business development

  4. The problem!

  5. The Effect! • Gypsum production drop at an alarming rate • Operations reduce/suspend production • Impact: • Direct and indirect employment dropping • Royalty / tax revenue dropping • Future business development is being stifled

  6. But….Gypsum is growing globally • Demographics • Growing middle class • Affordability • Standard of housing • Credit availability • Global standards • Renovation Why?

  7. The opportunity! • The gypsum industry is growing globally at a rate faster than population or GDP • Growth is driven by market demand • Growth is constrained by access to expertise, low cost energy and usable gypsum • Nova Scotia is in a good position to lead this business development globally

  8. The Action • MRB initiates strategy session (Feb 2012) • Re-examine the future of gypsum industry in NS • Participants are MRB, ERDT, NS Ag, Producers/Users, GCSI and Innogyps

  9. The Outcome • Conviction to develop a long-term, sustainable gypsum industry over 5 – 10 years • Develop value-added gypsum businesses in NS capable to export products to the rest of the world • Move from selling rocks to selling products/expertise

  10. Potential Businesses • Agricultural Soil Additives • Gypsum Based Absorbents (oil absorbents and pet litter) • Architectural Products (floor screeds, plasters, decorative products) • Ground Control Applications (slope stability, erosion control, subsidence prevention)

  11. Applications of Gypsum in Agriculture Research has demonstrated that gypsum has the potential to significantly improve crop yields and quality by addressing several issues that face the agriculture industry. Soil Acidity The high content of Ca2+ in gypsum buffers the pH of the soil Alkali Soil The high content of Ca2+ in gypsum can increase the cation exchange capacity, reducing high salt levels in the soil Exchangeable Aluminum & Magnesium Toxicity Gypsum provides SO42- to neutralize Al3+ and Mg2+ (along with other toxic substances)

  12. Applications of Gypsum in Agriculture Soil Structure Reduced run-off and erosion by clay flocculation Infiltration & Saturation Facilitates active transport pathways Nutrient Availability Ca2+ and S are fundamental for positive crop growth

  13. Effect on Soil Structure Without Gypsum With Gypsum Reference - Norton, 2008

  14. Remediation of Sodic Soils Gypsum 26t/ac No Treatment Reference - Xu, 2006

  15. Gypsum TreatmentT/acre Yieldlb/10 ft row Skin Ca% July 2005 0 2 40 48 0.46 0.67 August 2005 0 2 28 34 0.56 0.71 Improved Yield (Tomato) Reference - Summer & Larrimore, 2006

  16. Improved Shelf Life Cantaloupe stored for 4 weeks @ 40 ⁰F No Gypsum Gypsum 1100 lbs./ac Reference - Summer & Larrimore, 2006

  17. Potential Market Ag Gyp Producers

  18. Competition Closest competing locations are: • West of Mississippi in USA • Southern Ontario in Canada • Spain, Morocco • FGD Gypsum – Hazardous ??? – EPA • Phosphogypsum – radioactive • Nova Scotia is lowest cost natural product!

  19. Gypsum Calcining The price of conventional gypsum can range from $5-10/ton Gypsum calcining can significantly raise the value of gypsum products.

  20. Absorbents • High value-added products • Natural • Calcined gypsum is naturally absorbent and clumps • Can engineer to maximize absorbency • Can control density (light weight products) • Can modify surface for specific applications (carriers) • Use alone or blend with existing products

  21. Absorbents

  22. Employees - 856

  23. Architectural Applications • Gypsum plasters, gypsum cements, decorative stone • High value-added products • Natural Fire resistant • Breathable and regulate humidity in interior applications • Can formulate to impart desirable properties • Moldable (can produce intricate designs)

  24. Floor Screed (Gypsum Cement) • 25% to 40% lighter than concrete based products • Better fire resistance • Nuetral pH • Quick cure (can build the next day) • Can incorporate NS aggregate

  25. Decorative Applications Decorative Stone Plaster Castings

  26. Ground Control Applications • Erosion control/slope stabilty • Ease of application • Sets to form crust/stays where you put it/steep slopes • Can blend in seed/nutrients/absorbents • Improves drainage of soil • Subsidence prevention (fill underground voids) • Pumpable • Control set time to ensure even distribution in void

  27. Ground Control Applications Hydroseeding Subsidence

  28. The Nova Scotia Advantage

  29. Extensive High Quality Gypsum Reserves

  30. Low Cost Energy

  31. Educated, Talented Workforce

  32. Transportation

  33. Government & Industry Partners

  34. Benefits to Nova Scotia Note: 75K/yr. Jobs based on 50% labour content of GDP value

  35. Jobs are: • Mining • Mineral processing, manufacturing, Quality, Development • Trucking • Packaging, Design • Marketing, Advertising, Selling, Field Support • Export, Dock workers, Marine shipping • Maintenance, Personnel, Finance, Legal • Multiplier effect jobs in NS economy

  36. Path Forward • Develop Agricultural Gypsum and Absorbents Businesses • 3 Stage proposal to government to take these forward.

  37. Stage I – Market Study • $100K to develop detailed 5 year business plans • Stakeholder participation • Existing producers • Existing businesses • Industry associations • Research institutions

  38. Stage II - Demonstration • Business Financed (express interest) • Demonstration and test market development • Set up operating businesses

  39. Stage III - Gypsum Centre of Excellence • Support & promote gypsum use worldwide. • Develop new applications. • Develop intellectual and human capacity in NS to support and expand the gypsum industry. • Make NS the leader in gypsum technology and expertise.

  40. Future (6 Months) • Market studies and business plans complete • Clear picture of investment required to move forward • Interested business partners • Initial steps to establish The Gypsum Centre of Excellence

  41. Nova Scotia Why Not Here!

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