Development activities will soon be underway in New Afton’s East Extension—a small expansion located below the depleted East Cave and just east of the C-Zone ore body. The East Extension opens new opportunities to leverage valuable resources and extend New Afton’s mine life, supporting New Gold’s ongoing growth. The project will add high-grade, supplementary mill feed during the C-Zone production period, while creating opportunities for further development in the Eastern Sector of the mine.
The Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals issued a Notice of Departure Determination Letter, confirming development activities for the East Extension access ramp fall within the existing mine permit and giving the green light to begin access development work. New Afton plans to start this work later this year, which will enable the site to:
- Continue utilizing its skilled and experienced workforce
- Maintain development and construction capacity for future projects
- Continue to gather the necessary information to support future opportunities through ongoing exploration
While the recent regulatory decision marks a significant milestone for the East Extension project, full mining approval still requires an amendment to New Afton’s mine permit. To move forward, New Afton will continue to work in close partnership with the Stk’emlúpsemc te Secwépemc Nation (SSN) through their consent-based decision-making process. This approach aims to meaningfully engage and obtain SSN’s free, prior, and informed consent in a manner that aligns with their governance systems.
The East Extension project exemplifies New Afton’s dedication to responsible growth, strong community partnerships, and creating long-term value. New Afton will continue to work closely with its partners at SSN and the Ministry of Mining and Critical Minerals as the site advances the amendment application required for mining activities.
