Osisko–JDS Cariboo gold build: execution and EPCM takeaways for mine engineers
Reviewed by Tom Sullivan
First reported on International Mining – News
30 Second Briefing
Osisko Development’s Barkerville Gold Mines has signed a definitive project and construction management services agreement with JDS Energy & Mining to build the Cariboo underground gold project in British Columbia. A feasibility study completed in April 2025 outlines a “robust and scalable” underground mine, with JDS to coordinate detailed engineering, procurement and construction management across the processing plant, underground infrastructure and surface facilities. The deal signals progression from study to execution, with geotechnical design, underground access development and shaft/decline construction planning now moving onto a defined EPCM footing.
Technical Brief
- Agreement scope covers processing plant, underground mine infrastructure and all associated surface support facilities.
- JDS role includes coordinating detailed engineering, procurement, construction management and site integration of multiple work packages.
- Barkerville Gold Mines remains project owner, with JDS acting as project and construction manager rather than EPC.
- Contract moves Cariboo from feasibility-level design into execution planning, including constructability and sequencing reviews.
- Underground works under JDS remit expected to include primary access development, materials handling and services distribution.
- Surface facilities package likely to bundle tailings, waste management, power distribution and camp/laydown infrastructure under one manager.
- Having a single construction manager across plant and underground reduces interface risk between mine, process and infrastructure teams.
Our Take
Among the 313 gold-related pieces in our database, British Columbia projects like Cariboo feature less frequently than Québec or Ontario assets, signalling that this build could become one of the province’s more closely watched gold developments over the next few years.
With the Cariboo gold project only reaching feasibility study stage in April 2025, bringing in JDS Energy & Mining at this point suggests Osisko Development is trying to compress the typical study-to-execution lag seen in many Canadian gold projects in our coverage.
Osisko Development and Barkerville Gold Mines appear far less often in our recent gold project coverage than larger Canadian producers, so a contracted build at Cariboo may be important for them to establish a construction and operating track record comparable to mid-tier peers.
Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.
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