Can you touch upon some of the milestones achieved in 2022 and so far in 2023, particularly the work being done with Allkem?

2022 was a very busy year for us. We increased our headcount to about 240 and continued working on large multi-year projects. G Mining Services finished detailed engineering on Equinox Gold’s Greenstone project in 2022, and now the team is focused on construction management and support of the project. Greenstone was at around 73% completion as of the end of March 2023, and things are trending well. We are very grateful to Equinox for trusting us with this multi-million-ounce project which should become the biggest gold mine built in Canada since Canadian Malartic. We are also advancing the detailed engineering on the Tocantinzinho (TZ) project for G Mining Ventures. As for Allkem, we are progressing with the detailed engineering, and the project is awaiting permits. The plan is to receive them and start construction ideally by the end of 2023.

Are there any geographic areas and particular services that you forecast will drive growth beyond 2023?

The work we do here involves project management, as well as geology, mining, and metallurgy services used by early-stage projects in the province. Right now, we are learning a lot from our TZ experience in Brazil. It is a huge country with a good market, and we think there could be a potential for us to have an office there soon. But we do not want to grow too fast: it is about matching contracts with resources. We are also involved in projects throughout Canada, Ecuador, Burkina Faso, the United States, and Guyana.

On the services side, we see growth in the areas of detailed engineering, construction, and due diligence for financiers determining whether to invest in projects. Our due diligence services are well-trusted.

Are you seeing customers increase their focus on automation and sustainability approaches?

Sustainability is a key focus for our clients. People want more battery-powered equipment, and the best way to get close to net zero would be to connect operations to a low-carbon generating grid as we have in Québec. If you can power your mill that way and have the mobile equipment run on batteries, it would be easier for Québec mining companies to get closer to net zero compared with other jurisdictions that rely on natural gas, for example. Social acceptability is everything when you want to build a mine, and investors are closely looking at ESG.

Digital technologies will not take you to net zero. One thing that mines can do is implement solar panels and wind turbines, with the issue being that this energy is intermittent. We have heard of mines that had very large battery capacities to store energy as well. Managing the power sourcing and optimizing it is the real key.

What are the main advantages of operating in Québec?

Québec is a stable jurisdiction where the rules do not change, and there are lower permitting risks. In South America, governments change the rules almost every year, which increases risks for mine developers trying to forecast cash flows. In Québec, there are lots of good inputs and providers as it is a mature jurisdiction. The government benefits a lot from the mining industry, so it is a win-win situation.

What makes the work culture at G Mining Services unique?

Attracting and retaining talent is about treating people the way you want to be treated: communicating well, being kind, and taking care of them so they take care of clients. We allow them to be the best they can be and to reach their full potential. Two of our core values are family and respect, and that is reflected in the work we do. We try to build a sense of community and to support each other in the company.

How do you plan on maintaining your success record in the coming years?

Our big objectives are to ensure the Greenstone, TZ, and Allkem projects are built safely, on time, and within budget. We want to continue expanding the business geographically and in headcount. We want to continue supporting G Mining Ventures with their planned growth and we are changing our head office location to a brand-new building this year.