VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA–(Marketwired – Jan. 13, 2017) – Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. (TSX:SBB), (“Sabina” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that the Minister of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (“INAC”), with the agreement of other responsible ministers, has decided that the Back River Project (“Back River” or the “Project”) should be returned to the Nunavut Impact Review Board (“NIRB”) for further consideration under Section 12.5.7 (e) of the Nunavut Agreement.
On June 15, 2016, the NIRB recommended to the Minister of INAC that the Back River Project not proceed to the next phase of permitting at this time. Since that time, the Minister of INAC and the other responsible ministers have been considering the NIRB Report.
In her letter of January 12, 2017 to the NIRB, the Minister of INAC stated “After careful consideration…we are referring the Report back to the Board for further review or public hearings as the Report is deficient with respect to some ecosystemic issues. In our view, based on the process to date, it is premature to conclude that the Project would lead to unacceptable or unmanageable ecosystemic or socioeconomic impacts. There were a number of areas where there was insufficient information presented in the [NIRB] Report to support the conclusions of the Board, and where further information is required so that the ministers may understand the rationale behind the conclusions presented by the Board prior to making a decision on whether the project should proceed.
This is particularly important in areas where the Board has expressed a lack of confidence or significant uncertainty while the Report and the broader record indicates that many of the participants (including Indigenous and non-Indigenous witnesses and subject matter experts) expressed confidence that the measures presented could mitigate and manage potential adverse effects to an acceptable level. A deeper inquiry into the issues identified by the Board might point to sound management approaches.”
With respect to caribou, the Minister of INAC referred to the jointly proposed terms and conditions for caribou submitted by Sabina, the Kitikmeot Inuit Association (“KIA”) and the Government of Nunavut and recommended further in-depth review of that submission to provide an opportunity for the Board and others to clearly understand the effectiveness of the proposed measures.
A link to a copy of the letter can be found here: http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com/assets/docs/media/Minister-Ltr-to-NIRB-Re-Final-Hearing-Report.pdf
Sabina has received broad based Inuit support for the Project both at the final hearings in April and since the NIRB Report in mid-June. Written letters to the Minister on behalf of Sabina and the Project have been received from the KIA (the land owner) Hamlet Councils, Hunters and Trappers Organizations, community representatives, as well as the Government of Nunavut.
Next Steps
Sabina will await direction from the NIRB on how the additional review of the Project is to proceed. We remain confident that there are no unresolvable issues which cannot be addressed during this period and look forward to working with the NIRB and others to address any outstanding concerns.
“We are extremely pleased that the Minister has determined that the NIRB should reconsider its recommendation regarding the Project,” stated Bruce McLeod, President and CEO. “We understand and support the NIRB’s desire for a high level of confidence in the mitigation and management proposed and believe that we have defined programs to address their issues. Sabina has continued to engage with the communities and work with the KIA and responsible government agencies since the final hearings to further advance our plans, including additional enhancements of our Wildlife Mitigation and Monitoring Program.
We would like to thank the KIA, the Government of Nunavut and the various Kitikmeot community representatives and groups who expressed their continued support for the Project, and we look forward to reengaging with the NIRB to determine the best path forward. Back River is aiming to be one of the next gold mines in Nunavut providing much desired jobs, training, infrastructure and economic opportunities to the Territory with a best in class approach to protecting the environment.”
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp. is a well-financed, emerging precious metals company with district scale, world class undeveloped assets in one of the world’s newest, politically stable mining jurisdictions: Nunavut, Canada.
Sabina recently released a Feasibility Study on its 100% owned Back River Gold Project which presents a project that has been designed on a fit-for purpose basis, with the potential to produce ~200,000 ounces a year for ~11 years with a rapid payback of 2.9 years. At a US$1,150 gold price and a 0.80 exchange rate, the Study delivers a potential after tax internal rate of return of approximately 24.2% with an initial CAPEX of $415 million.
In addition to Back River, Sabina also owns a significant silver royalty on Glencore’s Hackett River Project. The silver royalty on Hackett River’s silver production is comprised of 22.5% of the first 190 million ounces produced and 12.5% of all silver produced thereafter.
The Company has approximately C$41.5 million in its treasury (September 30, 2016) and plans to end the year with approximately C$39 million.
Click here for Forward-Looking Information and the original source of this news release: http://www.marketwired.com/press-release/sabina-gold-silver-reports-minister-indigenous-northern-affairs-canada-deems-nunavut-tsx-sbb-2188286.htm
Bruce McLeod, President & CEO
Suite 375 – Two Bentall Centre
555 Burrard Street
Vancouver, BC V7X 1M7
Tel 604 998-4175 / Fax 604 998-1051
http://www.sabinagoldsilver.com
CONTACT INFORMATION
Sabina Gold & Silver Corp.
Nicole Hoeller
Vice-President, Communications
1 888 648-4218
nhoeller@sabinagoldsilver.com
www.sabinagoldsilver.com