Mining and milling
Our Fraser Mine has deep history in Sudbury having been built in 1963. The complex is situated near the Strathcona Concentrator 55 kilometres northwest of Sudbury. Nickel production began in the 1960s followed by copper production in the 1980s. The anticipated life of mine extends through 2024.
The Strathcona concentrator receives ore from Fraser Mine, as well as third-party custom feed ores, and produces two concentrate streams – a nickel concentrate that goes to the Sudbury Smelter for smelting and a copper concentrate that goes to Glencore’s Copper business for smelting and refining. The mill has a maximum capacity of approximately 2.75 million tonnes of ore per year.
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Fraser Mine has been operating since 1963.
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Nickel Rim South Mine began operations in 2009 and entered into care and maintenance in July 2024.
Nickel Rim South Mine enters care and maintenance
At the end of July 2024, Nickel Rim South (NRS) Mine entered care and maintenance having delivered its last ore — culminating in a milestone of over 18.3 million tonnes of production, over a span of almost 15 years of mining operations.
Over the years, NRS demonstrated a commitment to health and safety, environment, and the community of the City of Greater Sudbury. In 2022, the mine was awarded the John T. Ryan Safety Award National Trophy from the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum for the best performance in health and safety in the metal mines category in Canada. It also won the Regional Trophy for Ontario five times between 2013 and 2023.
The mine collaborated closely with Wahnapitae First Nation since the first agreement was signed in 2008. Through a Resources Development Agreement, signed in 2023, our partnership with Wahnapitae First Nation will continue in the care and maintenance phase.
Projects
We are pursuing the Craig Mine Onaping Depth and Nickel Rim South Extension (NRSE) projects, which would extend our presence in the community.
Craig Mine Onaping Depth
Onaping Depth Project is a nickel/copper resource located within the existing Craig Mine infrastructure. The feasibility study of the project was completed at the end of 2016. The project is currently in the development stage and represents a re-imagining of the future as we go to new depths to attain the resources needed for a lower-carbon economy (view video below).
Nickel Rim South Extension
Nickel Rim South Extension (NRSE) is a nickel/copper resource located in close proximity to the existing Nickel Rim South Mine infrastructure. It is currently in the study stage (FEL 2/3). Our project team continues to work with Vale to complete the Feasibility Study for the NRSE until mid-2025.
Building the Mine of the Future #1: What if?
