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Our planning application only includes processing material from the Curraghinalt gold deposit. We have not asked for permission to process material from other sites.

Not yet. We tested mining methods as part of our exploration and produced a small quantity of Tyrone gold from our bulk sample. We then submitted a planning application for an underground mine and the roads and buildings to support it in November 2017. Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure (DfI) decided that Curraghinalt is a regionally significant project, so they are dealing with the planning application.

We suspended all Tunnel Tours in March 2020 in accordance with government guidelines on managing COVID-19. We will continue to monitor the government's guidance and only restart the tours once it is safe. Prior to halting the Tunnel Tours, we welcomed over 1,600 people through our exploration site. Our visitors saw our explorations methods, water purification system and saw the tunnel to view the gold veins. Contact our Gortin Office on +44 (0) 2881 648012 or email info@dalradian.com to learn more.

The Curraghinalt Project is a modern, underground mine in west Tyrone.

The Curraghinalt deposit is in the parishes of Gortin and Greencastle in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The mine will be underground and the proposed site for the new surface infrastructure is north of Crockanboy Road, between Rouskey and Greencastle. We have applied to the Department for Infrastructure to retain our test site, located on Camcosy Road about two miles from Rouskey.

The mine is underground, but there will be some operations on the surface. These include a water treatment plant, an ore processing plant, workshop, mine rescue building, administrative offices and a dry stack facility. The processing plant is the largest of the buildings. It will measure 58 metres wide, 92 metres long and 17 metres high. All the building are designed to blend in with local agricultural buildings. Learn more about our surface infrastructure and its visual impact.

Tailings are waste materials from the mining process. They are uneconomic rock and processed ore that cannot be put back in the ground. Many mines store their tailings in dams, which can leak or become unstable. Our dry stack facility is different. It is carefully engineered solution that removes most of the water from the tailings so that the water can be recycled. It will be lined with robust materials and contoured into the landscape, covered with soil and seeded with local plant life. The process of sculpting into the landscape will begin from the start of our operations. The plants that grow on the dry stack facility will stabilise. We are working with experts to work out the best soil and plant choices for the Sperrins’ landscape. A mine in southern Alaska has been using a dry stack facility for more than ten years. It was built in a National Monument Nature Preserve that experiences more rainfall than Tyrone.

When the mine closes, the buildings at the surface will be removed, and the groundworks contoured and planted with plants selected for the local ecology. The dry stack facility will be consolidated and engineered to ensure its stability from the beginning. It will also be progressively seeded from the outset. These activities are set out in a Closure Rehabilitation Plan, which will be agreed by the Department of Infrastructure.

Our research shows that there is over 6 million ounces of gold at the Curraghinalt site. We have not yet found the full extent of the deposit. Read more about our resources.

Similar gold deposits in Canada have been mined for generations. The mines’ operations are extended as more gold is discovered. However, our planning application is for a specific amount of mining, carried out over approximately 20 years. Any additional mining would require new planning permission.

Gold was discovered in the Sperrins in the 17th century. In the 1980s, prospectors noticed gold veins in an outcrop of the Curraghinalt Burn and took a rock chip sample. This sample was analysed and found to contain gold. Follow-up exploration, including drilling, showed that there were a number of gold-bearing veins that continued deep underground. Further exploration at that time included development of part of the tunnel that still exists today. Dalradian acquired the project in late 2009 and our exploration has shown that the size of the deposit is at least ten times larger than these early studies estimated. Our exploration techniques included drilling and further underground development, and were licensed by Northern Ireland's Department for the Economy.

The veins extend from the surface to a depth of at least one kilometre. Part of the planning application allows for some additional exploration to investigate the system’s extent.

The veins are fractures in the rock that have “healed” with quartz, carbonate and other minerals including gold. Like any natural system, variability is the norm.

So far, we’ve discovered veins up to 2.3 kilometres long. However, Curraghinalt’s vein system is likely longer than this. We hope to explore more of the deposit. That’s why we’re applying for an underground area for exploration.

Our underground exploration programme has added 989 metres to the pre-existing 710 metres.

Yes, we achieved carbon neutrality status to PAS 2060 standards for 2019.

The project will create at least 300 jobs during the construction phase, which will last between 18 and 24 months. A total of 1,000 jobs will be created in the operations phase, including at least 350 permanent positions when the mine is operational. The construction phase should last 18-24 months. An additional 570 jobs will be created at suppliers to the mine and through employment created by increased spending in the local area.

We are accepting expressions of interest in future positions, but we will not be able to hire a full workforce for construction and operations until planning permission has been granted. You can submit your expression of interest at Future Careers – your input will help us design our training programmes.

Yes. There will be jobs at the proposed mine for a wide range of skills – mechanics, lorry drivers, IT specialists, geologists, engineers, administrators, health and safety monitors and environmental managers. Some jobs will require specific qualifications and training – such as a university degree or college diploma. Others will require only short-term education or on-the-job training.

Yes. We are working with SouthWest College to create training programmes that meet our skill requirements. We have invested in career planning by developing the skills of a number of existing local staff. We will continue this throughout the planning process. We have budgeted £15 million over the two years of construction and the first year of operations to support the training of local people. Given the high-tech nature of modern mining, Dalradian plans to make extensive use of virtual reality tools and simulators. The technology is similar to that used to train aircraft pilots and has already been demonstrated at SouthWest College in Omagh. We will also provide hands-on experience with mining equipment adapted for training purposes. Our internship programme has already provided invaluable work experience to university students in relevant disciplines. We’ve hired those students as full-time employees wherever possible. We will expand this programme when mining begins.

We are working with SouthWest College to develop training courses, including one to train future miners.

The average salary at the mine will be £40,000, nearly double the average wage in Northern Ireland.

We want to be a flexible employer that looks after its workforce. Most of our staff will be employed on full-time contracts during operations – this is part of our retention plan. The project has two phases – construction and operation. We estimate that the construction phase will last 18 – 24 months. Operations are expected to last 20 years and may be longer if future exploration is successful.

Underground mine workers must be at least 18 years old, as per regulatory requirements.

Yes. We hire students each summer and plan to continue doing so throughout the life of the project. Unfortunately, we have not been able to take on students in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis.

We expect the mine to bring a host of social and economic benefits to Tyrone and the west of Northern Ireland. • Total employment boost of some 1,000 jobs. o We will employ 350 permanent workers directly. o Our suppliers will employ an additional 480 workers. o We estimate that 90 jobs will be created due to higher spending in the local area. • We offer an average salary of £40,000 – nearly twice the average salary in Northern Ireland. • The careers we offer will stem the flow of young talent from the west of Northern Ireland. • We’re investing in training and skills development, including internships and a new suite of courses at SouthWest College. • We’re investing in excess of £750 million to build and operate the mine, creating supplier opportunities in West Tyrone and Northern Ireland more broadly. • This is a Brexit-proof project – you can’t move a mine. • Our exports will add up to a 2.4% reduction in Northern Ireland’s trade deficit. • A £360 million capital investment over the life of the mine. • £4 million committed to future funding of local community groups, subject to planning approval.

Some of the cash that the mine generates will be transferred out of Northern Ireland, but most will remain. Most of the costs of mining and processing the gold will be spent in Northern Ireland. Typically, the biggest costs are labour, fuel and electricity. We will also pay taxes and royalties. Some money will be reinvested in exploration to increase the life of the mine and to support operations, including new equipment and replacement parts each year.

Gold occurs in veins running through the bedrock. These veins are narrow, typically less than one metre across and can be tens of metres apart. These will be drilled, blasted and brought to the surface through a tunnel. The road between the mine’s portal and the processing plant will have a berm – a mound of planted earth – on the downhill side to minimise noise and visual disturbances for local residents.

Firstly, the mined rock is crushed. This stage occurs underground. The crushed ore is sorted, conveyed to the surface and on to the mill building. It is mixed with water and ground into particles the size of sand. The metals are separated out in flotation tanks to produce a concentrate, which contains gold and other minerals like silver and copper. The concentrate is transported to a facility overseas for the final steps that produce refined gold.

We’ve listened to the feedback we received during the planning process. Our response is to simplify our ore processing to avoid cyanide and smelting. We have conducted studies and testing to ensure that the project is still viable with these changes. Our approach is not new to the UK. Two gold mining operations using similar processes have received planning permission – one in Scotland and the other in Northern Ireland. In both cases, local authorities supported the project’s approval. In fact, the mine is Scotland is in a National Park and received support from the park authorities.

Removing the use of cyanide means that the associated infrastructure at the main processing plant will not be needed. This infrastructure included leach tanks, a detox system and a smelting furnace. Gold will not be poured on site. Instead, the gold-bearing ore will be partially refined and the product shipped overseas for further processing. We will also use less water.

No. Our planning application includes our commitment not to use cyanide.

The soil we remove during the construction of the mine buildings and the Dry Stack Facility will be temporarily placed in piles on the site. This will keep them close to the areas where they will be used for ongoing land reclamation.

The Dry Stack Facility will be built up, layer by layer, and gradually covered with soil that has been sourced on the site. This soil will be seeded with vegetation. We submitted a conceptual Closure and Rehabilitation Plan for the site as part of our Environmental Statement. The conceptual plan – which must be approved by the Department for Infrastructure – details a range of measures that we will take to leave the site safe and secure. Our rehabilitation measures will ensure that the site can be used for farming or returned to heathland. Read more about rehabilitating the site.

This varies. In the past, we have had up to seven drill rigs on the surface at any one time. As many as three drill rigs were operating underground during our underground exploration at Curraghinalt. Once the mine is operational, exploration drilling will be ongoing to identify additional resources and aid mine planning.

Yes. We will need to drill around the mine during its operations – on the surface and underground – to help us understand the extent of the deposit.

Backfilling is placing materials such as rocks and tailing into the voids that we have excavated underground. It helps to stabilise the mine and allows us to mine the full mineral deposit. It also minimises the material that is stored on the surface and reduces our environmental footprint.

Paste backfill is a mixture of cement with material from the mill, such as tailings. It is used to fill voids underground created by mining.

Explosives are highly regulated by both the Health and Safety Executive and by the Department of Justice. They set guidelines for transporting, storing and keeping records about explosives. We adhere to these guidelines. Explosives will be stored and used underground during operations.

The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) asked us for Further Environmental Information (FEI). We submitted this an “Addendum to the Environmental Statement” in response to that request in August 2019. The next steps are advertising the consultation process, receiving responses and a review of the Addendum in light of these responses. Most of the consultee response have been received. DfI has announced that it will refer the application to the Planning Appeals Commission for a public enquiry. We expect the DfI to refer the application to the Planning Appeals Commission for a public inquiry. We’re committed to transparency and engagement and continue to support the calling of a public inquiry. It is the best way for a public discussion of the project to take place before a decision is made. The public inquiry will deal only with the facts around the planning application. This process ensures that the project is thoroughly tested. All parties – local people, government authorities and Dalradian – can be confident that the project should move ahead. We understand that mining is a new industry for Northern Ireland. A public inquiry is an important way to spread understanding of modern mining.

An FEI is a request from the Department for Infrastructure for Further Environmental Information. The Addendum addresses requests from regulators for more details on certain aspects of our planning application and matters raised by public and third-party representations. It includes a number of enhancements to the project that we made after listening to feedback during the planning process. The mine will be 100% carbon neutral from day one. We will use renewable power, electric vehicles, conveyor belts and biodiesel. We are committed to protecting water by recycling it within the site and treating it to a very high standard before releasing it. Our water use has been reduced by around 30%. Our ore processing has been simplified. We will not be using cyanide or smelting. Instead, we will produce a partially refined product that will be shipped overseas for further treatment.

We submitted our Planning Application to build a mine in November 2017. We cannot begin construction of the mine before the authorities grant planning approval. The planning process includes a review of the application and a consultation period. A Public Local Inquiry will be necessary and will take about a year.

We expect the mine’s construction to take 18 to 24 months. Once it’s up and running, we expect the mine’s operations to last 20 – 25 years. The mining could be extended depending on how much gold we find. Any extension would be subject to additional planning permission.

You can support the project by completing a simple form. It takes just 3 minutes but will help to build prosperity in West Tyrone for years to come.

In the event that the project or the company is sold, the buyer would be bound by the planning and environmental terms and conditions set by the DfI. They would also be bound by any contracts and agreements that Dalradian has made. They would also have to comply with the requirements of the planning permission to operate the proposed mine.

There may be other gold deposits discovered in this area in the future. At present, it is impossible to predict whether they would be economically viable. Any future mines would also need to move through the planning process before mining could begin.

Our planning application only includes processing material from the Curraghinalt gold deposit. We have not asked for permission to process material from other sites.

Our planning application only includes processing material from the Curraghinalt gold deposit. We have not asked for permission to process material from other sites.

Tailings are waste materials from the mining process. They are uneconomic rock and processed ore that cannot be put back in the ground. Many mines store their tailings in dams, which can leak or become unstable. Our dry stack facility is different. It is carefully engineered solution that removes most of the water from the tailings so that the water can be recycled. It will be lined with robust materials and contoured into the landscape, covered with soil and seeded with local plant life. The process of sculpting into the landscape will begin from the start of our operations. The plants that grow on the dry stack facility will stabilise. We are working with experts to work out the best soil and plant choices for the Sperrins’ landscape. A mine in southern Alaska has been using a dry stack facility for more than ten years. It was built in a National Monument Nature Preserve that experiences more rainfall than Tyrone.

When the mine closes, the buildings at the surface will be removed, and the groundworks contoured and planted with plants selected for the local ecology. The dry stack facility will be consolidated and engineered to ensure its stability from the beginning. It will also be progressively seeded from the outset. These activities are set out in a Closure Rehabilitation Plan, which will be agreed by the Department of Infrastructure.

Our research shows that there is over 6 million ounces of gold at the Curraghinalt site. We have not yet found the full extent of the deposit. Read more about our resources.

Carbon neutral means reducing the net amount of carbon emitted to the atmosphere to zero. Another term for this is “net zero carbon emissions”. This can be achieved by removing carbon emissions from our daily activity, or by balancing them out using carbon offsetting.

We will be 100% carbon neutral from day one by using a combination of renewable power, electric vehicles, covered conveyor belts and biodiesel. We will use high quality, internationally certified carbon offsetting to ensure we are fully carbon neutral on an ongoing basis. This is an audited, accredited system that involves independent verification on an annual basis. All of these choices demonstrate our environmental stewardship.

Yes, we achieved carbon neutrality status to PAS 2060 standards for 2019.

We completed an assessment of our carbon footprint for 2019 that was independently verified by Carbon Footprint Ltd, a leading sustainability and climate change solutions provider. This assessment followed the exacting standards of ISO 14064-3. We developed a carbon management plan and offset all carbon emissions by supporting an internationally certified water purification programme in Cambodia.

We devoted major parts of our environmental assessment and design to reducing the visual impact of the mine. The proposed site faces away from the AONB and the main spine of the Sperrin Mountains. The existing mature trees and natural hollows at Curraghinalt lend themselves to reducing visual impact. Our buildings will be in keeping the with local rural farming area and painted green to blend in with the landscape. The site’s rehabilitation will begin during operations and continue after mining is complete. All the buildings will be removed when the mine is closed.

The Aberfan coal mine disaster was caused when unconsolidated material was dumped in a chaotic, unplanned and unregulated manner. This material was saturated by heavy rainfall, which caused it to become unstable. The proposed gold mine in Tyrone is very different from a coal mine. It will not have waste tips. Instead, we will use a dry stack facility that is engineered to ensure stability. The material will be consolidated, progressively seeded and monitored. Current legislation also requires that we undertake periodic geotechnical assessments by qualified specialists, to ensure that the dry stack facility is secure.

We will channel and treat any water that comes into contact with the mine - including rainwater run-off from the buildings on the surface. We will use a system that has already proven itself at our exploration site. All water is stored in a number of lined ponds that sit below ground level. It is then fed into our state-of-the-art treatment plant. The water is treated to drinking standards, with the exception of iron and manganese. These minerals are naturally elevated in the local water environment. The water discharge will meet or exceed the standards set by the Water Management Unit of the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA). The NIEA, and our own inspectors, monitor the outlet water to confirm our compliance. The ponds on the Curraghinalt site will be protected by an engineered lining system and will operate at about one third of its storage capacity. The remaining pond capacity is designed to accommodate a one-in-1000-year storm event. We will excavate the ponds, rather than rely on impoundments for water containment. This is a more secure approach.

During the mine’s operations, and for some time following its closure, groundwater will flow toward the mine. It will not flow away from it, towards any wells. Our system is similar to those that channel groundwater around a quarry. Water that enters the mine will be captured in sumps and sent to the surface for water quality treatment. Some of this water will be used in the processing plant. All of the material that we will retain or send back underground has been characterised. That means we have tested it rigorously to understand its physical and chemical properties. It will be tested throughout our mining operations. The results from these tests have been used to predict the long-term water quality in the mine after closure, when it will flood with groundwater. These predictions are based on our particular approach to mining, and our backfill and closure strategies. We have measured the groundwater seepage rates in the area around the mine, and these measurements have been used to predict long-term groundwater concentrations next to and downstream from the mine. Our assessment shows that pollution of groundwater receptors – including wells – will not occur. Our Environmental Statement uses current regional background groundwater quality as a benchmark. We will compare the data that we collect during operations, and after the mine’s closure, against this benchmark. Water quality monitoring within the mine, and in wells installed directly around the mine perimeter, will be used during operations. This monitoring will frequently confirm that the actual groundwater quality is as predicted and that agreed limits are not exceeded.

Water required for the mine’s operations will be sourced on site and recycled daily. We will capture rainwater and store it in a fresh water pond at the northern end of the site. We will also use water that we pump out of the mine workings in our processing plant. A new mains operation will provide water for drinking, showers and toilets.

We will contour the dry stack facility to fit in with the existing hills around the site. We will cover it in soil and progressively seed it with trees and shrubs. It is designed to blend into the surrounding landscape. This process will occur from the start of our operations.

Yes. Livestock already graze at a number of reclaimed mine sites in Ireland and around the world.

The Curraghinalt mine will be underground and will not be visible. Our infrastructure on the surface is designed to minimise visual effects, including the use of natural screens such as trees and new plantings. We will also use the hills and valley to obscure the buildings. The buildings are similar in height and design to agricultural buildings in the local area.

There is strict regulation that limits the amount of dust and noise that we can make. We have designed the project to meet these limits. We will use water suppression and tree plantings to control dust and sound berms (mounds of planted earth) and sound barriers to limit the noise.

We will pay careful attention to the radon levels on the site. Radon occurs naturally in the area and across many other parts of the UK and Ireland. It is most dangerous when it builds up inside enclosed spaces – especially homes. Our testing shows that the levels on the site, including in any waste material, is much lower than the regulatory limit. As with all other environmental indicators, testing and regulation will continue going forward.

We will use a combination of trees, topography and berms to help reduce the visual and noise effects of the mine. These measures will not eliminate the noise and the view of the mine altogether, but they will greatly reduce them. For example, the road from the portal to the processing plant will have a ridge standing between it and the valley below. This will muffle the noise of the trucks and block them from view. The dry stack facility will be placed in a natural hollow, to reduce its height.

Independent experts have examined the impact of a rise in the number of vehicles on the local community. They focused on the roads around Greencastle, Rouskey and Gortin. They found that, during the mine's operations, traffic at key junctions will rise by no more than 12–14%. That is an additional 60 vehicles over a 12-hour period per day. This is will add just five seconds to journeys taken by local people. There may be a reduction in traffic if local people take up jobs at the mine, rather than commute further afield. Workers will car pool and use park and ride services during construction and operation. Shifts will be staggered to avoid traffic build-up at peak times, such as during the school run.

We’ve listened to the feedback we received during the planning process. Our response is to simplify our ore processing to avoid cyanide and smelting. We have conducted studies and testing to ensure that the project is still viable with these changes. Our approach is not new to the UK. Two gold mining operations using similar processes have received planning permission – one in Scotland and the other in Northern Ireland. In both cases, local authorities supported the project’s approval. In fact, the mine is Scotland is in a National Park and received support from the park authorities.

Removing the use of cyanide means that the associated infrastructure at the main processing plant will not be needed. This infrastructure included leach tanks, a detox system and a smelting furnace. Gold will not be poured on site. Instead, the gold-bearing ore will be partially refined and the product shipped overseas for further processing. We will also use less water.

No. Our planning application includes our commitment not to use cyanide.

The soil we remove during the construction of the mine buildings and the Dry Stack Facility will be temporarily placed in piles on the site. This will keep them close to the areas where they will be used for ongoing land reclamation.

Our planning application only includes processing material from the Curraghinalt gold deposit. We have not asked for permission to process material from other sites.

We expect the mine to bring a host of social and economic benefits to Tyrone and the west of Northern Ireland. • Total employment boost of some 1,000 jobs. o We will employ 350 permanent workers directly. o Our suppliers will employ an additional 480 workers. o We estimate that 90 jobs will be created due to higher spending in the local area. • We offer an average salary of £40,000 – nearly twice the average salary in Northern Ireland. • The careers we offer will stem the flow of young talent from the west of Northern Ireland. • We’re investing in training and skills development, including internships and a new suite of courses at SouthWest College. • We’re investing in excess of £750 million to build and operate the mine, creating supplier opportunities in West Tyrone and Northern Ireland more broadly. • This is a Brexit-proof project – you can’t move a mine. • Our exports will add up to a 2.4% reduction in Northern Ireland’s trade deficit. • A £360 million capital investment over the life of the mine. • £4 million committed to future funding of local community groups, subject to planning approval.

Some of the cash that the mine generates will be transferred out of Northern Ireland, but most will remain. Most of the costs of mining and processing the gold will be spent in Northern Ireland. Typically, the biggest costs are labour, fuel and electricity. We will also pay taxes and royalties. Some money will be reinvested in exploration to increase the life of the mine and to support operations, including new equipment and replacement parts each year.

Dalradian will pay the same taxes as any business in Northern Ireland

Yes. A financial guarantee (or bond) is a requirement to receive planning permission.

Gold is currently worth over £1,400 per ounce. Gold is traded in global markets and its price varies daily. Read more about the gold market and its potential for Northern Ireland.

Our planning application only includes processing material from the Curraghinalt gold deposit. We have not asked for permission to process material from other sites.

The mine is underground, but there will be some operations on the surface. These include a water treatment plant, an ore processing plant, workshop, mine rescue building, administrative offices and a dry stack facility. The processing plant is the largest of the buildings. It will measure 58 metres wide, 92 metres long and 17 metres high. All the building are designed to blend in with local agricultural buildings. Learn more about our surface infrastructure and its visual impact.

When the mine closes, the buildings at the surface will be removed, and the groundworks contoured and planted with plants selected for the local ecology. The dry stack facility will be consolidated and engineered to ensure its stability from the beginning. It will also be progressively seeded from the outset. These activities are set out in a Closure Rehabilitation Plan, which will be agreed by the Department of Infrastructure.

Similar gold deposits in Canada have been mined for generations. The mines’ operations are extended as more gold is discovered. However, our planning application is for a specific amount of mining, carried out over approximately 20 years. Any additional mining would require new planning permission.

The Aberfan coal mine disaster was caused when unconsolidated material was dumped in a chaotic, unplanned and unregulated manner. This material was saturated by heavy rainfall, which caused it to become unstable. The proposed gold mine in Tyrone is very different from a coal mine. It will not have waste tips. Instead, we will use a dry stack facility that is engineered to ensure stability. The material will be consolidated, progressively seeded and monitored. Current legislation also requires that we undertake periodic geotechnical assessments by qualified specialists, to ensure that the dry stack facility is secure.

The project will create at least 300 jobs during the construction phase, which will last between 18 and 24 months. A total of 1,000 jobs will be created in the operations phase, including at least 350 permanent positions when the mine is operational. The construction phase should last 18-24 months. An additional 570 jobs will be created at suppliers to the mine and through employment created by increased spending in the local area.

We are accepting expressions of interest in future positions, but we will not be able to hire a full workforce for construction and operations until planning permission has been granted. You can submit your expression of interest at Future Careers – your input will help us design our training programmes.

Yes. There will be jobs at the proposed mine for a wide range of skills – mechanics, lorry drivers, IT specialists, geologists, engineers, administrators, health and safety monitors and environmental managers. Some jobs will require specific qualifications and training – such as a university degree or college diploma. Others will require only short-term education or on-the-job training.

Yes. We are working with SouthWest College to create training programmes that meet our skill requirements. We have invested in career planning by developing the skills of a number of existing local staff. We will continue this throughout the planning process. We have budgeted £15 million over the two years of construction and the first year of operations to support the training of local people. Given the high-tech nature of modern mining, Dalradian plans to make extensive use of virtual reality tools and simulators. The technology is similar to that used to train aircraft pilots and has already been demonstrated at SouthWest College in Omagh. We will also provide hands-on experience with mining equipment adapted for training purposes. Our internship programme has already provided invaluable work experience to university students in relevant disciplines. We’ve hired those students as full-time employees wherever possible. We will expand this programme when mining begins.

We are working with SouthWest College to develop training courses, including one to train future miners.

The average salary at the mine will be £40,000, nearly double the average wage in Northern Ireland.

We want to be a flexible employer that looks after its workforce. Most of our staff will be employed on full-time contracts during operations – this is part of our retention plan. The project has two phases – construction and operation. We estimate that the construction phase will last 18 – 24 months. Operations are expected to last 20 years and may be longer if future exploration is successful.

Underground mine workers must be at least 18 years old, as per regulatory requirements.

Yes. We hire students each summer and plan to continue doing so throughout the life of the project. Unfortunately, we have not been able to take on students in 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis.

The Tyrone Fund was established by Dalradian in December 2015 to benefit the local community. We make contributions to the fund on an annual basis. A committee meets twice each year to decide on applications for funding. In the Planning Application, Dalradian committed to a £4 million fund once operations begin. Read more about our current and future support for community projects.

We have supported the work of 400 groups with almost £800,000 since we began working in Tyrone in 2009. They have included conservationists working to protect the habitat of the local fresh water pearl mussel, the Community Development Association and a shuttle bus service that connects older residents living in remote places.

We put out a call for applications twice each year and any local organisation is welcome to apply. Keep an eye on our social media feeds for news on future funding rounds.

Mining has helped to build many towns across Ireland and the UK. Partnerships between mines and local community groups have ensured that the benefits flow to all parts of the community. In Navan, Co. Meath, Tara Mines is supporting a number of local organisations including the local GAA club. Lisheen, in Co. Tipperary, still enjoys the benefits of its relationship with a nearby mine, even though mining has finished.

The coronavirus crisis and the associated lockdown caused widespread disruption throughout Northern Ireland, and Tyrone was no exception. Dalradian partnered with local health centres to provide a specially outfitted van and driver for home visits, ensuring that vulnerable people did not have to go without care. We also worked with local businesses to source and manufacture PPE and hand sanitiser. Four of our essential staff remained on site, while most of our staff worked from home. Our exploration and project sites were closed to visitors.

There may be other gold deposits discovered in this area in the future. At present, it is impossible to predict whether they would be economically viable. Any future mines would also need to move through the planning process before mining could begin.

Our planning application only includes processing material from the Curraghinalt gold deposit. We have not asked for permission to process material from other sites.

Our planning application only includes processing material from the Curraghinalt gold deposit. We have not asked for permission to process material from other sites.

Our planning application only includes processing material from the Curraghinalt gold deposit. We have not asked for permission to process material from other sites.