The Blackwater Mine is a US$1.4 billion open-pit gold and silver mine located approximately 160km southwest of Prince George in central British Columbia, developed by Artemis Gold. Designed as the first significant open-pit mine in the province in nearly a decade, the project mines 334 million tonnes of ore and aims to produce hundreds of thousands of gold ounces annually using low-carbon hydroelectricity. The first gold and silver pour was achieved in January 2025, and commercial production was declared on May 1, 2025. Artemis Gold has since approved a C$1.44 billion Phase 2 expansion that is expected to make Blackwater one of the three largest single gold mines in Canada — a milestone that coincides with a broader resurgence of major mining investment across the country, including Denison Mines’ USD $600 million Phoenix uranium mine in Saskatchewan, which recently received its federal construction licence and is set to become Canada’s first new uranium mine in roughly two decades.

Project Overview

Type: Open-pit gold and silver mine

Location: ~160km southwest of Prince George, ~450km northeast of Vancouver, British Columbia

Total project cost: US$1.4 billion (Phase 1)

Ore volume: 334 million tonnes (Mt), plus 584 Mt of waste rock and 83 Mt of overburden

Phase 1 plant capacity: 6 Mtpa (million tonnes per annum)

First gold and silver pour: January 2025; commercial production declared: May 1, 2025

Phase 1A expansion (8 Mtpa) currently under construction, expected complete before end of 2026

Phase 2 (EP2) approved: combined capacity to reach 21 Mtpa; expected to produce 500,000–525,000 oz gold/year for first 10 full years

EP2 major works expected to begin Q3 2026, first gold pour targeted Q3 2028; mine life expected through 2043

Sustainability: Connected to BC Hydro hydroelectric grid; targeting net-zero carbon emissions with zero-exhaust-emission haul fleet by 2029

Indigenous partnerships: Project participation agreements with Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation and Ulkatcho First Nation

Expected to create 825 direct full-time jobs during construction and expansion phases

Project Team

Developer/Owner: Artemis Gold Inc. (TSX-V: ARTG)

CEO: Dale Andres (formerly Steven Dean, Chairman & CEO at time of original article)

BC Government endorsement: Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Josie Osborne

Power provider: BC Hydro (135km, 225kV transmission line)

Indigenous partners: Lhoosk’uz Dené Nation, Ulkatcho First Nation, Carrier Sekani First Nations

Published 19th March 2023: US$ 1.4bn construction of the Blackwater mine in British Columbia is expected to begin soon. This comes following the acquisition of an operating permit, the last requirement before the project could begin substantial development. It reportedly took the project almost ten years to complete the provincial and federal environmental licensing process.

The Blackwater mine in British Columbia will be the first significant open pit mine in the Canadian Province when it starts operations in ten years’ time. 334 million tonnes (Mt) of ore, and 584 Mt of waste rock, will be mined as part of the project. Additionally, 83 Mt of overburden will be mined.

Production on the $800 million first phase of the plant will begin in the second half of 2024.

A world-class mine

Artemis Gold has designed a world-class mine according to Josie Osborne, the minister of energy, mines, and low-carbon innovation in British Columbia. It will have one of the lowest carbon footprints for an open-pit gold project of its kind. Additionally, it has a defined path forward to substantially lessen that footprint.

Furthermore, it could potentially achieve net-zero carbon emissions. This would be done through the assimilation of a zero-exhaust-emission haul fleet by 2029.” explained Steven Dean, chairman, and CEO of Artemis Gold.

Also Read: Construction begins on the new Mills Memorial Hospital, British Columbia

This endorsement is additional proof that the Blackwater mine in British Columbia complies with the highest requirements for ethical mining exploration and development in British Columbia. In order to provide renewable energy, Artemis Gold intends to connect the Blackwater project to the hydroelectricity-fueled BC Hydro system.

Benefits of the Blackwater Mine in British Columbia

The project supports the economic needs of the local region while bringing in First Nations as partners in training, business development, and job opportunities. Moreover, the Blackwater mine in British Columbia will help to meet provincial climate targets with the use of sustainable, clean electricity.

Furthermore, the mine is anticipated to be the greatest gold mine development project in British Columbia for the next decade. It might be expanded with additional investigation.