B.C. approves $3B Red Chris copper-gold mine expansion to boost critical minerals

British Columbia has approved a multi-billion-dollar expansion of the Red Chris copper and gold mine, marking a key regulatory step for Newmont Corp. to make a final investment decision later this year. The approval advances the province's critical mineral strategy, as copper is considered a critical mineral largely exported from B.C. to Asia.

The expansion, estimated to cost about $3 billion, will allow the existing open-pit mine to transition to underground mining using the block-cave method. The project is expected to extend the life of the mine by more than a decade and increase Canada’s annual copper production by more than 15 per cent.

The approval followed a joint assessment process with the Tahltan Central Government under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which allows for joint decision-making between the province and First Nations. The same process also saw B.C. and Tahltan approve the reopening of the Eskay Creek mine in January.

“The Red Chris Block Cave project represents a compelling long-term opportunity and (the) approvals mark a significant milestone in stage-gating, as Newmont progresses toward a final investment decision later this year,” said Newmont’s president and CEO. “With significant mineral endowment, availability of clean hydroelectric power, port access, supportive governments, and strong Indigenous economic leadership, northwest British Columbia is emerging as a world-class mining district.”

The mine, located about 18 kilometres southeast of Iskut in northwestern B.C., is majority owned and operated by Newmont, which holds a 70 per cent interest, with Imperial Metals Corp. owning the other 30 per cent.

The project is on the provincial and federal governments’ fast-track lists, meant to boost production of critical minerals needed for the technology and clean energy sectors. It is one of several B.C. projects referred to the federal Major Projects Office for potential fast-tracking.

“The approval of the Red Chris Block Cave Project, developed in partnership with the Tahltan Nation, the province, and Newmont, the world’s largest gold producer, shows that meaningful Indigenous involvement creates certainty, strengthens projects and delivers benefits that are shared by all British Columbians,” said the president of the Tahltan Central Government.

The expansion is expected to create about 1,800 construction jobs at its peak and sustain the existing 370 mine jobs until at least 2040, while increasing ore processing to 15 million tonnes a year from 11 million. The province said it will employ about 800 workers during operations, with a peak of approximately 1,500 workers during construction.

The B.C. government has also conditionally promised $44 million for upgrades on a power transmission line to the Red Chris mine and another $195 million for roads in northwest B.C. that would help support the mine.

The approval is the seventh major B.C. mine or mine extension permitted in the last 18 months. Other projects on the fast-track list include the Mount Milligan and Highland Valley Copper mine expansions.

One major mine extension not on the fast-track list is the Fording River metallurgical coal mine in southeastern B.C. The $1-billion mine life extension project has faced regulatory delays due to environmental concerns over impacts to water and fish and local First Nation opposition. Metallurgical coal is used to make steel and has been designated a critical material by the EU.

B.C. metallurgical coal exports were worth $8.6 billion in 2024—almost as much as lumber and copper combined (about $4.4 billion each). The four Elk Valley mines directly employ 5,500 workers, and the Fording River mine alone sustains 1,500 jobs directly and generates $1.2 billion annually in economic activity.

Without the Fording River expansion, production would need to ramp down, with production and jobs cut in half by the early 2030s. The proposed mine life extension would give the operation another 35 years of production.