Glencore confirms it will close Kidd Creek Mine at the end of 2026

Reaction to Kidd Creek Mine announcement Lydia Chubak has reaction to news that the world’s deepest base metals mine in Timmins will close for good at the end of 2026.

A spokesperson for Glencore Canada said Tuesday the company will close its Kidd Creek Mine near Timmins at the end of December 2026.

Alexis Segal, head of communications for Glencore Canada, told CTV News the decision comes after a 2021 study found there was no way to extend the life of the mine.

“It’s already the deepest base metal mine in the world,” Segal said.

There was no way to safely and economically mine deeper, forcing Glencore to close.

The decision will affect about 600 employees, he said.

“We are conscious of the impact his decision will have on our employees,” Segal added.

Their focus now, he said, is only helping workers prepare for the transition and find new roles.

A reclamation plan for the site is still being developed. It will employ a few dozen people, along with trucking and other contractors.

The Kidd Mine operates at 9,800 feet underground, with the shaft bottom at 9,889 feet. It produces an average of 40,000 tonnes of copper and 70,000 of zinc annually.

Glencore and its predecessors have been mining the Kidd Creek copper/zinc deposits since 1966. It transitioned from an open pit to an underground mine in 1972 and has gone through several expansions since then, the latest in 2021.

A feasibility study launched that year concluded mining below 9,900 feet wasn’t economically viable.