Ledcor Chair

Dr. Haneef Mian understands the complexity of balancing Alberta’s oil sands development with the need to safeguard the environment. As NAIT’s first applied research chair, he can rely on his experience in the environmental consulting industry and as a member of Alberta’s energy regulator the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB). The Ledcor Group Applied Research Chair in Oil Sands Environmental Sustainability, a role Haneef assumed last fall, is part of NAIT’s Green Chemistry and Engineering (GCE) Partnership.

Haneef is  working with the oil sands industry to address environmental challenges in the areas of tailings and water management. Under his leadership, NAIT’s technical staff is fully focused on developing breakthrough solutions that demonstrate environmental responsibility, cost-effective oil sands development, and cleaner energy production.  He and his team also work alongside industry to validate and enhance existing technologies. Their work helps companies address critical business needs while allowing Ledcor and NAIT to forge new ground in applied research.

“It is Ledcor’s expectation that the Applied Research Chair at NAIT and the work that they conduct will help identify practices and processes that are of material benefit to the industry and can be applied to enhance and improve operations in the oil sands,” says Don Breen, President, Ledcor Industrial Group.

Haneef concedes that moving toward a more sustainable model for developing and managing the oil sands will not be easy, but his industry knowledge and experience lead him to believe tremendous progress is being made. He looks forward to working with others in the area of tailings and water management, and is committed to providing practical solutions to oil sands operators and their suppliers.

If your organization is interested in these areas, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Haneef Mian at haneefm@nait.ca.