Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation (DNDC), Fireweed Metals Corp and Solvest Inc have partnered to enhance sustainable, economic resource development at the Macpass project, in the Traditional Territories of the Kaska Dena Nation and the First Nation of Na-cho Nyäk Dun.
DNDC, based in Ross River, Yukon, through its wholly owned company, Tu-Lidlini Petroleum LP (TLP), has entered into a five-year lease with Fireweed for the renewable power equipment. Solvest, with expertise in renewable energy solutions, is providing the design, construction and maintenance of the facility.
The renewable power system includes a 70 kW DC ground mount solar array, and a containerised power system comprised of a 144 kWh battery, 54 kW inverters, switchgear and controllers.
Diesel fuel savings from this project are estimated by Solvest at about 24,000 litre per season, equivalent to more than an 80% reduction in carbon emissions directly for its Sekie Camp power. Other benefits include a significant reduction in camp noise from operating diesel generators, lower cost of power and the ability to redeploy the power system.
This is the first renewable power project for TLP, which envisions transitioning to provide both traditional and renewable forms of energy to its clients. This project demonstrates Fireweed’s commitment to sustainably explore and develop critical mineral assets in Canada through progressive leadership, high standards, innovation, and collaborative partnerships for the benefit of present and future generations. The Macpass project is one of the largest, undeveloped primary-zinc projects globally and is accessible by the North Canol Road, some 200 km from Ross River in eastern Yukon.
Solvest provided about 25% of the funding for the project with additional funding provided by The Government of Yukon through the Innovative Renewable Energy Initiative and from the Government of Canada, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada through the Northern REACHE program. The funding support acknowledges the project’s goals: to reduce diesel consumption and GHG emissions at an exploration camp; and to support economic development opportunities for Dena Nezziddi Development Corporation.
Peter Hemstead, Interim President and CEO, Fireweed Metals Corp, said: “Tu-Lidlini Petroleum has been a trusted supplier of fuels for our exploration operations for several seasons, and this collaboration with TLP and Solvest makes financial, operational and environmental sense. Fireweed will continue to look for opportunities to work alongside partners like TLP and DNDC to both enhance our environmental performance and provide economic benefits to the local communities we work with.”
Cynthia Dick, General Manger, Tu-Lidlini Petroleum LP, said: “DNDC and TLP are excited to be developing projects in the renewable energy field. While allowing renewable energy to complement our existing energy business it also provides us an opportunity to work on reducing our footprint in our territory which we all need to strive towards. The partnership with Solvest and Fireweed Metals has provided an excellent opportunity to make this a reality.”
Ben Power, CEO & co-Founder, Solvest, said: “This project builds on our track record of developing meaningful projects in northern Canada that provide opportunities for our clients and partners to realise their visions of sustainable project development and to enhance ESG attributes. This project is important to us as it is in our home territory and is the first project with both DNDC and Fireweed Metals. We appreciate this opportunity to collaboratively develop a creative commercial structure and to co-invest in another power project, adding to our EPC and O&M services to provide a full-service solar and energy storage product. We acknowledge the support of the territorial and federal grant agencies that were able to confirm funding support for DNDC in a short time frame.”