20 years ‘conservative’ estimate for remaining life of Raglan Mine: VP

Businesspeople, politicians, Inuit representatives and others were on hand at Raglan Mine in Nunavik this week for the official opening of its new US$300-million extension, Anuri Mine.

The project is 10 years in the making and could keep Raglan operational for another two decades, according to company officials.

Raglan Mine, owned by Glencore Canada and located between Kangiqsujuaq and Salluit, produces 40,000 tons of nickel per year. About 1,400 people work there, according to the Glencore website.

Although the grand opening was held Tuesday, Anuri started producing nickel in January.

Raglan Mine’s director of projects, strategy and exploration Jean-François Verret speaks to Glencore executives at the Anuri Mine opening event Tuesday. (Photo by Cedric Gallant)

Roughly only 18 per cent of Raglan’s property — which measures 70 kilometres by 10 kilometres — has been explored in-depth, said Raglan Mine vice-president Pierre Barrette during a charter flight to the event.

“If we extrapolate,” he said, “we can come to the conclusion that there are a lot more opportunities, growth and longevity. Twenty years is a conservative estimate.”

Barrette compared the area, which has some of the highest reported nickel content in the world, to a field of potatoes waiting to be dug up.

Nickel mining is dominated by Indonesia and China, and “many nickel mines in the West today are not profitable,” he said.

“Because of [Raglan’s high mineral] content, we are still in good posture and comfortable.”

Quebec’s Natural Resources Minister Maïté Blanchette Vézina attended the opening and said minerals extracted from this mine contribute not only to the energy demands of the province, but for the entirety of North America.

“It shows that it is doable to open projects far away from urban centres,” she said. “All the whilst including local communities and helping entrepreneurship.”

Provincial Indigenous Relations Minister Ian Lafrenière said he is touched by the relationship between Inuit and Raglan.

Raglan Mine vice-president Pierre Barrette speaks with Glencore representatives at the Kattiniq-Donaldson Airport in Nunavik Tuesday. (Photo by Cedric Gallant)

“To see the quality of the relationships, you can be told how they are, you can read them on paper, but if you’re not there you can’t live it. Today, we lived it,” Lafrenière said.

Inuit companies that took part in constructing Anuri Mine include Kiewit Nuvumiut, Arngak Promec, Nunavik Construction – Moreau, Redpath Nuvumiut and Rouiller Avataa.

Raglan contributes $457 million to Quebec’s gross domestic product and $175 million to Inuit entrepreneurs, according to a news release from the mine.