Agnico Eagle Mines Ltd., a leading gold producer, has made adjustments to its mining operations in Quebec due to ongoing wildfires. The wildfires have caused significant air quality issues in the province, leading Agnico to reduce activities at times within its Quebec mines since Tuesday.
The company's exploration activities in the affected region remain suspended, but its mills are still operating at normal levels, according to Agnico spokesperson Natalie Frackleton. She also stated that the company is closely monitoring air quality within its mines and is making daily operational adjustments to ensure the safety of its workers.
Frackleton added that Agnico will continue to make adjustments based on changing conditions and any recommendations issued by authorities. The Toronto-based firm produced approximately 827,000 ounces of gold last year from its underground and open pit mines in northwestern Quebec's Abitibi region, which is among the areas hardest hit by Canada's worst wildfire season on record. The regional output accounts for roughly a quarter of the company's annual gold production.
Agnico is not the only mining company forced to adapt operations due to the wildfires. Several other producers and mineral explorers have temporarily halted operations in eastern Canada. The wildfires have caused economic damage worth millions of dollars, destroyed homes, and forced thousands to evacuate. The situation remains challenging for the authorities, who are currently working on containing the fires.