New Brunswick premier says feasibility study for Sisson Mine on track

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt says the feasibility study for the Sisson Mine is on track.

New Brunswick Premier Susan Holt isn’t certain there’s a way to “speed up” the Sisson Mine project, but says she’s open to see it happen as long as all the environmental impact assessment conditions are met.

Holt says she met with Northcliff Resources CEO Andrew Ing while in Toronto for the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada mining convention. Northcliff Resources is the company behind the Sisson Mine, a tungsten and molybdenum mine that’s been in the works for well over a decade but was stalled by low market prices and investment.

In the fall, the mine was designated by Prime Minister Mark Carney as a possible nation-building project.

Holt has touted the mine as having one of the largest tungsten deposits in the world.

“We’re looking for ways… to see if there’s ways that we could speed up the benefits to New Brunswickers. But I can’t tell you right now that they’re guaranteed. We are going to look for every opportunity to see that economic impact,” she said via a virtual interview.

Holt says the timeline remains similar to what was presented in the fall.

The mine is undergoing an updated feasibility study that is supposed to be complete by end of June or early July.

“And then they’ll be able to move into the work that I think a lot of New Brunswickers are waiting for. And that’s tackling those conditions as laid out in both their agreements with First Nations and our environmental impact assessment,” she said. “The plan from sort of mid-2026 through to mid-2027 is to get that engineering design done and get those conditions met and do the work on those.”

She expects that will take about a year.

The company’s final investment decision is slated for mid to late 2027.

It’s a highly anticipated project for some, including Holt. She’s made it clear the supply chain, royalties, local employment and boost for surrounding communities could have a big impact on the province.

Others remain concerned about the long-term environmental impact the mine could have on the watershed.

In January, the Nashwaak Rural Community council said in a statement it’s concerned about the area’s “disproportionate share of consequences” should the mine’s proposed tailings management facility fail.

“Until these issues are addressed, Council believes it would be premature to express support for a project of this scale and potential impact,” the release reads.

The province’s Green Party Leader David Coon says there are solutions.

“We should not be willing to sacrifice entire watersheds for a mining operation. Clearly, that’s not necessary. Dry storage technology for mining tailings is available. It’s done on land. Poses no risk to the water. Very straightforward,” he said.

Holt released a mining strategy while in Toronto. The industry declined between 2010 and 2021 after the closures of a few mines, like Brunswick zinc mine near Bathurst and the Picadilly potash mine near Sussex.

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