BQE Water Reaches Milestone in Clean-up Efforts at Eagle Gold Mine

Executive Summary

• BQE Water Inc. announces it has discharged over 600,000 cubic meters of treated water into the environment as part of an emergency response contract with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), acting as court-appointed receiver for Victoria Gold Corp.
• The emergency treatment system, implemented following a cyanide heap leach facility failure at the Eagle Gold Mine, has successfully treated multiple water sources including cyanide heap leach solution, contact water, and contaminated groundwater.
• The contract has been extended until October 31, 2025, with the emergency response system anticipated to conclude by the end of Q3 2025, followed by the implementation of decommissioning and winterization plans.

Key Details

• Volume Discharged: Over 600,000 m³ of treated water discharged into the environment.
• Contract Scope: Emergency treatment services for Victoria Gold Corp.’s Eagle Gold Mine, contracted via PwC (Receiver).
• Water Sources Treated:
  • Cyanide heap leach solution contained on-site following heap failure.
  • Contact water reporting to leach solution storage ponds during spring snow melt.
  • Contaminated groundwater pumped from interception wells.
• Quality Assurance: Effluent water quality monitored via Key Performance Indicators (KPIs); verified by third-party accredited laboratories performing daily toxicity and comprehensive chemical analysis on 24-hour composite samples.
• Contract Extension: Extended until October 31, 2025.
• Project Timeline:
  • Drain-down of solution from heap leach facility expected to be substantially complete.
  • Emergency response system operation anticipated to end by end of Q3 2025.
  • BQE Water to prepare decommissioning plan for emergency response treatment and winterization plan for infrastructure remaining on-site over winter.
  • Implementation of plans subject to Receiver's approval prior to demobilization.
• Stakeholder Involvement: Cooperation Agreement in place with Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Development Corporation (NNDDC); FNNND businesses and citizens participated directly in operations.

Notable Quotes

• Jani Djokic, CEO of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun Development Corporation (NNDDC): "The heap leach failure at Eagle has had significant impact on the First Nation of Na-Cho Nyäk Dun (FNNND) lands and waters, including the fish, animals, and people who rely on those waters. BQE's expertise and responsiveness has been very valuable in avoiding even greater impacts..."
• David Kratochvil, President and CEO of BQE Water: "Implementing the emergency response treatment system quickly with off-the-shelf pieces of equipment installed in the extreme cold weather and arriving at a continuous and consistent production of non-toxic effluent was very challenging... The project success is a true showcase of BQE Water's abilities."