The Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project

2004

The Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project is located in Slave Geological Province (SGP) in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. There are significant mineral resources in the SGP. Mines in the SGP include Ekati™ and Diavik in the Northwest Territories. The only road infrastructure developed within the (SGP) has been the 630km winter road from Yellowknife to Lupin Mine, now servicing Ekati™ and Diavik. Further development of mineral resources in the region requires new transportation infrastructure, especially for base metal deposits, which require road access to a port to transport concentrates to markets. The Bathurst Port and Road Project will provide an all weather road connecting the existing winter road to a marine port on Bathurst Inlet. The project will reduce transportation costs in the region, encouraging development of existing mineral deposits; increasing exploration activity in the region and reducing the cost of fuel and supplies for the Kitikmeot communities. The Project provides an important first stage for an all-weather road connecting Inmet’s Izok Project (base metals) with a marine port. The Bathurst Inlet Port and Road Project will be developed by a public/private partnership owned by Inuit companies supported by governments and industry.

Mots Clés: Infrastructure, Bathurst inlet, Transportation, Inuit, Nunavut, Kitikmeot