SWAN Village-to-Village Messaging System: This One Is Too Sweet To Be Ignored

This One Is Too Sweet To Be Ignored

Posted by Margaret on 11/24/2008, 3:02 pm
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Nome gold mine shuts, can't meet environmental regulations

By ELIZABETH BLUEMINK | ebluemink@adn.com

Published: November 24th, 2008 11:40 AM
Last Modified: November 24th, 2008 11:40 AM

Gold production at the new Rock Creek open-pit mine near Nome has been suspended because of the mine's inability to meet environmental requirements, according to the mine's operator.

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NovaGold Resources Inc. announced today that the mine, which began production in mid-September, had "unanticipated mechanical problems" including an electrical failure in its mill, and that "extreme arctic weather" had compouded the mine's troubles.

In its announcement, the company did not elaborate on several key issues, including: How many employees will be laid off; how it planned to manage the gold mine during the suspension; and how long it expected the suspension to last.

The company said federal and state regulators notified it that the mine has not met conditions in its permits. If Rock Creek didn't fix those problems, fines and additional regulatory requirements could have resulted, the company said.

"Though this has been a difficult decision with Rock Creek, based on the current economic conditions, and the challenges associated with meeting environmental requirements compounded by working through the arctic winter, we believe these actions are in the best interest of the company at this time," said Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, NovaGold's president.

Rock Creek had been expected to produce about 100,000 ounces of gold annually and generate $25 million to $35 million in annual cash flow to NovaGold, company officials said in September.

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Van Nieuwenhuyse said today that NovaGold will now focus its efforts on its Donlin Creek exploration project while attempting to seek additional cash and reduce costs. Donlin is a huge gold-mine prospect in Western Alaska.

The company will not have enough cash to meet its financial obligations if it isn't able to obtain additional financing in next month.

The company said it will pay $3.9 million due this week on its Donlin Creek project, a joint venture with Barrick Gold, the world's largest gold mining company.

But NovaGold said it does not plan to pay $1.9 million due today on its Galore Creek mine exploration venture with Teck Cominco, in Canada but near the Southeast Alaska town of Wrangell.