Advanced Waste Management at Alberta Refinery
Fortune Minerals Alberta Inc., a subsidiary of Fortune Minerals Limited, has entered into a backstop agreement with SECURE Waste Infrastructure Corp. This partnership aims to manage the waste disposal needs of Fortune’s planned hydrometallurgical facility in Lamont County, Alberta. The facility is set to process concentrates from the NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper mine located in the Northwest Territories (NWT). The NICO Project will help in addressing western supply chain resilience and security vulnerabilities by providing critical minerals.
Robin Goad, CEO of Fortune, stated, “We are pleased to partner with SECURE for the development, construction, and operation of a 1A deep brine injection well and a solid waste disposal solution for the waste products that will be generated from our Alberta hydrometallurgical facility.” SECURE, known for its expertise in waste management systems, will evaluate potential sites for the injection well and related infrastructure.
Pursuant to the agreement, SECURE is responsible for conducting preliminary engineering and cost assessments for the necessary infrastructure. They will also handle obtaining all required permits, licenses, and certifications from relevant governmental and regulatory bodies. This process ensures compliance with all legal and environmental standards. SECURE will prepare the preliminary engineering and cost estimates for these facilities and obtain the necessary permits, licenses, certifications, and authorisations from governmental and regulatory bodies having jurisdiction over the project.
NICO Project: A Comprehensive Overview
The NICO Project is an advanced development initiative comprising an open-pit and underground mine and concentrator in the Northwest Territories, alongside the hydrometallurgical facility in Alberta. The project is designed to produce value-added critical mineral products, which are essential for the energy transition and new technologies. It will supply more than one million ounces of in-situ gold, battery-grade cobalt sulphate, bismuth ingots, and copper cement, addressing supply chain resilience in North America.
Following the completion of the preliminary work by SECURE, a definitive agreement will be finalised. This agreement will cover the development and operation of the injection well over the first decade of the refinery’s operations. It will include the transportation and disposal of approximately 200,000 metric tonnes per year of process residue solids in a Class 2 government-approved landfill. Development of the NICO Project would provide a reliable vertically integrated North American supply of battery-grade cobalt sulphate, bismuth ingots, and copper cement critical mineral products.
Fortune’s collaboration with SECURE not only offers a cost-effective solution for waste management but also aligns with environmental sustainability goals. The project is a critical step in ensuring a stable North American supply of essential minerals, contributing to the region’s technological and defence capabilities. The hydrometallurgical facility will process concentrates from Fortune’s planned NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper mine and concentrator in the Northwest Territories and other feed sources to make value-added critical mineral products for the energy transition, new technologies, and defence.
