Tersa Earth is cleaning up B.C.'s mining industry

The demand for metals has skyrocketed to the point of a supply shortage over the past five years. Lithium, cobalt, nickel, and other rare earth materials are vital components of batteries and other cleantech, and the shortage has made it more difficult to build and afford items needed for an electrified future — where tech or processes rely on renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels.

“We can open more mines, but they’re facing huge issues [like] scarce water supplies and a declining concentration of metals,” Barinder Rasode, CEO of Tersa Earth Innovations, told the Vancouver Tech Journal. “More mines also means more acid rock drainage, a byproduct of mining that poses significant environmental impact, cost, tax, and liabilities.”

Tersa Earth’s microbial fuel cell (MFC) tech offers a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional metal extraction methods like electrowinning, an electrolytic process used for recovering materials. MFC uses microbial processes to reduce energy consumption and extract materials from acid rock drainage (ARD) and other solutions. The company says it provides many benefits in terms of liability reduction, ecosystem protection, and human health improvement.

“By effectively treating ARD and mine tailings, it mitigates the long-term environmental risks associated with these waste streams — which can devastate rivers, streams, and aquatic life for hundreds or even thousands of years,” said Rasode. “This reduction in environmental impact translates to decreased liability costs for mining companies, as the tech helps meet stringent remediation standards.”

Rasode added that Tersa Earth addresses the 217 billion cubic meters of ARD tailings worldwide that often endanger First Nations and low-income communities. 

“By detoxifying wastewater and neutralizing acid rock drainage, [our] tech helps preserve biodiversity and protect vulnerable ecosystems from the harmful effects of mining activities,” she said. “Furthermore, [MFC] contributes to improved human health outcomes by reducing the release of toxic metals and acidic compounds into water systems. This is particularly important for communities living near mining sites, who are often at risk of exposure to contaminated water sources.”

To drive its goals, the company is focused on accelerating the commercialization of its solution. At the same time, it aims to promote the long-term, sustainable economic benefits for the Wet’suwet’en First Nation (WFN) community. Tersa Earth will work towards both through its new collaboration with the Yinka Dene Economic Development Limited Partnership (YLP), the WFN’s corporate business arm. The deal involves working on projects together, including STEM education and training programs for youth.

In a press release, Tersa Earth shared: “This partnership will leverage the deep knowledge and expertise of the Wet’suwet’en in land stewardship and sustainable resource development, aligning with Tersa Earth’s mission to create eco-friendly solutions for the mining industry. The Wet’suwet’en territory, located west of Burns Lake in British Columbia's central interior, is rich in natural resources and cultural heritage.”

“The mission of the YLP is to pursue new opportunities to generate economic prosperity for the advancement of WFN,” said Reg Ogen, the president of the company. “Collaborating with Tersa Earth as they develop new solutions to reduce the environmental impact of mining operations will help us capture the economic benefits that come from the surrounding industry and offer new ways for our people to provide environmental stewardship over our lands.”

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