St Barbara-owned gold miner explores renewables hub in Nova Scotia

A Canadian unit of Australian gold producer St Barbara Ltd (ASX:SBM) has teamed up with independent power producer Natural Forces to look into the possibility of building a renewable energy hub at the now-closed Touquoy Gold Mine in Moose River, Nova Scotia.

Atlantic Mining Nova Scotia and Natural Forces will carry out a feasibility study at the site to see if it would be viable to repurpose the mine to host a closed-loop pumped hydro energy storage system combined with solar photovoltaic (PV) plant. The study should be initiated this month, with a conceptual design expected by the end of 2024.

"At Atlantic Mining, we are committed to sustainable development. Since closing Touquoy, we have been looking at potential alternative land uses as we move into mine reclamation phase," said Andrew Strelein, Managing Director and CEO of Atlantic Mining.

Mining of the Touquoy open pit started in 2017 and extraction ended in early 2023, after which the company proceed to process stockpiled medium and low grade ore.

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