Highland Copper Company has received an updated air permit from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) for the Copperwood Project in the US.
The new permit, known as the Permit to Install in the state, supersedes the one granted in 2018 and will allow the project to integrate on-site generators with the main electrical supply, enhancing the reliability and efficiency of its energy strategy.
The approval followed a virtual public hearing on 30 October 2024 and a public comment period that ended on 10 December 2024.
EGLE’s Air Quality Division (AQD) conducted a comprehensive review of the feedback before issuing formal approval on 27 February 2025.
Highland Copper CEO Barry O’Shea said: “We are pleased to receive this approval from EGLE, which reflects the thorough and fair regulatory review process in Michigan. The issuance of this permit underscores that Copperwood has been designed to meet rigorous environmental standards and operate responsibly within the community.
“We appreciate the continued support from state authorities and the local community, whose engagement has been instrumental throughout this process.”
The company said that it will continue to collaborate with stakeholders as it moves closer to commencing production at Copperwood.
Copperwood Resources, a US subsidiary of Highland Copper, is responsible for the greenfield copper project’s development. It is situated in the Western Upper Peninsula of Michigan, roughly 14 miles (22.5km) to the north of the town of Wakefield.
The underground mining operation is set to employ the room-and-pillar method, targeting an average processing rate of 6,800 metric tonnes per day.
Site preparation activities at Copperwood commenced in 2023 following the release of an updated feasibility study in March of the same year. It continued into 2024.
