Skip to main content

PolyMet Mining Corp. and Teck Resources Ltd. said on Wednesday they will form a joint venture to develop their Minnesota copper and nickel mining projects.

The new company, known as NewRange Copper Nickel LLC, will share costs to develop the two proposed mines, which aim to produce metals used to make electric vehicles and other green technologies.

“This partnership just seemed like a natural fit,” PolyMet chief executive Jon Cherry said in an interview. “It’s a great opportunity for northern Minnesota to really become the central point of production for electric vehicle battery metals.”

Mr. Cherry said the joint venture will benefit from Teck’s technical experience in building mines and PolyMet’s experience in obtaining U.S. mine permits.

Shares of St. Paul, Minn.-based PolyMet jumped 10.1 per cent on Wednesday, while shares of Vancouver, B.C.-based Teck were down 2.2 per cent.

PolyMet’s NorthMet project is slated to cost about US$1-billion and is the most advanced of the two proposed mines, as it has received all of its permits, though three are being challenged in court. Teck’s Mesabi project has yet to be fully studied and is not permitted.

Both projects are located in Minnesota’s Iron Range region, which has a long history of mining taconite ore. The area is about 241 kilometressouth of Minnesota’s Boundary Waters region, where Antofagasta PLC’s plans to build the Twin Metals copper mine were recently dashed by U.S. President Joe Biden.

Teck and PolyMet have agreed to fund the joint venture with an initial budget of US$170-million for permitting and engineering work.

Teck mines zinc, copper and a range of metals in Canada, Chile and Alaska. PolyMet does not plan to focus on developing other mines, Mr. Cherry said.

Glencore PLC, PolyMet’s largest shareholder, will fund up to US$105-million of PolyMet’s share of the joint venture’s costs and may boost its stake in PolyMet from 71 per cent to about 78 per cent, PolyMet said.

Your time is valuable. Have the Top Business Headlines newsletter conveniently delivered to your inbox in the morning or evening. Sign up today.

Report an editorial error

Report a technical issue

Tickers mentioned in this story

Study and track financial data on any traded entity: click to open the full quote page. Data updated as of 28/03/24 3:24pm EDT.

SymbolName% changeLast
TECK-A-T
Teck Resources Ltd Cl A
+4.57%62.22
TECK-B-T
Teck Resources Ltd Cl B
+4.01%62

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe