Canadian miner Centerra Gold has published an updated mineral resource estimate for its Kemess gold/copper project in British Columbia and has doubled its exploration guidance for the asset this year as it advances a new mining concept and a preliminary economic assessment (PEA).

The updated Kemess resource incorporates more than 11 400 m of core drilling completed in 2024 for exploration, geotechnical, and metallurgical purposes, with continuous mineralisation now modelled along a 5-km trend from Nugget to Kemess East.

Kemess hosts indicated resources of 2.74-million ounces of gold and 971-million pounds of copper, and inferred resources of 2.23-million ounces of gold and 821-million pounds of copper.

“We are pleased to be moving forward with studies on the Kemess project. The updated mineral resource published today demonstrates robust mineralisation in the highly prospective Toodoggone district in the northern interior of British Columbia,” said Centerra CEO Paul Tomory.

The updated resource and ongoing study work are based on a combined openpit and underground mine concept, with longhole open stoping and backfill replacing the previously considered block cave mining method. This change is expected to improve grades and reduce dilution, while requiring less capital.

Centerra has initiated a PEA, due by year-end, focused on a subset of Kemess openpit and Kemess underground resources. Kemess East is being evaluated as potential upside.

“In addition, we have doubled our 2025 exploration guidance at Kemess to between $10-million and $12-million which is expected to focus on infill drilling for the openpit and underground targets and also to test high grade mineralisation in the deeper Kemess Offset zone,” said Tomory.

Centerra is planning a total of 28 500 m of drilling this year, up from 2024 levels. The Kemess Offset zone, which is not included in the current resource, is considered a priority target.

“We are moving forward with a PEA on Kemess, using an openpit and longhole open stoping underground mining concept, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The significant existing infrastructure already in place, is expected to lower the execution risk compared to typical greenfield projects of this scale,” Tomory said.

Existing infrastructure at Kemess includes a 50 000 t/d processing plant, a power line, camp, airstrip, water treatment plant, and tailings storage in the previously mined pit and an expandable facility. Some refurbishment and new equipment will be needed for both openpit and underground operations.

“With the Kemess project, we are advancing the studies for a potential gold/copper mine with a possible 15-year operation in a top tier mining jurisdiction,” Tomory concluded. 

“We are targeting a project with a potential average annual production of approximately 250 000 gold equivalent ounces, which along with Mount Milligan, would give Centerra two long-life gold/copper assets in British Columbia. Recently, we supported Thesis Gold with a strategic equity investment. Given the proximity of Kemess to the Lawyers-Ranch project, we see substantial opportunities for synergies, including the ability to leverage existing infrastructure to unlock regional potential.”

British Columbia Minister for Mining and Critical Minerals Jagrup Brar welcomed the development, saying: “Centerra’s latest results and expanded exploration at Kemess show what responsible development can achieve. Our government welcomes investments that help grow our economy, create well-paying jobs, and respect community and environmental values.”