Precious metals miner Agnico Eagle Mines has inked a deal to provide wind power at its Hope Bay mine in the Nunavut’s Kitikmeot region in Canada. Under an MoU with Agnico, a consortium comprising Quebec-based Tugliq Energy Co. and Hiqiniq Energy Corp., a subsidiary of Inuity-owned economic development firm Kitikmeot Corp, will build and operate and a wind turbine project for Hope Bay.
The capacity of the turbine and the cost of the project have not been disclosed. However, all of Agnico’s mines at Nunavut run on diesel, and last year, increased production at these projects led to greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 578,156 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
“This collaboration will benefit both the company by reducing its greenhouse emissions and energy costs at Hope Bay, and the local community by developing local green-power capacity,” Agnico said in a statement.
Agnico has said current wind turbine models work well in Arctic conditions. Meanwhile, Tugliq Energy Co. already operates two three-megawatt wind turbines at Glencore’s Raglan mine in Nunavik.
Agnico acquired Hope Bay from TMAC Resources in February for C$226 million. A TMAC study previously recommended a hybrid project with an installed wind capacity ranging from 2 MW to 4.7 MW for Hope Bay.
The gold miner’s wind power initiative is in line with its plans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Source: Nunatsiaq News
Image of Hope Bay Property: Agnico Eagle