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British Columbia clears Vitreo’s Angus silica sand mine
The environmental assessment certificate allows the $300 million project to produce up to 2 million tonnes of silica sand annually for about 20 years, with construction jobs and operational roles tied to local and First Nations employment.
Mining.com reports that the Province of British Columbia has issued an environmental assessment certificate to Vitreo Minerals for its proposed $300 million Angus silica sand mine north of Prince George.
The Environmental Assessment Office concluded the project would not cause significant adverse effects if mitigation measures and conditions are applied, while also determining it would deliver economic benefits through jobs, business activity, and government revenue.
Silica sand, used as proppant in hydraulic fracturing for crude oil and natural gas, would be produced locally to supply material that is currently imported from the US. The mine is expected to provide a local source for a mine life of about 20 years and produce as much as 2 million tonnes of silica sand annually.
The assessment process began in July 2023 and took less than three years, with participating Indigenous Nations including Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, McLeod Lake Indian Band, Tsay Keh Dene Nation, and West Moberly First Nations. Under the certificate, the project must be substantially started by 2036, and the operation could generate about 150 jobs during construction and nearly 140 jobs during operations, supporting local and First Nations employment and training.
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