Teck Alaska pursues new mineral deposits Photos Courtesy Teck Alaska Red Dog Mine, one of the world’s largest zinc mines, has generated billions of dollars for Alaska Native corporations across the state.
revenue for the Northwest Arctic Borough. It also has generated billions of dollars for Alaska Native corpora- tions across the state since opening more than 30 years ago through the required sharing of NANA’s mineral profits required by the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Act. But the days for the Red Dog Mine itself are numbered: Running low on ore, the mine is set to close in 2031. Facing the prospect of di- minished revenue for the borough — which comes through yearly,
Dog Mine, to build roads and oth- er infrastructure to reach two new zinc prospects. It’s a significant step toward ex - tending mining in the region, which will shut down in 2031 unless those new deposits prove economic. With the federal Clean Water Act permit in hand, Teck Alaska now says it will move ahead quickly with ad- vanced exploration. The Red Dog Mine, one of the world’s largest zinc mines, is a ma - jor source of jobs in the region and accounts for more than 80% of the
Red Dog Mine operator gets OK for infrastructure For years, one of Alaska’s larg- est mines has steadily depleted its ore while its operator has waited for a key federal permit to access new mineral deposits. In December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the permit for Teck Alaska, operator of the Red
THE LINK: WINTER 2025
28
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator