AIDEA, Doyon Sign Land Access Agreement, Advancing Ambler Access Project
On April 14 the Board for the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) authorized AIDEA to enter into an agreement with Doyon to conduct final feasibility and permitting activities to advance the Ambler Access Project.
The land access agreement allows AIDEA and its contractors controlled access to land owned and managed by Doyon along the proposed route to the Ambler Mining District. Aidea is working with Ambler Metals via the Development Agreement, signed in February, to collaborate with local stakeholders, landowners, communities, and tribes. The agreement is not a right-of-way agreement and does not convey any longer-term rights to AIDEA or the project.
“While Doyon’s position has not changed with regard to the AMDIAP project—we are neither supporters nor opponents—we have reached agreement on providing AIDEA access to some of our lands for field studies,” says Aaron Schutt, president and CEO of Doyon.
“We look forward to local communities and our Doyon shareholders benefiting economically from the work to be done this summer season.”
The Ambler Access Project is currently in the final feasibility and permitting phase following seven years of an extensive federal permitting process, as required by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANICLA).
The AIDEA baord also approved the proposed plan and budget for summer field season activities and services up to $13 million. This cost will be shared 50/50 by AIDEA and Ambler Metals under the Development Agreement.
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“I am encouraged with the progress we are making on the project with the approval of this year’s budget and the land access agreement with Doyon. These are positive steps that attest to our solid public/private partnership with AIDEA and to the healthy collaboration we have with our key stakeholders,” says Ramzi Fawaz, president and CEO of Ambler Metals.
The Ambler Access Project is a proposed 211-mile, east/west running controlled industrial access road that would provide industrial access to the Ambler Mining District in northwestern Alaska. The area currently lacks the transportation infrastructure necessary for the development, construction, and operations of mines in the district. The Ambler Mining District is one of the largest copper-zinc mineral belts in the world and has extensive deposits of other minerals such as gold, silver, lead, and cobalt.
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