BQE Water Inc has announced the renewal of the operations services agreement with Glencore Canada Corporation for water treatment at the Raglan nickel mine in Nunavik, Quebec.

BQE provides services in the Nunavik region in a joint venture with Nuvumiut Developments, an Inuit community-based organisation.

Under the terms of the multi-year agreement with an option to extend, the joint venture is responsible for clean water production for environmental discharge and meeting effluent quality that ensures the health of the pristine aquatic environment in the region.

BQE has operated at Raglan for 21 consecutive years, uninterrupted even by the pandemic. Several of the treatment systems operated by the joint venture were originally designed and supplied by BQE while others were supplied by third parties. The scope of services under the new agreement remains unchanged from previous years, the company says.

David Kratochvil, President & CEO of BQE Water, said: “We are extremely proud to have earned the trust and the opportunity to continue working with Glencore as a long-term partner. As one of the global leaders in mining, Glencore has very high standards in health and safety and environmental protection. I attribute the contract renewal to our ability to meet these standards while continuing to innovate and improve our service year after year.”

Johnny Alaku, President of Qaqqalik Landholding Corporation and a member of the board for Nuvumiut Developments, said: “As Landholding Corporations of Salluit and Kangisujuaq, our goal is to protect the environment and our wildlife for generations to come while supporting and generating opportunities for our communities. BQE’s track record at Raglan and their commitment to openness, fairness, and stewardship over water makes our partnership the right vehicle to achieve our goals.”