The British Columbia Environmental Regulator, the Environmental Assessment Office (“EOA”) has accepted Vitreo Minerals Ltd. (“Vitreo”)’s Readiness Report related to its Angus Frac Sand project (“Angus”). This important milestone is the result of significant engagement, public open houses and baseline environmental programs, and confirms that work performed to date and anticipated project plans are ready to proceed through to environmental assessment and ultimately a certificate. In accordance with the EAO’s timelines a certificate could be received by the second half of 2025, and other required permits shortly thereafter.
Background
Angus is a large-scale, high-quality proppant resource currently the focus of environmental baseline, BC Environmental Assessment and permitting, detailed design and feasibility-level NI43-101 compliant estimates. The proposed project plans to employ a simple process to liberate naturally occurring high-purity silica grains that meet, and in some cases exceed, the performance requirements of frac completions in British Columbia’s Montney Basin.
The Project comprises approximately 187 km2 property area with a current Resource Estimate of approximately 80 million tonnes from just one of its many target areas. Much larger resource potential exists on the property. Angus is located approximately 60 km north of Prince George, BC and approximately 250 km south of Chetwynd, BC.
Transformative domestic supply for the BC Montney
The current demand for Tier-One proppants in the Montney is estimated to be more than 6 million tonnes per annum (“mtpa”) and is expected to grow to 11 mtpa by 2026 with completion of LNG Canada’s Phase One. Currently, almost all frac sand is being delivered from Wisconsin exclusively by CN Rail to various capacity-constrained storage and transload facilities in North East BC.
The Angus project will add 2 mpta of Tier 1 frac sand to the BC Montney market ensuring sustainable completion activity amid growing demand. Given its proximity to market, Angus will be able to deliver by truck (with future optionality for rail) and will have capacity to deliver directly from mine gate to certain customers without costly storage or transloading.
Regulatory timeline
To date, Vitreo has significantly de-risked the project through its resource definition drilling, an independent NI43-101 compliant Pre-Feasibility study, and comprehensive lab and bulk sample testing processed at scale (using its Moberly Frac Sand facility), and an extensive environmental base line program. During the EA process, Vitreo has successfully developed relationships with participating Indigenous Nations and local communities and has progressed to an accepted Detailed Project Description. Now solidly in the Application phase of the process Vitreo is continuing with ongoing consultation and engagement.
This will ultimately result in the receipt of an Environmental Acceptance Certificate in Q2/Q3 2025 and other joint application Permits by early 2026.
Contacts
Scott Broughton, President and CEO ([email protected])
Cullen McCormick, VP Operations ([email protected])
Jerrad Blanchard, CFO ([email protected])