Agnico Eagle Mines (AEM) reached a milestone on Nov. 12, when the Meliadine gold mine near Rankin Inlet poured its two millionth ounce of gold.
The mine started production in 2019.
Meliadine general manager Jean-Claude Blais said it's so far, so good at Meliadine.
He said the overall mining plan has not changed that much at Meliadine since it first went into production.
“Obviously, there was Covid to deal with but, in terms of mining and where we are at, the geological potential is still there,” said Blais.
“So, yes, it's, pretty much, what we expected.
“We're facing some challenges. For example, with the caribou migration, which has evolved through the years. The caribou are coming sooner and sooner every summer and that's a challenge.
“And they stay around the area for longer and longer. But, overall, there have been no major surprises in terms of mining.”
The current workforce at Meliadine stands at more than 1,600 employees, with about 14 per cent of that number being Inuit. The mine is slated to continue operations until 2032.
Blais said currently, that's what is economically feasible to mine at Meliadine.
He said AEM still needs to obtain permits to reach 2032, however.
“We're still working to get some of the permits and then, obviously, we're doing a big push on exploration to try and add a few more years to the operation.”
The underground portion at Meliadine produces a far-higher percentage of gold than the open-pit operation at the site, accounting for a total of 80 to 85 per cent of the ounces being mined.
Blais said AEM's biggest risk at Meliadine resides with the saline water.
He said that's always been the biggest risk for the operation.
“As we mine underground, there's an old sea that is trapped in the rock. And, as we excavate underground, we encounter some inflows from that old sea. So, this is super saline water and, as long as we cannot treat that water and discharge it into Hudson Bay, we face a major water inflow that could potentially stop the operation.
“To me, that's the biggest risk I see in the short- or medium-term.
“It's like an old sea that is trapped in the rock. We are building a waterline, which is kind of a pipeline between the site to Hudson Bay. So, when that waterline is completed, and when we have the treatment to make sure that we are compliant to discharge the water into the ocean, then we should be in a much better position.”
The employment numbers may still increase a bit moving forward, but the operation is mostly stable from now on, Blais noted.
He said AEM is working hard to increase the Nunavummiut quotient in the workforce, but that's a constant challenge AEM faces at Meliadine.
“We did our official two-millionth ounce gold pour earlier this month on Nov. 12 and we invited some local stakeholders; some members from the Kivalliq Inuit Association, the hamlet, the (Kaniqliniq) Hunters and Trappers Organization and some of our local business partners to join us for that event to make it quite special.
“The mood was very good and we really appreciated them coming here and having this moment together with us.”
