File photo (Image credit: CFJC Today).

By Aaron Schulze

Yellowhead Copper Mine Project

Public comment period opens for proposed copper mine project near Vavenby

Aug 6, 2025 | 7:45 AM

VAVENBY, B.C. — The public comment period for a proposed open-pit copper mine near the community of Vavenby is open.

Until Sept. 15, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., residents can provide their feedback on Taseko Mines’ proposed Yellowhead Copper Mine Project to the Impact Assessment Agency of Canada (IAAC) and B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office.

In a news release issued Tuesday (Aug. 5), the federal government says comments received during the early engagement phase will help the preparation of a joint Summary of Issues and Engagement document with the B.C. government that will be given to the proponent, Taseko Mines.

In its environmental assessment process page online, B.C.’s Environmental Assessment Office says Taseko Mines will then create a detailed project description, which will inform the office’s decision on whether the proposed mine is ready to proceed to an environmental assessment.

The Yellowhead Project would be located nearly 20 kilometres southwest of Vavenby and nearly 150 kilometres northeast of Kamloops. Taseko, a Canadian-based mining company, expects to be able to produce nearly 180 million pounds of copper each year over a 25-year period.

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Taseko estimates the building stage would bring 2,000 jobs and 1,000 spin off jobs, while the fully operational site would have nearly 600 employees for the initial mine life. Korah De Walt-Gagnon, the Yellowhead Project manager, told CFJC Today the construction period is estimated at two to three years.

The mine would include a processing plant to separate copper from ore, a mine waste storage facility, a water treatment plant and other mining components. B.C.’s Enviornmental Assessment Office says offsite infrastructure would include existing access routes, rail load-out facility and an approximately 110 kilometre transmission line connecting the project site to a BC Hydro substation in 100 Mile House.

An in-person open house is also scheduled for the Dutch Lake Community Centre in Clearwater on Sept. 10, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

A summary of the Yellowhead Project can be viewed here.