Canada
Goldex is an underground mine just outside Val-d’Or, Quebec. It started production in 2008 with an estimated mine life of 10 years, but new zones are being developed for another eight years of production at about 118,000 ounces of gold per year. The Deep 1 project achieved commercial production on 1 July 2017. Goldex is unique because of its partnership with the Quebec government in the restoration of the nearby abandoned Manitou mine tailings site. The tailings from the Goldex mine are sent through a 25km long pipeline to the Manitou site where they neutralize the acidic waters in the area, the result of years of poorly confined tailings generated between 1942 and 1979. Not only do the Goldex tailings neutralize and help rehabilitate the site, the system eliminates the need for a tailings pond at the Goldex site itself. Agnico Eagle acquired the Akasaba West gold-copper deposit in 2014. Less than 30km from Goldex, the deposit could create flexibility and synergies for the company's operations in the Abitibi region by using extra milling capacity at both Goldex and LaRonde, while reducing overall unit costs. The public hearing process has been completed at Akasaba West, and permitting activities are expected to continue through early 2018. Mining is expected to begin on the project in 2020. The Lapa underground mine is also located in the Abitibi region of northwestern Quebec, just 11km east of LaRonde and 49km west of the Goldex property. One of Agnico Eagle’s smallest but highest grade mines, Lapa has gold grades almost twice as rich as the company’s average, but
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has now reached the end of its mine life. The LaRonde mine has assumed responsibilities for the management and administration of the Lapa mine, and progressive transfers of Agnico Eagle personnel from Lapa are underway throughout the company. Ore from the LaRonde Zone 5 development project will be treated at the Lapa circuit, which will become available after the closure. Another mine reaching the end of its life is Meadowbank, which Agnico Eagle acquired in 2007 with the purchase of Cumberland Resources. The Meadowbank open-pit gold mine in the Kivalliq region of Nunavut – approximately 300 km west of Hudson Bay and 110 km by road north of Baker Lake – is Agnico Eagle’s first Low Arctic mine. The mine became the company’s largest gold producer, achieving commercial production in March 2010 and producing its two millionth ounce of gold in 2015. Agnico Eagle has approved the Amaruq satellite deposit at Meadowbank for development pending the receipt of the required permits, which are currently expected to be received in the third quarter of 2018. Production at Amaruq is forecast to begin in the third quarter of 2019. The company is exploring options to extend production at Meadowbank into 2019 to bridge any gap between its closure and the commencement of production at Amaruq. The Meliadine mine development, also in Nunavut, has one of Agnico Eagle’s largest mineral resources with reserve grades more than three times the company average. After receipt of the final permit in May 2016, the company approved construction of the Meliadine project in February 2017. Operations are expected to begin in the third quarter of 2019.