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Mine back open for business

The CanTung mine resumed operations Monday after the reopening of the Nahanni Range Road.

The CanTung mine resumed operations Monday after the reopening of the Nahanni Range Road.

Unprecedented flooding washed out the highway in three places more than two weeks ago, and halted the mine’s ability to move fuel, supplies and people to and from its site, which straddles the Northwest Territories border.

“We are very, very pleased and very impressed with how fast (the Yukon government) got to work and got the roads open. It’s quite amazing,” said North American Tungsten CEO Steve Leahy.

The road reopened sooner than expected. Last week, officials estimated that the repairs would continue well into this week, or even later.

Construction crews installed bridges where the washed-out culverts had been.

Because the flooded area could only be accessed from one direction, repairs had to be nearly completed on one washout before workers could start on the next.

“I was dreading the thought of this moving into July,” Leahy said.

Around 100 miners, who had been idling but still collecting paycheques, have now returned to work.

The staff worked quickly to bring the mill back into operation despite logistical challenges, Leahy said.

The mine has resumed shipments of ore to its customers.

Contact Jacqueline Ronson at

jronson@yukon-news.com