In Hudbay’s third quarter 2021 report their President Peter Kukielski noted the possible continued use of the local concentrator. He said the engineering work done to update the closure plan Hudbay has identified the opportunity to reprocess tailings at its Flin Flon Impoundment System where tailings from processing activities have been deposited for 90 years. He explained they’re excited about the opportunity as it would utilize the Flin Flon concentrator with modifications after closure of the Triple Seven Mine creating operating and economic benefits to the Flin Flon community. He added it could also provide the opportunity to redesign the closure plans, increase metal production, defer certain closure costs and reduce the environmental footprint of the tailings area.
More details will come next year following further evaluation and drilling.
Kukielski also reported as of September 30th on an undiscounted basis the total estimated environmental obligations related to their Flin Flon operations were 322 million dollars of which approximately 25 percent is expected to occur over the next 15 years in connection with the Flin Flon closure while 75 percent is scheduled to be incurred after the closure to the Snow Lake operations which is currently expected in 2037 based on reserves.
