Province okays 15-year mine extension for Logan Lake’s Highland Valley Copper

The provincial government says it has granted an environmental assessment certificate to Highland Valley Copper (HVC) for its proposed mine life extension project.

Environment Minister Tamara Davidson and Mining and Critical Minerals Minister Jagrup Brar announced the joint decision Tuesday (June 17), saying it comes after careful consideration.

Mine owner Teck Resources says the project will extend the mine’s life for another 15 years — from 2028 to 2043. The company predicts the extension will allow the mine to produce another two-million tonnes of copper.

Building out the mine extension will add 200 permanent jobs. Estimates of the construction impact are varied, with the province saying construction will add between 500 and 1,250 construction jobs, and the company’s website touting as many as 2,900 construction jobs. At present, HVC employs 1,320 people, many of whom live in nearby Logan Lake.

Support for the mine extension from First Nations in the area has been mixed. The Citxw Nlaka’pamux Assembly (CNA) — a joint organization formed in 2013 to manage agreements relating to the mine on behalf of Boston Bar First Nation and the Ashcroft, Coldwater, Cook’s Ferry, Nicomen, Nooaitch, Shackan and Siska Indian Bands — has written in support of the extension. Also expressing support were the Lower Nicola and Kanaka Bar Indian Bands.

The Stk’emlúpsemc te Secwépemc Nation (SSN), representing the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and the Skeetchestn First Nation, expressed opposition, saying it felt the ‘impacts of the proposed [extension] are neither reasonable nor sustainable.’ In addition to the SSN, the Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council (NNTC) — representing the Lytton, Skuppah, Boothroyd and Oregon Jack Creek First Nations — also requested dispute resolution with the Environment Assessment Office.

In making its decision, Ministers Davidson and Brar “acknowledged that while the HVC project itself would not have significant adverse impacts beyond those of the existing mine… the expansion would exacerbate the combined impacts from this and other projects in the region on water quantity and First Nations’ access to land and cultural practices.” To address those impacts, the government has imposed 17 conditions on the company in an effort to mitigate potential impacts.

Teck says the global demand for copper is forecast to double in the next 25 years. It notes copper is used in the production of items such as electric vehicles and smartphones.