The Izok Corridor Project Proposal was originally submitted to the NIRB by Minerals and Metals Group (MMG) in September 2012 and was referred for Review to the NIRB in April 2013 by then Minister of Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. Later that same month MMG requested time to submit a modified project description prior to initiating the public scoping and development of the impact statement guidelines. The NIRB agreed to suspend the Review until the modified project description was submitted and awaits submission of the materials.



Modified from the 2012 Project Description: The proposed Izok Corridor project (the Project Proposal) is a base metal mining and milling project located in the Kitikmeot region of Nunavut. The Project would consist of the proposed Izok Lake Mine site situated approximately 260 kilometres (km) southeast of Kugluktuk; the proposed High Lake Mine site situated approximately 300 km northeast of the Izok site and 187 km southeast of Kugluktuk; and the proposed Grays Bay Port site situated approximately 328 km north of the Izok site and 179 km east of Kugluktuk.



The Izok Corridor Project involves mining the zinc-rich deposits of the Izok and High Lake properties and processing the ore at the Izok Mine. In order to ship the concentrate to customers, MMG will construct an approximately 350 kilometre all-season road (Izok Road) connecting the Izok Mine (the more southerly mine) to the High Lake Mine and north to a port at Grays Bay. Facilities at the Grays Bay Port would support loading of bulk-carrier ships, as well as re-supply of fuel and goods for the Proposed Project.



Development of the Izok Corridor Project would require land at Grays Bay for storage and port facilities and associated infrastructure, at the Izok and High Lake Mine sites for infrastructure, open pits, waste rock/overburden and tailings impoundment areas, and along Izok Road corridor. The total land requirement for the Project is estimated at 1,160 hectares.



MMG intends to file an Exceptions Application to the NIRB for authorization to proceed with pre-construction works prior to completion of the Review. Current plans for pre-construction works include early staging of equipment and materials and other preparatory activities, including construction of the 2 winter roads.



Temporary winter roads would be established between the proposed Izok Mine and the Tibbitt-Contwoyto Ice Road (TCWR) and between Grays Bay and High Lake to facilitate construction. The Izok winter road would be used to bring construction equipment and materials into the site from Yellowknife. The High Lake winter road would be used to move construction equipment and materials from Grays Bay.



The preliminary Project schedule assumes that the pre-construction activities would occur in advance of receiving the Project Certificate. Following regulatory approval, construction of the Grays Bay Port and the Izok Road would begin. Current reserves indicate a mill operating life of approximately 12 years at an average production rate of approximately 2 million tonnes of ore per annum (Mtpa).



The total construction workforce will be approximately 1,140 workers, including management, trades people and labourers taking into consideration shifts and rotation. During the operations phase, the total workforce is estimated to be approximately 710 people. Given the demand for labour associated with the Izok Corridor Project, Kitikmeot residents can expect opportunities for employment and for developing skills and knowledge.