NB 890
Oct. 8, 2003
FREDERICTON (CNB) - The Province of New Brunswick today announced an annual grant program for the Bathurst Mining Camp. Fifteen million dollars will be invested in advanced exploration over the next three years with a possible extension of two additional years and a further $10 million.
The new funding for advanced exploration technologies will be provided on a cost-shared basis, half from the provincial government and half from the private sector.
"We believe that with the advent of new exploration technologies, there is an opportunity to discover new deposits in the Bathurst Mining Camp that are economically extractable," Natural Resources Minister Keith Ashfield said.
"Mining has been a major economic force in the region," the minister said. "We are hoping that such initiative may ensure that mining continues in this region and we will be able to find a new ore body to maintain the nearly 1,000 jobs at Brunswick Mine."
The Bathurst Camp is described as one of the top three zinc producing areas in the world. The new deep penetrating geophysical techniques will provide the means to locate hidden deposits at depths of up to 2,000 metres.
The mining industry is a highly competitive industry, with every province and territory competing to get industry to carry out exploration in their jurisdiction. Currently, over 3,200 people are directly employed in the mining industry in New Brunswick.
03/10/08
MEDIA CONTACT: Robert Duguay, communications, DNR, 506-453-2614 or 506-461-8244.
03/10/08