The Role of Aggregates in Society with Libby Pritchard

A Rock and A Hard Place

Join us on this episode as we speak to Libby Pritchard, the Occupational Health, Safety and Sustainability Director for the National Stone, Sand, and Gravel Association (NSSGA). In this episode we will discuss the role of aggregates (stone, sand, and gravel) in society and how they will literally "pave" the way for the infrastructure necessary to facilitate the energy transition. Whether it is the roads that you will drive your electric vehicle on, the construction materials for the smart cities of tomorrow, or the grit in your toothpaste, aggregates are an essential part of the mining industry.
Libby emphasizes that aggregates have a very unique role given their predominance in the domestic extractive sector and their local community impact. Unlike metal operations, aggregates have to be mined locally as the economic costs to ship and transport become too expensive after 30-50 miles from the mine. This puts aggregate operations as key local players in helping inform the public about the role of mining in society and reducing NIMBY domestically.