MARATHON — A planned mine near Marathon has received provincial and federal approvals of its environmental assessment proposals.
Both levels of government on Wednesday announced their approvals for Generation Mining's Marathon Palladium Copper Project, which is located 10 kilometres from the town.
The approval came after a joint review panel process that started last year.
The company said the project involves the construction, operation, decommissioning, and remediation of three open pits to produce copper concentrate, consisting primarily of copper, palladium and platinum. It also includes an onsite ore processing facility, a mine rock storage area, and a water management system.
This is a great day for Generation Mining Shareholders and critical minerals production in Canada. These government decisions validate the work done to date to develop the Marathon Project as a sustainable, environmentally sensitive, low-cost producer of critical metals that are needed to support emissions controls and the transition to a greener economy," company president Jamie Levy said in a statement.
"The receipt of the Decision Statement and Approval Order, respectively, are significant milestones as we advance the Marathon Project into production. This provides much needed certainty about the future and development of this strategic asset.”
A provincial news release said the construction of the mine site is expected to take between 18 months and two years, involving more than 900 workers. The mine is expected to have an operating workforce of 375 people.
Last month, the company agreed to a community benefits agreement with Biigtigong Nishnaabeg, a neighbouring First Nation. Marathon municipal leaders have publicly supported the project.
Marathon Mayor Rick Dumas said he was pleased with the approval, and it was a great day for the town and the region.
"This is huge for the community, the community, the whole region," he said. "There are going to be suppliers for equipment and machinery. All the maintenance stuff, the service sector — this is about the stability of our communities.
"This is now going to bring that stability for our children and future economic growth for our communities."
The open pit palladium and copper mine is expected to have a 13-year lifespan. During that time, it's expected to produce 1,905,000 ounces of palladium, 467 million pounds of copper, 537,000 ounces of platinum, 151,000 ounces of gold and 2,823,000 ounces of silver in payable metals.
