“One in every of our major focuses is getting a greater understanding of groundwater and capturing that water, if essential,” she stated. “We’re additionally taking a look at the place water storage ponds may be constructed, and lining up the required sources to do this.”
The report on the remediation effort’s progress comes two months much less a day since Victoria halted operations at Eagle after a failure in its heap leach pad brought about a landslide releasing hundreds of thousands of tonnes of ore and cyanide-containing answer. The Yukon authorities wasn’t glad with Victoria’s capability to comply with cleanup directives and appointed PwC the corporate’s receiver.
Simply days later, the Victoria board resigned and PwC dismissed CEO John McConnell from his place. Yukon stated it didn’t intend to drive the corporate out of enterprise and believes mining might ultimately restart on the website.
Victoria and PwC haven’t responded to requests for remark because the accident.
Assessing groundwater
Dowd stated the 5 groundwater wells are being arrange by contractor CoreGeo in areas at a protected distance from the slide, which stays unstable.
These wells are of specific significance as a result of they’ll assist decide the complete extent of attainable groundwater contamination, Lauren Haney, deputy minister for Yukon’s Division of Power, Mines and Assets (EMR), stated.
Representatives from Parsons, the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyak Dun (FNNND) and the Yukon authorities have additionally met to make sure correct water remedy strategies are in place. Eagle sits on the standard territory of the FNNND, which referred to as for an inquiry into the accident and a pause to mining actions on its territory. Premier Ranj Pillai has stated the federal government isn’t ready to halt mining however might pause some mining actions.
Different ongoing remediation duties this week and subsequent embody Pelly Building constructing a protecting berm and entry highway, and exploring protected areas for added storage of contaminated water, Dowd stated.
Key remediation
That work is considered essential over the following 80 to 90 days earlier than temperatures drop in Yukon. The work is roofed beneath a C$50 million cost by Yukon to PwC, with the bigger cleanup effort estimated to price C$100 million to C$150 million, in line with courtroom paperwork associated to the receivership.
Haney stated the federal government hasn’t drawn on the C$104 million surety bond that it holds with Victoria for remediation, although the choice continues to be there.
“That estimate of round C$104 million and the safety that we maintain for the venture was primarily based on the situations and legal responsibility of the location previous to the failure occasion.”
A timeline for remediation isn’t but identified, Dowd stated.
Yukon owes contractors about C$300,000 for remediation work at Eagle, the federal government advised The Northern Miner final week. Haney stated she didn’t but have up to date figures.
Unbiased evaluate
Phrases of reference for the unbiased probe into the accident have been finalized and despatched to the FNNND for his or her evaluate and suggestions, EMR minister John Streicker stated.
“The goal of the evaluate will likely be to get to the center of what occurred at Victoria Gold’s mine website on June 24, to forestall it from occurring once more, and to make use of these insights to enhance our regulatory and licensing practices,” he stated.
Potential board members have been recognized and their names are anticipated to be introduced subsequent week.
Victoria’s monetary standing
Victoria has made no public statements in regards to the firm’s actions or monetary standing since its most up-to-date information launch in regards to the receivership on Aug. 14.
Haney stated that PwC should report data usually to the courtroom together with Victoria’s monetary state of affairs.
In a uncommon interview with media because the accident, McConnell advised CBC final month the corporate was sound financially for no less than 4 to 6 months, however would seemingly want financing after that. The corporate held C$232.5 million in debt as of March 31, in line with its first-quarter financials.
Requested if Yukon was contemplating working with PwC to convey again Eagle at a future date, Haney stated the main target now’s solely on remediation that doesn’t preclude a restart of the mine.