In late April 2025, Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd. provided an update on its 100%-owned Upper Beaver project (?Upper Beaver?) located in the Kirkland Lake camp of northeastern Ontario; a camp which also includes the Upper Canada and Anoki-McBean deposits. In June 2024, Agnico Eagle completed a positive internal evaluation for a standalone mine and mill scenario at Upper Beaver, with the project having the potential to produce an annual average of approximately 210koz Au and 3,600 tonnes of copper over a 13-year LOM starting in 2031. In addition, Agnico Eagle believes that a standalone mine and mill at Upper Beaver could have the potential to unlock significant development potential at depth and within satellite deposits, including the Upper Canada and Anoki-McBean exploration projects.
In July 2024, Agnico Eagle approved a $200 million investment over approximately three years to further de-risk the project, with work that will include developing an exploration ramp and an exploration shaft to depths of 160 metres and 760 metres, respectively, to establish underground drilling platforms and to collect bulk samples. In the second half of 2024 the shaft collar was excavated, the foundation for the headframe was completed and the power line was commissioned and energized. In the first quarter of 2025, installation of the structural steel for the exploration shaft head frame commenced.
At the hoist room, the steel structure and cladding were completed during the quarter. Sinking of the exploration shaft is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025. Excavation of the box cut for the ramp portal was completed during the first quarter of 2025 and excavation of the exploration ramp is expected to commence in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Agnico Eagle is also advancing permitting and conducting several studies for the preparation of the impact assessment at Upper Beaver. Agnico Eagle expects to submit an impact assessment in late 2025. OR Royalties owns a 2.0% NSR royalty on the Upper Beaver project, as well as a 2% NSR royalty that covers most of Agnico Eagle?s Kirkland Lake regional properties, including Amalgamated Kirkland, Anoki-McBean, Bidgood, and Upper Canada.
