Quebec has selected Troilus Mining’s (TSX: TLG; US-OTC: CHXMF) namesake gold-copper project for a new service aimed at cutting mine permitting delays.
Quebec launched Filon on June 2 for advanced mining projects. Each selected developer receives a government expert to guide it through approvals, connect it with ministries and identify delays. The province said the service would speed the process without weakening mining oversight.
“We welcome initiatives that improve collaboration across government while maintaining a rigorous and transparent permitting process, and we appreciate the Government of Quebec’s continued commitment to advancing the responsible development of strategic mining projects in Quebec,” CEO Justin Reid said in a Monday release.
Troilus plans to revive the former open-pit mine about 500 km northwest of Quebec City. A 2024 feasibility study outlined average annual payable production of 244,600 oz. gold, 17.3 million lb. copper and 446,700 oz. silver over 22 years.
Permit push
Permits remain the project’s main hurdle after Troilus secured 70 megawatts of power and advanced engineering and financing. Filon gives the company a dedicated provincial contact to flag bottlenecks and co-ordinate agencies, but it does not replace environmental review or guarantee approval.
The program forms part of Quebec’s push to develop mines and critical mineral supply chains faster. The province has shortened one environmental review process to nine months from 13 to 18 months, created a $2.5-billion (US$1.8 billion) critical minerals fund and earmarked $500 million to help Indigenous communities invest in projects.
Mine plan
Inmet Mining operated Troilus from 1996 to 2010, producing more than 2 million oz. gold and nearly 70,000 tonnes copper. The proposed restart would mine two former pits and two new ones and process as much as 50,000 tonnes of ore a day.
The feasibility study put initial spending at US$1.07 billion. It forecast average annual payable output of 244,600 oz. gold, 17.3 million lb. copper and 446,700 oz. silver. The study estimated a US$884.5-million after-tax net present value at a 5% discount rate and a 14% internal rate of return.
Probable reserves total 380 million tonnes grading 0.49 gram gold per tonne, 0.058% copper and 1 gram silver per tonne. The estimate contains 6.02 million oz. gold, 484 million lb. copper and 12.2 million oz. silver.
Approval path
Troilus submitted its environmental and social impact study to federal and provincial regulators in June last year. The federal public comment period closed Aug. 17, and the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada said it was using the submissions to draft its assessment report.
Troilus expects final decisions by year-end.
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