A statement from Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office says potential mine cleanup and critical minerals work could be underway in the Yukon, but the company named in the release says it is still evaluating its options and the territorial government reports no activity.
The June 17 release listed the Yukon among regions where Dutch firm Liminal By WMC and U.S.‑based Regeneration Enterprises intend to collaborate on critical minerals recovery and mine‑site restoration.
Regeneration’s managing director and chief projects officer, Michael McPhie, said the Yukon reference in the release reflects Regeneration’s ongoing interest and evaluation work in the territory rather than a confirmed project. He told the News the company is currently reviewing legacy mine sites in the Yukon, but has not yet selected any specific site to advance into development.
McPhie noted that Regeneration has worked in recent years on small placer‑mine cleanup efforts in the Yukon and Alaska, recovering gold from historic sites in partnership with a jewellery company that markets it under the “Salmon Gold” label. He said those projects illustrate the kind of mine‑cleanup and metals‑recovery work the company aims to expand.
Despite that history, McPhie said there is currently no direct connection between Liminal’s battery‑metals business and any project in the Yukon. He emphasized that the territory’s mention in the G7‑related news release should not be taken as confirmation that Regeneration and Liminal are actively advancing a Yukon project.
“Dutch company Liminal By WMC will partner with U.S. company Regeneration Enterprises Inc. on critical minerals recovery and restoration projects in New Brunswick, British Columbia, and the Yukon,” according to a line in the June 17 G7‑related news release from Carney’s office.
Regeneration’s current portfolio includes a legacy mine cleanup project with cobalt in British Columbia and early evaluations of additional sites in New Brunswick, while Yukon prospects remain at the initial review stage, McPhie said. Any future work in the territory would need to align with the company’s restoration‑plus‑recovery model and meet both economic and environmental requirements.
Large abandoned sites such as the Faro mine illustrate the scale of potential cleanup work in the territory, McPhie said. He added that some projects may be too big for Regeneration to take on at its current capacity, while smaller legacy sites could be more realistic candidates if owners and governments are interested in pursuing partnerships.
“There are others that are smaller, that are maybe ones that we could work on, and so that’s kind of what we’re doing right now, is trying to understand where we could really add value to advance a project in partnership,” McPhie said.
Regeneration has not yet held formal discussions with the Yukon government. Most conversations so far have been with federal officials and private operators, with territorial engagement expected to begin in the coming months.
Yukon government press secretary Tim Kucharuk said the Department of Energy, Mines and Resources reports no active work by either Liminal or Regeneration in the territory. He said both the minerals and abandoned‑mines branches confirm the companies have no projects underway.
Natural Resources Canada spokesperson Rachel MacDonald provided similar clarification when asked about the G7 announcement. The department said the memorandum of understanding between Liminal and Regeneration is intended to evaluate potential critical minerals opportunities across Canada, including copper, zinc and lead prospects in the Yukon.
MacDonald said the agreement covers early‑stage activities such as financing discussions, engineering assessments and technical planning. The department added that any company‑specific details should be obtained directly from Liminal or Regeneration.
MacDonald also said the federal government is supporting early‑stage critical minerals planning in the Yukon through funding and regulatory coordination, but noted Natural Resources Canada is not involved in project planning or preliminary work with the two companies in the territory.
The department highlighted the Yukon’s potential for minerals such as cobalt, nickel, tungsten and zinc, along with gold and silver, and framed the Liminal–Regeneration partnership as part of a strategy to diversify supply chains.
A clearer picture of Regeneration’s involvement in potential Yukon projects is expected by the fall, McPhie said. Any initiative would hinge on community support, regulatory pathways and whether a site fits Regeneration’s investment criteria.
For now, the territory’s role in the partnership remains a future possibility rather than a confirmed project.
Contact Jake Howarth at jake.howarth@yukon-news.com
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