QUESNEL – With permits now in place, Barkerville Gold Mines Ltd. (BGM) is set to restart operations at its Bonanza Ledge mine site near Quesnel, creating around 90 jobs in the region.
“The restart of operations at Bonanza Ledge will provide well-paying jobs and an economic boost for families and communities in the Cariboo Region,” says Minister of Energy and Mines Bill Bennett. “Gold mining built this part of the province and, more than 150 years later, continues to support economic growth in this region.”
A Ministry of Energy and Mines statutory decision-maker has authorized BGM’s application to amend its Mines Act permit, allowing the company to start underground operations at the Bonanza Ledge gold mine site. The mine previously was an open pit operation from June 2014 to March 2015.
BGM estimates its operations at the Bonanza Ledge Underground Mine will produce approximately 54,000 ounces of gold over the mine’s initial three year mine life. Under the conditions of its amended Mines Act permit, BGM is authorized to produce up to 150,000 tonnes per year.
Ore from the Bonanza Ledge operations will be processed at BGM’s Quesnel River (QR) Mill located at the company’s QR Mine, 80 km east of the City of Quesnel.
“We are proud to take this first step towards rebuilding the gold mining industry in the historic Cariboo Gold District,” said president and CEO of BGM Chris Lodder. “We would like to express our sincere appreciation and recognize the people of Wells, the Lhtako Dene First Nation, the provincial agencies and all of our employees and contractors for their support and contributions throughout the permitting process.
“It is BGM’s commitment to explore, develop new projects, mine and reclaim old mines, in a responsible manner which achieves the lowest environmental impacts with the greatest socio-economic benefits.”
The mine is situated on the southwest flank of Barkerville Mountain, about three kilometres northwest of the Barkerville Historic Townsite.
