Mayor Cook congratulates Taseko Mines for expansion at Gibraltar Mines

From the City of Williams Lake:

City of Williams Lake Mayor Kerry Cook today applauded the announcement by Taseko Mines Ltd. that expansion to the Gibraltar Mine, north of the city, will invest hundreds of millions of dollars in expansion, creating jobs both during and after construction.

“This is great news for Williams Lake and the region,” Cook says. “We welcome the jobs this expansion will bring – an expected 350 to 400 jobs during the peak of construction, and 140 direct jobs and about 300 indirect jobs afterward.”

Taseko Mines Ltd. announced earlier this week that it will increase capacity at the mine, building a 30,000 ton per day concentrator and increasing the mine’s annual copper production to 180 million pounds from 120 million pounds. Capital costs are expected to total $325 million; $235 million for the concentrator and a molybdenum plant, and $90 million for additional mining equipment. Construction is expected to begin this spring, and to take approximately 20 months. The mine currently employs 474 people, with approximately 83% of wages being paid in Williams Lake, and approximately 93% of wages being paid in the Cariboo. It is expected the newly created jobs will see a similar wage distribution.

The average mining salary in B.C. is more than $100,000 a year.

“Gibraltar has been an important economic driver and employer since it was re-opened in 2004, and now it will invest even more and create more jobs in the area – this is a positive development that we need to celebrate,” says Mayor Cook.