‘Technically competitors’: 2 Nunavut gold mining firms agree to share information
B2Gold CEO says companies have a lot to learn from each other
B2Gold Corp. CEO and president Clive Johnson says a new collaboration agreement signed with Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. will share information and work on community programs. (File photo by Arty Sarkisian)
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.
“Combined, the two companies employ about 4,500 people in Nunavut.“
How many of these are from Nunavut?
Based on their reporting from 2024 (which is all public and can be found easily) about 560 to 580 are Inuit.
The Raglan area mines in Quebec, Canadian Royalties, Glencore although near to each other and competitors would do well to do as the mines have started doing in the Nunavut Territory in sharing their knowledge. I am not sure it would be well received with the owners overseas however. Another thing to keep in mind is that AI will be used more and more to cut costs and reduce the number of employees and enrich the shareholders. It’s know as capitalism.