Red Dog Mine operator gets OK for infrastructure For years, one of Alaska’s largest mines has steadily depleted its ore while its operator has waited for a key federal permit to access new mineral deposits. In December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved the permit for Teck Alaska, operator of the Red Dog Mine, to build roads and other infrastructure to reach two new zinc prospects. It’s a significant step toward extending mining in the region, which will shut down in 2031 unless those new deposits prove economic. With the federal Clean Water Act permit in hand, Teck Alaska now says it will move ahead quickly with advanced exploration. The Red Dog Mine, one of the world’s largest zinc mines, is a major source of jobs in the region and accounts for more than 80% of the revenue for the Northwest Arctic Borough. It also has generated billions of dollars for Alaska Native corporations across the state since opening more than 30 years ago through the required sharing of NANA’s mineral profits required by the 1971 Alaska Native Claims Act. But the days for the Red Dog Mine itself are numbered: Running low on ore, the mine is set to close in 2031. Facing the prospect of diminished revenue for the borough — which comes through yearly, THE LINK: WINTER 2025 28 Teck Alaska pursues new mineral deposits Photos Courtesy Teck Alaska Red Dog Mine, one of the world’s largest zinc mines, has generated billions of dollars for Alaska Native corporations across the state.
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