has been issued a Mines Act permit amendment which will increase production, create approximately 160 new jobs and sustain a total of 400 employees in the north, announced Minister of Energy and Mines Rich Coleman.

The Endako expansion has been able to provide an employment opportunity for 36 displaced mill workers who were negatively affected by the recent fire and explosion which closed the Babine Forest Products mill.

The workers will help to start up the new mill, and these jobs may lead to permanent employment.

Endako is a molybdenum mine owned by ., and Sojitz Corporation and is located 100 kilometres west of Prince George near Fraser Lake.

It has been in continuous production since 1965.

The expansion of the mine will amalgamate the three pits. It will also  result in a major upgrade to the mine's 42-year-old mill and will create a new facility that will nearly double the current processing capacity to 55,000 tonnes.

The expansion's projected capital cost is approximately $600 million.

Mining reserves are sufficient to continue operations until approximately 2028.

The expansion will generate approximately $90 - $100 million annually in economic activity such as direct wages, purchases and taxes.