Published: July 18, 2024 |

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Heralded as a win for First Nations residents and the mining industry in Northern British Columbia, the federal and provincial governments are investing $142.6 million (C$195 million) to upgrade highway infrastructure in the critical minerals-enriched Golden Triangle.

“The Northwest BC Highway Corridor Improvements Project will benefit a critical mineral region and First Nations partners,” said B.C. Minister of Transportation Pablo Rodriguez.

“It will also improve transportation safety, reliability and access to essential services, and reinforce our government’s commitment to a net-zero future,” added Rodriguez.

Financed through the Critical Minerals Infrastructure Fund, a flagship program under the Canadian Critical Minerals Strategy, this highway improvement project is expected to support the development and operation of several Golden Triangle mining projects rich in copper, molybdenum, zinc, nickel, and cobalt.

The federal government is covering $54.9 million (C$75 million) of the costs, with the balance of the project being funded by B.C.‘s Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure.

“B.C. has the critical minerals the world needs to build a clean economy,” said B.C. Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation Josie Osborne.

“We are seizing the generational opportunity before us to create jobs, not only in northwest B.C., but also in communities across the province that supply and provide services to our mining sector,” added Osborne.

CRITICAL MINERALS RICH GOLDEN TRIANGLE

The Golden Triangle covers a large swath of northwestern British Columbia that lies deep enough into mining’s frontier that the value of its world-class deposits of copper, gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, and other metals has not been fully realized, yet is still reached by industrial-grade hydropower, roads, and Pacific Rim ports needed to unlock its vast mineral potential.

Roughly 75 percent of Canada’s total copper reserves are found within the Golden Triangle, yet Newmont’s Red Chris Mine is the only operation in the region that is currently producing this metal critical to the clean energy transition.

The largest and most advanced of the mine projects hosting the undeveloped copper reserves in Northern B.C. is Seabridge Gold’s KSM mine project.

KSM hosts 54.5 billion pounds of copper and 153.9 million ounces of gold in all resource categories.

A mid-2022 prefeasibility study detailed plans for developing an open pit mining operation at KSM capable of producing more than 178 million lb of copper, 4.2 million lb of molybdenum, 1 million oz of gold, and 3 million oz of silver annually for 33 years.

While this would be a world-class mine in its own right, the study does not consider deeper resources with the potential to support an underground mine capable of producing another 14.3 billion lb of copper, 13.8 million lb of molybdenum, 14.3 million oz of gold, and 68.2 million oz of silver over 39 years.

Another large portion of the copper reserves in the Golden Triangle is found at Galore Creek, a mine project being advanced by a joint venture between Newmont and Teck Resources Ltd.

A prefeasibility study completed in 2011 envisioned a mine at Galore Creek producing 6.2 million lb of copper, 4 million oz of gold, and 65.8 million oz of silver over an 18-year span.

Galore Creek Mining Corp., which is the JV equally owned by Newmont and Teck, is working on an updated prefeasibility study slated for finalization this year.

Turnagain, a Golden Triangle mine project being advanced by a joint venture between Giga Metals and Mitsubishi, hosts approximately 12.3 billion lb of nickel and 743 million lb of cobalt needed for lithium-ion batteries powering electric vehicles and storing renewable energy.

Developing the more prospective and advanced Golden Triangle mine project has the potential to create up to an estimated 3,000 jobs, spur roughly $14.6 billion (C$20 billion) in capital investments, generate more than $329 million (C$450 million) in annual mineral taxes, and create substantial revenue-sharing and economic opportunities for local First Nations.

“Investment into the Northwest Region has a direct correlation to the good work being carried out by Nations to ensure that regional economic stability is great for all Canadians,” said Nisga’a Nation President Eva Clayton.

“We see the importance of the critical minerals investments like this supporting safer access to industry and long-term economic growth of our people. Moreover, it provides for safe journeys for the Nisga’a Nation, our neighboring nations and guests to our respective territories,” added Clayton.

The road infrastructure improvements are considered crucial to allowing for increased industrial traffic linked to mining activity and will generate well-defined, long-term benefits for First Nations and local communities in the region, including enhanced safety, reliability, and accessibility of essential services.

SOPHISTICATED FIRST NATIONS

The permitting and development of mines in the Golden Triangle hinges on gaining support from the sophisticated and well-organized First Nations of northwestern B.C.

The Tahltan Nation, whose homeland covers 70 percent of the Golden Triangle, has been supportive of mineral exploration and mining in this mineral-rich region as long as its sovereignty is recognized and the values of its people are respected.

“Mining is a part of our culture and economy. For thousands of years, Tahltans prospected, mined and traded obsidian,” said Beverly Slater, president, Tahltan Central Government.

“While we recognize the need for critical minerals for a low-carbon future, this can only happen with the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous Peoples; therefore, the pace and scale of mining in our Territory will be determined by the Tahltan Nation,” added Slater.

The traditional territory of Nisga’a Nation, Tahltan’s neighbor to the south, covers most of the rest of the Golden Triangle.

These First Nations have individually and together been proactive in ensuring that any mining carried out in the Golden Triangle region maximizes the benefits for their people while at the same time protecting the environment and their cultural heritage.

One of the latest examples of this was the formation of Nations Royalty, the first Indigenous-owned mineral royalty company. Nisga’a Nation was instrumental in the creation of Nations Royalty and deposited royalties it held on five Golden Triangle projects into the newly formed company.

“With guidance from renowned mining entrepreneur, Frank Giustra, our ambition is to grow Nations Royalty into one of the top global royalty companies,” said Eva Clayton.

Under the Tahltan-Mining Industry Working Group, leaders from the Tahltan Nation and select mining companies operating in Tahltan Territory (Galore Creek Mining, Newmont, Seabridge, and Skeena Resources) have been advocating for road upgrades to improve safer community and commercial travel through the Golden Triangle.

“Today’s landmark announcement is a testament to the leadership of the Tahltan Nation and demonstrates the incredible outcomes that occur when Indigenous people and industry work together toward a shared vision for the future,” the group said in response to the $142.6 million (C$195 million) road upgrade announcement.

Source: Mining News North of 60

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