Agnico Opens 2nd Nunavut Gold Mine
Rankin Inlet, NU – Agnico Eagle Mines officially achieved commercial production at its new Meliadine mine near hear in the late spring of this year. The Meliadine project was acquired in July 2010 and is Agnico Eagle’s largest gold deposit in terms of mineral resources. The Company owns 100 per cent of the 111,358-hectare property. In February 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the construction of the Meliadine project.
“Congratulations to all of our employees at Meliadine for achieving commercial production ahead of the original schedule and below the initial capital budget. We would also like to thank the various government agencies and the local communities for their support of the project and our efforts in Nunavut,” said Sean Boyd, Agnico Eagle’s CEO. ”With Meliadine ramping up production over the balance of the year and Amaruq on schedule to achieve commercial production in the third quarter of 2019, the Company is well positioned to achieve its gold production target of 1.75 million ounces for 2019.” More than 1,000 people attended the community celebration for the Meliadine Mine opening, including special guests: Joe Savikataaq, Premier of Nunavut; Aluki Kotierk, President of Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.; David Ningeongan, KIA President; Deputy Mayor of Rankin Inlet Harry Towtongie; and many community elders. Agnico Eagle’s Board of Directors, President Ammar Al-Joundi, Meliadine Mine General Manager Martin Plante and CEO Boyd also participated in the festivities. At the celebration Agnico Eagle announced $1 million in funding for three community-priority projects lead by two organizations that will create a lasting legacy for Nunavummiut. “We could not have achieved this milestone without your support. It is through your insight and inclusiveness that we have accomplished so much,” says Jim Nasso, Chair of Agnico Eagle’s Board of Directors. “Together, we are growing and sharing the wealth that your communities hold in abundance and we are creating opportunities for the next generation of Inuit to determine their own future.”
Nasso announced Agnico Eagle will help fund the following initiatives:
1) A contribution of $250,000 toward the Rankin Inlet Fire Department’s New Regional Fire Training Centre. The Fire Training Centre will allow firefighters to train for actual emergencies in a safe, real time environment. Firefighters from Rankin Inlet, from communities across the Kivalliq Region and Nunavut, as well as from Agnico Eagle’s own Meliadine Emergency Response Team, will be able to train for real life fire and rescue situations.
2) A contribution of $250,000 toward the Ilitaqsiniq – Nunavut Literacy Council’s purchase of a building in Rankin Inlet to serve as its permanent headquarters for Kivalliq. With this home base, the Literacy Council will be able to regularly offer literacy training programs to Nunavut adults, youth and community members.
3) A contribution of $500,000 over the next five years to help the Ilitaqsiniq – Nunavut Literacy Council promote and advance adult and youth literacy skills across the territory. Such training programs are often life-changing and are key to growing Nunavut’s literacy rates.
