Exploration and development company Sabina Gold and Silver has completed “tremendous” work this year at its proposed Goose mine on the Back River gold project, in Nunavut, CEO Bruce McLeod said on Tuesday.
He reported that Sabina had advanced the underground exploration ramp at Umwelt, completed critical civils works at the Goose site and prepared the port facility to receive the biggest sealift planned to date.
The company has also completed detailed engineering and received issued for construction drawings for the process plant.
“Tremendous work has been completed during the first nine months of 2021 as we propel the project towards a production decision,” McLeod said, adding that Sabina continued to work towards project financing for a production decision.
According to the Back River feasibility study, the project would require an estimated C$610-million for a mine that would produce 223 000 oz/y over 15 years.
Sabina said it aimed to have all equipment in place by the end of 2021 in preparation for a decision to start constructing a winter ice road, working from both the Goose and port sites and that it would aim to have its openpit mining fleet available to begin work in the second quarter of 2022.