GREENSTONE — Community members recently got an update on a major mining project that is expected to open next year.
Eric Lamontange, general manager of Greenstone Gold, take to the stage at the Longlac community centre last week to provide and an update on their $1.5 billion project.
Mayor James McPherson said that Lamontange was optimistic about the future of the project.
McPherson said it was relayed that the project is still on schedule and on cost, with most of its buildings closed in. The mayor said the company has hit two million hours with no-loss time incidents, with 800 workers involved in construction activity.
It’s a very very busy place,” he said.
The progress with the mine's construction of the mine means more job opportunities are on the horizon.
“The biggest thing in our world. They are looking at hiring another 150 people. They got a little over 140 hired so far. So, we are trying to get the word out. Anybody who’s looking for work in the area. Anybody who has friends or family who would like to move up here, we’d encourage them to apply,” McPherson said.
It has been 10 years since the start of the Greenstone open-pit gold mine project. McPherson said Lamontange praised the public for their continued support through the process.
Although there is quite of bit of work left to accomplish, the Greenstone gold mine is set to yield results sometime in mid-2024, when they expect operations to begin extracting gold from the ground.
"It’s that time when you can see the carrot, but you can’t reach it yet," McPherson said. "You can see the buildings going up and the blasting going on. You can see the open pit. It’s when you see the bar of gold and then you’ll know they are running.”
McPherson encouraged anyone interested in a job to go to Greenstone Gold’s website to apply for a position.