Pan American Silver is advancing a long-term underground development strategy at its Timmins operations through a planned expansion of the Bell Creek Shaft, aimed at providing access to deeper mineralisation identified by recent drilling and supporting an extension of the mine’s operating life.
The proposed Bell Creek Shaft Extension Project would deepen the existing shaft by 625 metres, increasing its depth from 1,080 metres below surface to 1,705 metres. The additional infrastructure is intended to open access to deeper mineralised zones delineated through the company’s recent drilling programme. Construction activities at the site are scheduled to begin in July 2026, with commissioning of the expanded shaft targeted for the first half of 2029.
Underground infrastructure supports long-term mine development
The shaft expansion forms part of Pan American Silver’s broader strategy to extend the productive life of its Timmins mining operations through investment in underground infrastructure rather than relying solely on near-surface exploration.
The multi-year project is designed to improve access to deeper ore zones, creating the foundation for future resource development and providing greater operational flexibility as additional mineralisation is advanced through the development pipeline. Rather than serving as a short-term production increase, the extension represents a long-duration underground access project intended to support future mining activities at greater depth.
Exploration programme aligned with future production planning
The company’s wider 2026 drilling programme at Timmins is being carried out alongside the planned shaft expansion, linking exploration with long-term underground development. Recent drilling has identified deeper mineralisation that the expanded shaft is expected to reach, allowing the company to advance those zones toward future resource conversion and potential production.
The investment reflects a strategy focused on maintaining production continuity through access to deeper parts of the deposit while utilising the established mining infrastructure already in place at Timmins. Development of deeper mining horizons will require significant capital investment and the execution of a multi-year underground construction programme before the new infrastructure becomes operational in 2029.
