TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Canadian project developer Fortune Minerals on Friday said it had chosen consulting engineering firm Hatch to conduct the detailed engineering and design of the Nico gold/cobalt/bismuth/copper mine and concentrator, in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

TSX-listed Fortune in July received the Tlicho and Canadian governments’ approval for the mine and mill, after authorities accepted the Mackenzie Valley Review Board's environmental assessment and reasons-for-decision report, and recommended approval. This allowed the $441-million project to proceed to the regulatory-approvals phase with the Wek'èezhìi Land and Water Board and other parties to develop the water licence and land use permits.

The company said Hatch would provide detailed design engineering services for the Nico project, including the overall coordination of engineering for the openpit mine, the underground mine, ore handling and storage, the processing plant and facilities, concentrate production, storage and loading, the tailings storage, site support structures, water and power supply, camp facilities and all civil road and drainage designs needed to start construction.

Fortune stated that the selected Hatch team was well known for designing and construction of mineral beneficiation process plants and supporting infrastructure, particularly in remote and cold climate regions, such as the Arctic regions of Canada.

Hatch also had a demonstrated history of working with and for Aboriginal communities, providing support to include communities and building capacity through engagement, employment and on-the-job training and by facilitating Aboriginal businesses to participate in large projects.

Further, Fortune said it continued to pursue project financing agreements with Deloitte Corporate Finance.

Fortune in June announced a strategic C$11.7-million investment by full-service mining contractor Procon Resources, which would be applied towards progressing the Nico project, and discussions were ongoing with several parties interested in participating in the development.

"Our effort with Procon to complete project financing arrangements is progressing and the selection of Hatch demonstrates the continued momentum the company has towards developing the project," Fortune VP of operations and COO Mike Romaniuk said in a statement.

Meanwhile, Fortune said it had filed the final environmental-impact study (EIS) for its Saskatchewan metals processing plant with the Saskatchewan Environmental Assessment Branch (SEAB).

The EIS and associated documentation had been posted for public comment over a 60-day period that started on October 5, which would be followed by the SEAB's recommendation to the Saskatchewan Environment Minister.

Fortune had also submitted updated permit applications for the mine to the Wek'èezhìi Land and Water Board on October 11, along with several management plans that would aid reviewers in developing the water licence and land use permit.

Fortune in September voluntarily ended its summer field programme in the Klappan region of British Columbia to help the provincial and Tahltan First Nation governments resolve issues around the Arctos anthracite mine project, which it aims to develop concurrently with the Nico project.