+ a appears that copper may play a ‘more , prominent role then gold it in: the “mining and industrial future of the Northwest. m Eska Crook 4 Stro Sulphurets H y nsay ad “Mountain =: Bell” MOUNT MILLIGAN® . - LOCATION OF PROJECTS ‘NEW MINES DEVELOPMENT STAGE ADVANCED EXPLORATION STAGE ____ COPPER Terrace Review — April 16, 1992 That future could well include both the mining and processing of copper. In Sep- tember .1990 Vancouver-based PRM Resources announced the undertaking of a site selection. and pre-feasibility study, _ 'finariced in part with $100,000 from the . federal: government's Western Diversifica- ‘tion. Fund, to examine establishing a cus- . bom copper smelter in Kitimat. During the ~ following 18 months the company quietly pursued financial backing for what was estimated at the time to be a $450-500 million project. . Last week PRM president Roger Taylor “said the project may be on the verge of a major breakthrough, having apparently ~. attracted strong interest from Sumitomo, one of Japan’s largest metal companies. . “"Tt’s’ moving right along,”. Taylor said. “We're in the last stages of negotiating a “joint venture with several international - companies." Taylor said Sumitomo is one of the primary players in the negotiations, and he hopes to have the arrangements solidly confirmed within the next two _ :months. The project cost is now estimated ’-at close to $600 million. : ' -PRM describes the proposed plant as "state-of-the-art, world scale smelter and refinery, with the highest standards of - emission controls". It would provide perma- ‘nent employment for 300-350 people.