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Wyloo looks ahead to Ring of Fire development despite Indigenous resistance

March 6, 2024

Kristan Straub, CEO of Wyloo Metals Canada, earlier this week addressed business leaders in Thunder Bay, Ontario, where he updated his audience on the company’s plan for Ontario’s Ring of Fire properties and how engagement with First Nations is conducted.


Straub talked about the Eagle’s Nest high-grade nickel-copper-platinum group metals (PGM) project 500 km east of Thunder Bay. He is confident that a sustainable operation can be developed. A blasthole open stoping, 3,000-t/d underground mine is planned with annual output of 3.3 million lb.  nickel, plus 1.3 million lb. copper, 70,000 oz. palladium and 22,000 oz. platinum.


Mine planning is underway for an updated feasibility study next year. During this time environmental studies and permitting activities are underway. The current timeline calls for construction to begin in 2027 and production by the end of 2030.


There is, however, resistance to the project voiced by Indigenous leaders. The province considers there are nine First Nations to be within the Ring of Fire. Two of them – Webequie and Marten Falls – have signed memorandums of understanding with Wyloo and are leading the environmental assessment on a proposed road to the Ring of Fire. When the road is complete, it should open the area to more prospecting and additional mineral discoveries.


Ten of the First Nations from Treaty 9 have gathered under the banner of the Land Defence Alliance. They oppose mining on their territories, wanting to protect their lands and waters.


Wyloo has set itself up to be the one of the world’s leading pure-play nickel producers outside of Russia. The company won a bidding war in 2021 for the Canadian junior Noront Resources, renaming it Ring of Fire. Then in 2023 it acquired Mincor Resources, an Australian company, and last September combined all the assets under the Wyloo Metals name.


The Wyloo portfolio includes mines at Kambalda in Western Australia, the Eagle’s Nest development in Ontario, and prospects in the Cape-Smith belt in Quebec.





Source: https://www.mining.com/wyloo-looks-ahead-to-ring-of-fire-development-despite-indigenous-resistance/

Queensland breaks ground on CopperString

July 9, 2024
The Queensland Government has broken ground on the first construction works of the $5 billion CopperString project. Work commenced yesterday on the CopperString projects’ first and largest workforce accommodation site. The site will house those charged with building the project’s 840km high-voltage transmission line that will connect Mount Isa to the ‘SuperGrid’ for the first time. The workforce accommodation will house up to 550 construction workers at its peak. These workers will construct a nearby substation and progress early stages of the transmission line development heading west from Hughenden out to Mount Isa. Supercharging the state’s north-west aims to unlock Queensland’s $500 billion north-west minerals province. It’s expected CopperString will be complete in 2029, weather and construction conditions permitting. Queensland Premier Stephen Miles said CopperString is the biggest ever expansion to the state’s publicly owned energy system. “Queenslanders deserve cheaper, cleaner, more reliable energy – to power their homes, our schools, hospitals, shopping centres and more,” Miles said . “CopperString will be the catalyst for transforming Queensland’s north and north-west – opening up mining opportunities, creating more jobs and unlocking critical minerals which will be essential in developing renewable technologies. “This is the start of a long and exciting future for the region and our state.” Commencing later this month, project owner, Queensland Powerlink, will be offering free sessions for businesses along the CopperString corridor to build their capabilities. The program includes five workshops and one-on-one assistance to help businesses build confidence to bid on major projects and supply chain work in the region. “All of North Queensland understands the immense opportunities that CopperString presents for local jobs both directly and indirectly which is why this is such a momentous day,” Resources and Critical Minerals Minister Scott Stewart said.  “Critical minerals are the next big boom for the resources industry and the feedback I’ve had from companies is that this project is key to unlocking those opportunities.” Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/queensland-breaks-ground-on-copperstring/

Showcasing the best in underground mining

July 8, 2024
Underground mines are busy places, and it’s vital companies are on top of their processes to enable an efficient and safe underground operation. Whether it’s having the best equipment to drive higher production, maximise return on investment, minimise waste or keep workers out of harm’s way, mining companies benefit from understanding and investing in the right underground technologies. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/showcasing-the-best-in-underground-mining/

BHP goes green at ‘world’s largest’ copper mine

July 8, 2024
BHP has started environmental processing to have the transport at its Escondida copper mine in Chile transitioned to an electric trolley system. The Big Australian will invest around $US250 million ($371.6 million) in the project at Escondida, which it owns in a joint venture with Rio Tinto. The funds will go towards installing key infrastructure to electrically assist the movement of extraction trucks in areas where the highest fuel consumption currently takes place. BHP has submitted an environmental impact statement to the Environmental Impact Assessment System in Chile. “The electric trolley system is one of the initiatives with which we seek to move towards a safer and more sustainable way of operating hand in hand with technology,” BHP Escondida president Alejandro Tapia said . “This project will allow us to reduce the fuel consumption of our extraction trucks and thus advance our goal of net-zero operational greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.” The project includes the construction of a new electrical substation and transmission lines both inside and around the Escondida Norte pit. These facilities will electrically assist the movement of trucks inside the mine in the areas where they go up loaded with ore and, consequently, consume more fuel. With this new technology, instead of using diesel, they will be propelled by electrical power, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving productivity associated with truck performance given the higher travel speed. Once construction kicks off up to 160 jobs are expected to be created. The trolley project is in addition to other technological transformation initiatives that the company maintains in different stages of study and execution, including the progressive incorporation of autonomy in its mining equipment.  To date, Escondida has six autonomous trucks in full operation and by 2025 it expects to have the largest fleet of autonomous equipment in South America. Source: https://www.australianmining.com.au/bhp-goes-green-at-worlds-largest-copper-mine/
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