Trilogy Metals’ Arctic copper-zinc project in Alaska’s Ambler Mining District has been accepted into the US federal FAST-41 permitting programme, shortly after filing its Clean Water Act Section 404 application with the US Army Corps of Engineers. The 50/50 joint venture with South32 covers an indicated 35.7 million tonnes grading 2.98% copper and 4.09% zinc, with a 2023 technical report outlining a 13-year mine producing 149 million lb. Cu and 173 million lb. Zn per year plus lead, gold and silver. TD Securities forecasts construction could start in 2029 with first production in 2031, while the nearby Bornite deposit could extend district copper output beyond 30 years.

MAX Power Mining has signed an MOU with the City of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, to advance natural hydrogen commercialisation in the Regina–Moose Jaw Industrial Corridor, centred on the Lawson Natural Hydrogen system near Central Butte, about 80 km northwest of the city. Core desorption tests from nine samples in Cambrian Basal sands above the Basement Complex discovery returned helium values up to 8.7%, averaging 4.4%, indicating a potentially valuable hydrogen–helium system. The partners aim to leverage existing regional infrastructure and policy support to move the project towards commercial validation.

Water scarcity and multi‑year permitting delays—often two to four years for discharge and dewatering approvals in the western US—are increasingly stalling otherwise bankable mines, with water risk now affecting project schedules, financing and national credit profiles. Consultants such as Woodard & Curran report that “credible water stories” are becoming as critical as ore grades, pushing operators towards closed‑loop recycling and non‑traditional sources. US firms Genesis Systems and Atoco are deploying atmospheric water generation units, including Genesis’ containerised WaterCube systems producing over 1,000 gallons per day off‑grid, now trialled at mine sites.