Manitoba is a global destination for mineral resources, reports exponential sales in mineral resources, exploration, investment and sales Provided by Manitoba Resource Development
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he Manitoba government is focused on growing mineral exploration and development through an enhanced regulatory environment and opportunities that create stronger partnerships and attract investment to foster economic prosperity across the province. In 2021, the total value of mineral sales in Manitoba was $1.3 billion (B) – up from $1.09B in 2020 and $1.08B in 2019. For 2022, Natural Resources Canada estimates a 37 per cent increase in the mineral sales value in Manitoba at $1.8B. In 2022, exploration expenditures in Manitoba increased to a record $169.9 million (M), comprising four per cent of the national expenditures total and representing a 71 per cent increase from 2021 and a 175 per cent increase from 2020. Of that investment, $117.1M was spent on exploration activities (up from $76.6M in 2021) and $52.8M was spent on deposit appraisals (up from $22.6M in 2021). In 2020, exploration spending in Manitoba shifted from precious metals to base metals, with an investment in base metals totaling $27.9M in 2020, nearly doubling in 2021 at $99.2M and almost tripling in 2022 at $110.8M.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT In 2022, Manitoba continued to attract significant mineral industry investments of $723.7M, representing 3.5 per cent of the national share, and an increase from $535.5M in 2021. 12 2023-2024 Northern Prospector
This increased activity is also a reflection of the amount of land currently disposed for mineral exploration. As of December 31, 2022, Manitoba had issued 759 dispositions, compared to 625 dispositions in 2021. The total amount of land in Manitoba under disposition for minerals is roughly 6.45 million hectares (11.7 per cent of the province’s surface area). Manitoba continues to rise in the rankings as a global destination for mining investment. In its Annual Survey of Mining Companies in 2022, the Fraser Institute ranked Manitoba fifth in Canada and 14th globally for mining investment attractiveness, based on feedback related to geological potential and regulatory environments from 62 globallyactive mining companies.
CRITICAL MINERALS Manitoba is focused on critical mineral development to support the clean and green global transition, with occurrences of 29 or the 31 minerals identified by Canada as “critical.” Of these 29 occurrences, 19 are actively being produced or explored in Manitoba, including lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, graphite and rare earth elements, recognized by Canada as having the greatest opportunity to fuel domestic manufacturing.
MINERAL DETAILS Potash Manitoba’s first commercial potash development, a partnership between Pot-
ash and Agri Development Corporation of Manitoba Ltd. (PADCOM) and Gambler First Nation, launched in Harrowby in June 2023. The new selective solution facility is anticipated to expand to 250,000 tonnes per year as the facility ramps up production. The province is also planning to enter another tenure agreement with PADCOM that would expand further exploration to define target areas north of the existing facility. Gold Manitoba’s total value of shipments for gold reached $278M in 2021, a 39 per cent increase from 2020, and is estimated to reach $334M in 2022. Manitoba’s precious metal exploration expenditures for 2022 totaled $40.6, an increase from $33.6M in 2021 and nearly double the $20.4M spent in 2018. Recent gold exploration programs in Manitoba include projects in the Snow Lake area by Hudbay Minerals, KG Exploration and Laser Gold. In addition, 1911 Gold advanced exploration programs near Bissett and Willeson Metals progressed exploration activities in Lynn Lake. There are currently several active gold programs across the province, including projects by Alamos Gold and 55 North Mining in Lynn Lake; programs by Boreal Gold and Canadian Gold near Flin Flon; and multiple programs in the Snow Lake area by Hudbay Minerals and KG Exploration.
