VANCOUVER, Sept. 19, 2022 -
NorZinc Ltd. (TSX: NZC) (OTCQB: NORZF) (the "Company" or "NorZinc") is pleased to announce that preparation work has commenced for the construction of the Pioneer Winter Road ("PWR") at its Prairie Creek Project ("Prairie Creek" of the "Project") located in the Dehcho Region of the Northwest Territories ("NWT"), Canada. The PWR constitutes Phase 1 of the 170km All-Season Road ("ASR") that will act as the main point of access, connecting Prairie Creek to the Liard Highway 7.
Subject to financing, NorZinc plans to commence construction on the PWR mid-October 2022, which will signify the start of the overall ASR construction. Initial construction activities will focus on two headings: 1) from the Prairie Creek Mine through the mountains to Cat Camp at kilometer 40, and 2) from the northside of the Liard River, whereby the crews will construct a Wildlife Clearing trail whose aim is to safely pre-clear wildlife from the area. Both headings are planned to be complete by the end of the year. Ice bridge construction is expected to commence at the beginning of December 2022, with the main construction crews having access over the bridge to complete the connection to Cat Camp in Q1 2023. This first phase of construction will also re-open and cut new trails, where designated, along the access road corridor. This work will allow for acquisition of critical geotechnical data for subsequent road-building campaigns, permitting and to walk in key pieces of heavy equipment required for on-site early construction projects in the following summer season.
To complete the Wildlife Clearing trail, an excavator and skid-steer were successfully barged over to the north side of the Liard River in early September 2022. It is anticipated that NorZinc will commence wildlife clearing late October dependent on weather conditions.
The construction of the PWR from the proposed mine site to Cat Camp at kilometer 40, will be spearheaded with a new CAT 315 excavator and skid-steer, of which both were successfully flown into site via a heavy lift helicopter during September 16-17, 2022. They will be augmented by the bulldozer and rock trucks already onsite as the Company aims to complete the mountainous sections of the PWR by the end of the year.
To assist in PWR construction activities, additional rip-rap will be developed from the onsite quarry. NorZinc has received all necessary permits to store explosives onsite including the federal registration for the magazines and the permit from Workers' Safety and Compensation Commission to use and store explosives. This is in addition to the Quarry Permit required in the NWT. The Company anticipates commencement of blasting to develop the rip-rap stockpile in early October 2022.
"The start of the winter road work at Prairie Creek is a significant turning point for the Company as it signifies the start the overall construction of the Project and the beginning of the transition into the development phase. Following the recent permitting milestone of the receipt of the Land Use Permit for mining at the Project, the Company is confident that the work we have been doing with the regulatory bodies will be reflected accordingly with respect to timing of the final permits for construction of the PWR," said Rohan Hazelton, President & CEO, NorZinc. "Preparation work of the PWR is key to remaining on track with our targeted road construction schedule and production expected in late 2025. This initial work keeps the project progressing while we await the final management plan approvals for full construction of the PWR."
About NorZinc
NorZinc is a TSX-listed mine development Company trading under the symbol "NZC" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "NORZF". NorZinc is focused on developing its 100%-owned high-grade zinc-silver-lead Prairie Creek Project, located in the Northwest Territories.
www.norzinc.com
Cautionary Statement - Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward?looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the details and timing of construction of the PWR and the full ASR project, as the schedule for production on the Prairie Creek Project.
These forward?looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things: financing risks; the risk that construction of the PWR is not completed as expected or at all; the risk that production on the project is not achieved on the timeline projected, or at all, as well as all of the risk factors described in the Company's most recent Annual Information Form and Management's Discussion & Analysis available for review on the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.
In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions which the Company believes to be reasonable, including without limitation, assumptions regarding the ability of the Company to secure financing necessary for the PWR, the full ASR, and to eventually put the project into production; assumptions regarding construction and timing of the PWR, and that the development of the Project will occur within the timelines currently anticipated by management.
Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor.
SOURCE NorZinc Ltd.
Contact
Contact Information: Rohan Hazelton, President & CEO, Tel: (604) 688-2001 or Toll-free:1-866-688-2001, E-mail: ir@norzinc.com
