The owners of the proposed Ajax mine say they are ready “to devote more attention” to the project south of Kamloops.
In a statement Thursday morning, minority owner Abacus Mining and Exploration say they discuss the project in regular meetings with majority owner, Polish mining giant KGHM. They believe that the mine site has 2.7 billion pounds of copper, 2.6 million ounces of gold, and 5.3 million ounces of silver.
“I am pleased that the Ajax project remains a priority for our partner and that they continue to engage about the project with First Nations,” Abacus President and CEO, Paul Anderson, said in the statement.
“With copper and gold prices near all-time highs we would be happy to see this project advance more quickly, to the benefit of all stakeholders.”
Abacus owns a 20 per cent stake in the mine, while KGHM owns the other 80 per cent. In 2020, the Polish company opened a new Kamloops office, and hired a project superintendent, Michael Wypych.
The controversial Ajax mine project was rejected by both the provincial and federal government, after a joint environmental assessment process that began in 2011.
In 2017, Kamloops City Council also voiced its opposition to the mine, citing its proximity to houses in Aberdeen. Area First Nations are also opposed to it, as they consider the land around nearby Jacko Lake, which they call Pipsell, to be a sacred site.
“It’s very concerning with the approval of that new development up in Aberdeen,” Kamloops Councillor, Denis Walsh told NL News in 2020. “Plus 43 per cent of our growth is projected for the Aberdeen area.”
Ajax was mined in the late 1980’s by Teck as part of their Afton operation. Abacus acquired the project from Teck and advanced it until 2010, when KGHM got involved.
Anderson says the Ajax mine site last underwent a feasibility study in 2016, which revealed the potential to mine 65,000 tonnes a day over an 18-year mine life.