Historical logging and mining activity has left a legacy of roads, power and ports.
PORT HARDY – Will the North Island be getting another copper mine?
Northisle Copper & Gold Inc., based in Vancouver, is currently digging around to see if it’s possible to start a new mine in 2026 that could employ as many as 500 people, and around 1,000 construction workers in the pre-opening building stage.
NorthIsle has been conducting mineral exploration in the region since 2010, specifically northeast of Holberg and west of what was the former Island Copper mine area. If it goes ahead, it would be an open pit mine.
Studies indicate that with the Red Dog and Hushamu ore deposit areas, a mine could be economically feasible for at least 22 years.
Besides exploration activities, mine officials have been meeting with North Island officials, and their work thus far has been authorized under the process laid out by the Mines Act Notice of Work. Copper is an increasingly valuable commodity on the world market, as it is used in numerous in-demand electrical products, amongst other usages.
NorthIsle, which trades as NCX on the Toronto Stock Exchange, also closed a successful private fund placement in December of just under $2 million that will be used for development and exploration expenditures for the North Island project.