West High Yield (W.H.Y.) Resources Ltd. is pleased to announce that the British Columbia Ministry of Mines and Critical Minerals (MCM) has officially issued the Mines Act Permit authorising the development and operation of the Record Ridge Industrial Mineral Mine, located near Rossland, British Columbia.
This approval marks a transformational milestone for West High Yield, its shareholders, and the community – the culmination of years of rigorous environmental review, detailed technical evaluation, and extensive Indigenous and community engagement. The Project represents one of the more advanced critical mineral development opportunities in North America, containing magnesium, silica, nickel, and iron – key materials essential to clean energy technologies, advanced manufacturing, and the global energy transition.
“This major milestone represents years of disciplined technical, regulatory, and community collaboration,” said Frank Marasco, President and CEO of West High Yield. “The RRIMM Permit validates the strength of our Project, our team, and our long-term vision. We extend our sincere appreciation to our Indigenous partners, government officials, local communities, consultants, contractors, and shareholders for their continued support throughout this rigorous process. With this authorisation, we are now positioned to move from permitting into construction – a transformative step for the Company and all its stakeholders.”
Next steps
Following Permit issuance, West High Yield and its technical consultants will complete post-permit environmental, safety and engineering compliance activities as required by the Ministry. Upon completion, the Company and Skemxist Solutions will commence site preparation and the construction of access roads and mine infrastructure to advance the Project development.
During initial phase of operations, the ore from RRIMM will be sold to a U.S. buyer who will transport it to a processing facility of their choice. This represents a transitional step while we prepare for downstream development in Canada. The Project’s immediate focus is to begin small-scale mining under comprehensive environmental oversight and generate early cash flow. This initial phase lays the foundation for future investment into a domestic processing facility.
West High Yield also plans to amend the Permit in the future to support a responsible expansion of production capacity and to develop Canada’s first magnesium-refining facility, creating hundreds of long-term jobs and positioning British Columbia as a North American leader in critical-mineral processing and value-added manufacturing.
Support from the Osoyoos Indian Band
“We are pleased to see the Record Ridge Industrial Mineral Mine moving forward under this Permit,” said Chief Clarence Louie of the Osoyoos Indian Band (OIB). “Through collaboration with WHY Resources and Skemxist Solutions, we are demonstrating that responsible development and Indigenous economic leadership can go hand in hand. This Project brings opportunity, training, and long-term benefits for our people and the entire region. OIB will continue to work with the Company and regulators to ensure the project’s impacts are managed and the environment protected.”
A responsible start with a long-term vision
The RRIMM is a low-impact, small-scale project designed with community safety and environmental protection as top priorities. Operations involve drilling, blasting, crushing, and hauling – with no chemical processing or refining onsite. There are no tailings, no process water, and no smelting emissions. The Project’s design minimises environmental risk while building the foundation for long-term value creation within Canada. It also advances national goals of securing domestic supplies of critical minerals such as magnesium, silica, nickel, and iron – all essential for electric vehicles, fuel cells, solar panels, and semiconductors – key components of the clean-energy transition.
“The RRIMM represents a responsible and forward-looking ESG approach: start small, protect the environment, generate local benefits, and scale responsibly as partnerships and investments grow,” added Marasco.
Future verticals under evaluation include magnesium oxide and silica production, pharmaceutical-grade magnesium, and magnesium wallboard, each contributing to Canada’s clean-energy economy and global decarbonisation goals.