Abstract
Wyloo is a globally-integrated nickel company that invests in and delivers the critical minerals and materials needed to decarbonize the world. Our portfolio of operations and projects are located in two of the world’s most prolific nickel belts in Kambalda, Western Australia and the Ring of Fire region in Northern Ontario. We are committed to enabling a safe supply of high-grade clean critical minerals from extraction to processing, using the highest standards of environment and social sustainability that make our operations the benchmark for mines of the future.
Our flagship project in the Ring of Fire region is the Eagle’s Nest Project, one of the most significant, undeveloped, high-grade nickel, copper and PGE deposits in the world. With sustainability at the heart of its design, we are implementing industry-leading technologies and processes that support responsible development as we aim to be a net-zero carbon emissions mine.
Importantly, we are building the Eagle’s Nest Project through a co-management approach with First Nations communities by forming genuine partnerships and mutual collaboration. We believe development in this region represents a generational opportunity for Northern Ontario’s Indigenous communities to achieve economic empowerment in the next decade, as we aim to establish a sustainable and renewable economic resource that extends beyond the mine-life. Our commitment is to provide training and employment, as well as awarding a minimum of $100 million in contracts to Indigenous-led businesses as we advance development in the region.
The current design plans for a small development footprint of approximately one square kilometre, utilizing underground mining methods. The mine will also be the first of its kind to store 100 percent of tailings underground, used to backfill underground voids created by extraction. Aggregate rock from underground stopes could potentially provide material supplies for regional infrastructure. This innovative and sustainable design translates into no surface tailings, surface quarry, open pits or surface waste rockpiles, ensuring minimal disruption to the surrounding environment.
A Local Opportunity Today for a Cleaner Tomorrow
The global push for energy efficiency and decarbonization has significantly increased the demand for renewable energy technologies. Specifically, as a key element in electric vehicle (EV) batteries, nickel is critical in the scaling up of clean energy and a more sustainable future. However, where Canada once dominated in the global output of nickel, production continues to decline without new supply.
Our Eagle’s Nest Project represents the best opportunity for local and responsible critical mineral development. The potential 20-year nickel supply can produce batteries for up to 500,000 EVs annually, providing an integral, onshoring source of critical metals for the emerging battery market in Canada.
The deposit also represents a cornerstone for developing additional downstream processing opportunities. With plans underway to develop Australia’s first downstream nickel processing facility, Wyloo is committing $25 million toward feasibility studies into building a similar facility in Ontario – marking the first integrated battery materials facility in Canada. This will enable a secure critical material supply chain and retain the maximum portion of critical minerals value within the country.