The minority owner of the Ajax mine project near Kamloops says the project is not dead, with plans to re-engage with project stakeholders.

Abacus Mining owns 20 per cent of the project, while Polish mining giant KGHM Polska Miedz controls the other 80 per cent.

In a news release, Abacus COO Paul Anderson says the project remains a priority for both companies.

“The Ajax Project underwent a joint provincial and federal environmental review starting in 2011, which culminated in the decision by the B.C. Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy and the Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources to decline to issue an environmental assessment certificate for the Project in December of 2017,” Anderson said.

“Despite this setback, KGHM in consultation with Abacus has continued to work to advance the project, including evaluating various strategies geared toward potentially resubmitting the environmental application.”

In denying the project an environmental certificate, the B.C. Government cited the negative impacts the mine would have on air quality and local ecosystems.

“This process is being undertaken with a view to satisfying new provincial and federal environmental regulations which are now, or are about to be in effect, which include advance reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples,” Anderson added.

In June of last year, the federal government also rejected the proposed mine saying the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects.

The 1,700-hectare open pit copper and gold mine would have operated for about 23 years, providing 1,800 jobs during construction and 500 during operation, according to KGHM.