American mining company Newmont Goldcorp have inaugurated their Borden gold project near Chapleau, Canada.
According to Newmont Goldcorp, Borden is Ontario’s ‘Mine of the future’ because of its digital mining technologies, low carbon-energy vehicles and modern health and safety controls. The mine is now permitted to operate and is expected to achieve commercial production in the fourth quarter of 2019.
As a reward for Borden’s investment into safe and sustainable mining, the Canadian and Ontario governments each provided the company with CAD$5 million for the electrification of the mine.
Newmont Goldcorp’s President Tom Palmer said: “Borden opens a new gold mining district in Ontario and profitably extends operations at the Porcupine complex near Timmins.”
“In addition, Borden’s electric underground fleet will eliminate diesel particulate matter from the underground environment and lower greenhouse gas emissions. This will help reduce energy costs, protect employee health and minimise impacts to the environment,” Palmer said.
Ore from the Borden mine will be processed at the existing mill at the Company’s Porcupine operation in Timmins, 180 kilometres to the east.
According to the company at 1,000 square kilometres, the land package offers additional opportunities for exploration upside as the Borden deposit remains open at depth.
Borden has also signed partnership agreements with local First Nations, the indigenous peoples in Canada, some of which participated in the opening.
Among the participants were: Greg Rickford, Ontario’s Minister of Energy, Mines, Northern Development and Indigenous Affairs; Gilles Bisson, MPP for Timmins; Chief Keeter Corston, Chapleau Cree First Nation; Chief Anita Stephens, Chapleau Ojibwe First Nation; Chief Cheryl St. Denis, Brunswick House First Nation; Chief Pat Tangie, Michipicoten First Nation; Michael Levesque, Mayor of Chapleau; George Pirie, Mayor of Timmins; Todd White, Newmont Goldcorp’s Regional Senior Vice President for North America; and Marc Lauzier, General Manager, Porcupine and Borden Mines.
For the past six years, Newmont Goldcorp has built 11 mines and spread to four continents – North and South America, Australia and Africa. Some recent projects completed include Tanami Expansion in 2017, Northwest Exodus and Subika Underground in 2018, and the Tanami power project in 2019.