B.C. announced on Wed., Jan. 21, that it has given final permitting approval for the expansion of the Mt. Milligan copper and gold mine in northern B.C.
The open-pit mine, north of Fort St. James and west of Mackenzie, began operation in 2014. These permits allow Centerra to expand the mine’s ore-production rate from 60,000 tonnes per day to 66,500 tonnes per day, and extend operations through 2035. The old permits expire in 2028.
This permitting process took 10 months. Paul Tomory, president Centerra Gold Inc., the mine’s owner, said the “rapidity” of this process gave the company the “confidence” to release a preliminary economic assessment on the prospect of reopening the Kemess mine. Kemess is a similarly-sized mine north of Mt. Milligan, which closed in 2011.
“We are here after 10 months of one of the most efficient permitting processes that I’ve ever been involved with in my career,” Tomory said in a press conference in Prince George alongside B.C. officials. “I’ve operated all across the world, across the United States, and Canada.”
This expansion supports 574 current jobs and includes projected capital spending of as much as $400 million.
Premier David Eby highlighted the speed at which this process was completed. He called it “remarkable” and said this 10-month process used to take two years.
The Environmental Assessment Office approved the mine’s assessment certificate earlier this month. This final approval includes permits under the Mines Act and the Environmental Management Act.