The Tłı̨chǫ Government has signed an Access Agreement to permit access to Fortune Minerals to the NICO cobalt-gold-bismuth-copper project (“NICO Project”) in Canada’s Northwest Territories. This is only one agreement, and another—the Impact Benefit Agreement—is still required.  Fortune’s rights to conduct the activities under the Access Agreement can only be exercised once the Impact Benefit Agreement has been concluded and signed.

The Access Agreement details the conditions under which Fortune can build and operate the 51 km NICO Project Access Road on Tłı̨chǫ-owned lands between the community of Whati and the company’s mineral leases. It also specifies the conditions for financial security for reclamation of the road that will be held by the Tłı̨chǫ Government.

When it is completed, the Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road will provide a permanent, year-round road connection between Whati and the Territorial highway system to reduce the cost of living and improve the quality of life in this currently isolated community. The Tłı̨chǫ All-Season Road, together with the NICO Project Access Road, will enable Fortune to truck metal concentrates from its proposed mine to the rail head at Hay River for delivery to a refinery and downstream processing to value added products.

For further information contact Grace Mackenzie at 867-766-4003.