Vancouver, British Columbia, January 3, 2023 – Artemis Gold Inc. (TSX-V: ARTG) (“Artemis” or the “Company”) is pleased to provide an update on progress toward obtaining its BC Mines Act Permit and advancing site works for the Company’s Blackwater project (“Blackwater” or the “Project”) in central British Columbia.
BC Mines Act Permit
The BC Mines Act Permits are now expected to be received in Q1 2023. This revised receipt date is not expected to affect the Company’s planned start of major construction activities at Blackwater later in Q1 2023.
Site Works Overview
Site works currently underway include, but are not limited to, the following activities:
- Logging, clearing and grubbing of the plant site area, and commencement of bulk earthworks
- Installation of physical environmental controls, such as rapid infiltration basins and plant site permitter drainage channels;
- Advancement of the construction camp accommodations, which will expand capacity to support up to 475 on-site personnel; and
- Prioritized upgrades to selected infrastructure.
Personnel
Since site works commenced in late September 2022, on-site personnel has increased to approximately 100 employees and contractors. Approximately 30% of Company personnel on-site are female, coupled with 30% of on-site Indigenous personnel. As on-site activities ramp up, the Company continues to further advance its Health and Safety practices and protocols along with on-site Emergency Response Training. These activities remain a key focus for the Company.
Plant Site Preparation
In the process plant area, tree clearing activities, as well as other clearing and grubbing activities have been completed over the entire 23-hectare plant site footprint. A new contractor laydown area has been stripped, levelled, and graded with cut and fill earthworks well advanced throughout. Earthworks continues on the sediment and erosion control pond. This scope of work is well advanced and on track to be completed before the commencement of major works construction activities.
Figure 1: Blackwater Project Plant Site Area (Looking South/West) Q4-2022
Source: Artemis Gold Inc.
Construction Camp Installation
Site levelling, pad preparation and bulk earthworks for the construction camp was completed as planned in Q4 2022. Kitchen facilities have been placed with work well advanced. Accommodation module buildings, arctic corridors and gym facilities were all completed prior to end of Q4 2022. The construction camp is on-track to be completed prior to the commencement of major works construction activities.
Figure 2: Blackwater Project New Construction Camp Area (Looking South) – Q4-2022
Source: Artemis Gold Inc.
Upgrades to Infrastructure
The Company is also advancing required upgrades to site which include running buried and surface pipelines from selected water wells, and upgrades to its sewage infrastructure in order to accommodate planned head count capacity at site for major works construction activities. The Company has also completed upgrades to fire suppression, Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and associated electrical facilities at site.
Steven Dean, Chairman and CEO commented, “While we are disappointed that we did not receive the BC Mines Act permits as planned in Fall 2022, they are well advanced and are expected to be finalized in the coming weeks. The Blackwater construction team has made significant progress in Q4 2022, with Blackwater on-site activities progressing on schedule. The construction camp and process plant area preparation and bulk earthworks are on track to be completed prior to the start of major works. The on-site team and contractors are performing well, putting Artemis on the path to ramp-up on-site activities for major works steadily following receipt of the final BC Mines Act Permits later in Q1 2023.”
Further updates will be provided in due course.
Qualified Person
Jeremy Langford, FAUSIMM, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
ARTEMIS GOLD INC.
On behalf of the Board of Directors
“Steven Dean”
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
For further information:
Investor Relations contact:
Nicholas Campbell
VP Capital Markets
+1 (604) 558-1107
Media relations contact:
media@artemisgoldinc.com
