The Quebec government mining company soquem (Societe quebecoise d’exploration miniere) has a new president and chief executive officer. Andre Laurin, formerly assistant deputy minister (mines) with the province’s ministry of energy and resources, was recently named to both positions.
A geologist, Laurin was given a distinguished service award last year by the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.
Soquem was created in 1965. Its productive assets were spun off by the Quebec government in 1986 into Cambior Inc., and the public company’s mandate was re- oriented towards the exploration and development of mineral resources within those regions of Quebec where the private sector is less active. (Soquem retained a 30% interest in Cambior.)
This year, soquem has budgeted more than $7.5 million for mineral exploration and development. The public company has targeted 50% of that amount towards base metals, 25% for high tech metals such as titanium, niobium-tantalum, gallium and rare earths, and 25% for precious metals.
Soquem currently owns more than 38 mining properties at various stages of exploration-development. Laurin reports it is his intention to pursue a program aimed at creating joint ventures involving junior, national or multinational companies of the private sector, while maintaining soquem’s interest in grassroots exploration.
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