The Eagle’s Nest Project in Ontario’s Ring of Fire boasts a compact mine site of just one square kilometer, containing a substantial deposit of 17 million tonnes with 3.3% nickel, copper and platinum group elements. Additionally, it holds some of the world’s largest chromite deposits outside South Africa.
Anticipated annual production is 15,000 tonnes of nickel and 6,000 tonnes of copper from 300,000 tonnes of underground material over a span of 17 years. A water recycling facility will ensure that the project has no environmental discharge.
A feasibility study is set to be completed by March 2025, with construction targeted for 2030, contingent on road access. “Canada needs more nickel,” said project lead Straub, noting that even the notable Canada Nickel mine in Timmins won’t satisfy demand.
The North American electric vehicle market requires 290,000 tonnes of nickel, while Ontario can produce around 150,000 tonnes, sufficient for 25,000 electric vehicles annually, or 7.5% of the region’s needs.
Currently, most Ontario nickel is exported for aerospace and defense, not for battery electric vehicles. “It’s all accounted for, and it may be difficult for the EV market to compete with defense contracts,” Straub explained.
Wyloo aims to initiate production by 2030, aligning with upcoming road construction plans, such as the Webequie Supply Road linking the Webequie First Nation airport to the Eagle’s Nest site. The Northern Road Link will connect to the Marten Falls Access Road, facilitating access to the provincial highway network, with construction expected to begin in 2030 and conclude by 2035, according to project co-lead Qasim Saddique.
