‘Technically competitors’: 2 Nunavut gold mining firms agree to share information

Two Nunavut gold producers are working together to improve their operations in the territory’s challenging environment.

“We are going to share knowledge on mining practices, processes and operations, environmental logistics, procurement, operational planning, health and safety, and environmental management,” said Clive Johnson, president and CEO of B2Gold Corp., in an interview Monday.

B2Gold and Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. signed the agreement Monday in Iqaluit on the first day of the Nunavut Mining Symposium, which ended Wednesday.

Both companies have gold mining operations around the world. In Nunavut, B2Gold operates the Goose Mine south of Cambridge Bay, and Agnico Eagle runs the Meadowbank Mine, located 110 kilometres from Baker Lake and the Meliadine Mine near Rankin Inlet.

Combined, the two companies employ about 4,500 people in Nunavut.

Johnson said it isn’t unusual for firms that are “technically competitors” to collaborate in this way.

Once a project’s boundaries are defined and the mines built, they aren’t really competitors anymore. Rather, he said, “Each one’s cheering on the other’s success. You want to have successful mines.”

“There aren’t too many industry secrets, and you can learn a lot from each other,” Johnson said. “They’ve [Agnico] been here a lot longer than us, so we’re excited about that.”

The pair of companies intends to share information and work together on community programs.

“I think it’s a great development for Nunavut,” Johnson said.