What have been some of Arcadis' highlights over the last two years?

One of our major milestones has been completing large reclamation projects across four different sites, each ranging from US$25 million to US$50 million. Another significant milestone has been working with several major mining companies to upgrade their environmental management information systems, including the installation of software and training teams, enabling real-time compliance tracking and faster, data-driven decision-making across their operations. We have significantly strengthened our global tailings team by integrating our tailings engineers with our North American group and expanding our mineral processing engineers into a more international team. We have continued to develop an understanding of industry needs around critical minerals and as a company we have forged our leadership in this area. We see strong client interest in our geochemistry know-how, particularly in bench studies, pre-feasibility work, and financial cost estimates for reprocessing waste.

Why are companies hesitant to outsource tailings reprocessing for critical mineral extraction?

Some miners are handling this internally rather than outsourcing, while others prefer to partner with us to explore the possibilities, but it largely depends on the company's strategy and financial considerations. Some miners view their business strictly as producing copper, for instance, and do not want to reopen impoundments that they have already closed, having made significant investments and engineering efforts. On the other end of the spectrum, there are companies investing heavily in pilot projects to explore reprocessing waste. The key issue is the return on investment and whether they can invest, for example, US$30 million in CapEx for a reprocessing plant in a remote area. One study we conducted showed US$60 million worth of critical minerals in a legacy site in California, but the economics did not justify the cost of building a reprocessing plant. Over time, technology and digital innovation may reduce costs and shift the equation, but for now, it is a balance between strategy and financial feasibility. The opportunity landscape is shifting toward byproduct recovery (capturing critical minerals at an operating mill before they enter the waste stream) and Arcadis has shown strong capabilities to help clients with this option.

What is the scope of Arcadis's work in the Eastern US?

In the Southeastern states, there are exciting developments in quartz and clay mining for the semiconductor industry. In places like North Carolina and Florida, companies are learning how to improve the sustainability of these operations, especially in response to natural events such as hurricanes. In Arkansas and other states, lithium development is also emerging as an important sector. The US market is becoming more integrated across the supply chain, with hard rock mining in the West and industrial minerals in the East.

What key challenges do US miners face, and what overlooked solutions can Arcadis offer to support them?

Public acceptance and stakeholder engagement remain key challenges. Water is also a critical issue, especially in the Western and Southwestern US, although major mining companies are managing it effectively. 

One solution that many companies still underestimate is the value of implementing enterprise-wide environmental management information systems. Major companies have been investing in digital platforms to integrate real-time data across their operations even before the pandemic. However, some others, especially juniors, are often still working with spreadsheets, which limits their ability to respond quickly to changes and track KPIs consistently. 

Why is exchanging lessons between different jurisdictions important?

On the engineering front, we had a case where we were delivering water management projects for the same client in both Canada and Chile, and inconsistencies arose in the approaches being advised. Clients want greater consistency, and we have established internal mechanisms for our engineers and project leaders to exchange lessons learned internationally. This includes discussing successes as well as and challenges, which serve as valuable learning opportunities. 

What are Arcadis' priorities for the coming years?

Critical minerals will remain a central focus, supported by our global geochemistry team. We are also prioritizing helping companies understand financing and public-private partnerships to bring projects online. Sustainability will be another key pillar, not just in terms of carbon tracking, but embedded in design, engineering, and project delivery. For example, we are supporting clients in fuel-switching projects that reduce emissions while also integrating sustainability into the way those projects are built.