Teck lands permit to extend copper mine life in BC

Teck Resources (TSX: TECK.A, TECK.B; NYSE: TECK) has secured an environmental assessment certificate to extend the life of its Highland Valley Copper (HVC) mine in British Columbia, keeping Canada’s largest copper operation running into the mid-2040s.

The Vancouver-based miner expects the expansion to support an average annual production of 137,000 tonnes of copper over the mine’s remaining lifespan. Construction preparation will begin shortly, with a final investment decision expected from Teck’s board in the third quarter of 2025, President and CEO Jonathan Price said in a statement.

Price noted the project will help strengthen North America’s critical minerals supply chain while contributing to job creation and economic activity. He said the expansion will create about 2,900 construction jobs and support 1,500 positions once operational.

Single application

To speed up approval for what B.C. authorities have called a “priority critical minerals project”, the province’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) worked with key ministries to enable a single, consolidated application covering both the environmental assessment and major permits. This marks the first fully integrated review under BC’s 2018 Environmental Assessment Act.

The process included input from Indigenous governments, local communities, and stakeholders. Price thanked participants for their “thoughtful assessment” and continued engagement.

The HVC expansion is part of Teck’s broader plan to invest up to $3.9 billion over the next four years,  aiming to boost its total copper production to about 800,000 tonnes annually by 2030.