The announcement by telecom giant Bell Canada to construct six new AI data centers in British Columbia, including facilities in Kamloops and Merritt, has significant implications for copper demand and local mining operations. This development positions Nicola Mining Inc. (TSX.V: NIM) (OTCQB: HUSIF) advantageously, as the company operates in the Merritt community where one of these data centers will be located by year-end.
The company is committed to meeting the copper industrial demand surge while continuing to develop its asset at the New Craigmont property, which shares a regional geological setting with Highland Valley Copper District, the largest copper producer in Canada. Nicola's New Craigmont Copper project is making significant strides in exploration, having drilled 14 holes totaling 4,872 meters, with early findings revealing chalcopyrite (copper sulphide) mineralization.
The exploration program focused on newly identified zones and areas adjacent to historic targets, with drilling across the MARB and CAS zones demonstrating consistent mineral presence in volcanic and intrusive host rocks. This progress is particularly relevant given the growing demand for copper driven by technological infrastructure expansion, including data centers that require substantial copper wiring and components.
Nicola Mining maintains a 100%-owned mill and tailings facility near Merritt, British Columbia, and has signed Mining and Milling Profit Share Agreements with high-grade gold projects. The company's fully permitted mill can process both gold and silver mill feed via gravity and flotation processes, making it the only permitted third-party processing facility in all of British Columbia. For more information about the company's operations, visit https://www.NicolaMining.com.
The latest news and updates relating to Nicola Mining are available in the company's newsroom at https://ibn.fm/HUSIF. This strategic positioning comes at a critical time when copper demand is expected to surge due to infrastructure projects and technological advancements, making Nicola Mining's developments particularly significant for the regional economy and the broader mining industry.
