It’s All About the Base

2023 – 2024 BASELINE DATA COLLECTION

What is Baseline Data Collection?
Baseline data collection is a fancy term for gathering detailed information about the current environmental conditions of a particular area. For the Eagle’s Nest Project, it’s the starting point for understanding the environment (water, air, flora and fauna), setting the groundwork for modelling potential changes as technical and project understanding work advances.
The data we collect today helps to further our understanding of current conditions and is the basis of identifying changes in the environment, either by direct, indirect or cumulative effects that may stem from the Project. The data can also be used to set realistic and achievable targets, triggers for mitigations and improve performance along the way. A strong data set helps us measure our effectiveness and success, as we have the ability to compare past, present and future results to evaluate how effective our programs are. This will support us in making informed decisions during project development.

What are we Doing at Eagle’s Nest?
Wyloo is advancing extensive baseline data collection to gain a deep understanding of the natural environment around the Project. We are also working with our Indigenous partners to understand their traditional views and interactions with the land, and to incorporate Indigenous knowledge into our efforts. Here are some of the ways we’re carrying out this work:

Biodiversity and ecology: we are studying both vegetation and aquatic (water and peatlands) ecosystems. This includes vegetation mapping and comparing it with existing provincial data to help us refine current data sets and further understand the diverse plant life and ecological inter-dynamics.

Wildlife species: we study all wildlife species that interact within the landscape, including caribou, wolverines, bats and nesting birds. The data we collect provides insights into habitat variety, migration patterns and seasonal use.

Air quality: we have set up stations to continuously monitor the air quality in and around our site, which will support our modelling efforts as we advance Eagle’s Nest.

Surface and Groundwater Quality: we evaluate the local water balance and quality monthly, conducting routine sampling at 27 groundwater wells, 28 surface water stations and four flow stations. These stations have been strategically positioned both upstream and downstream from the Project to understand and identify potential areas of influence and changes in the natural hydrologic environment.

Indigenous-led monitoring: as we advance our Project, we will establish an Indigenous-led monitoring program to ensure environmental monitoring activities are conducted either by or in active collaboration with our partner Indigenous Nations. This will also help to advance our understanding of cultural significance and knowledge sharing.

Directly involving community members in data collection and review of monitoring programs is part of our commitment to transparency and collaboration. Our intent is to integrate this data with input from communities to shape our Project design and share updates with you in our next newsletter.

Launching our Inaugural Canada Sustainability Approach – 2024 Report

We have released our inaugural Canada Sustainability Approach – serving as a cornerstone towards comprehensive sustainability reporting in Canada. Learn more about our commitment to transparency and meaningful and inclusive participation of First Nation communities as we develop the Eagle’s Nest Project: www.wylooeaglesnest.com

Frank at our Toronto office

Co-op student uses AI to bring a fresh perspective – meet Jiawei (Frank)

For Jiawei (Frank) Zhang, working on an initiative designed to revolutionise data management
at Wyloo is an opportunity to channel his skill set in the professional world.

Frank, who is completing a Master of Business Analytic Degree at the University of British
Columbia–Saunder School of Business has joined our team in Toronto for three months in a co-op
placement.

Co-op student programs integrate work periods in companies related to the field of study the
student is completing, providing valuable job experience and a fresh perspective for the host
company.

“I chose to undertake a co-op role with Wyloo because the role and organisation are a great fit
for my skills, professional goals and my personal values,” said Frank.

“In addition to the rewarding work, the people here at Wyloo are lovely; I really like my team and
my managers. Since joining, I have had many opportunities to have my opinions heard, be part
of the conversation and feel empowered to do my work.”

Wyloo is equally thrilled to have Frank’s fresh perspective as he assists in the research and
development of Wyloo’s ‘Glass Box’ approach; an initiative designed to provide maximum
transparency to stakeholders around our Eagle’s Nest Project, including real-time access to
project information, environmental monitoring and data capture.

The approach leverages advanced artificial intelligence (AI), particularly generative large
language models, to optimize data accessibility and analytics within data management
platforms.

Frank is diving deep into the latest available research to develop general guidelines and first
principles for adopting AI in Wyloo’s database and content management systems, which will
inform our ‘Glass Box’ approach.

“My involvement in the ‘Glass Box’ approach is highly relevant to my studies in Business
Analytics, as it allows me to apply and further develop my skills in data analytics and AI
integration,” he said.

“I have the opportunity to engage directly with cutting-edge technologies in AI integration,
database management, and research, especially within the context of sustainability and largescale
project management.

“Wyloo’s commitment to transparency and sustainability, exemplified by projects like Eagle’s
Nest and the innovative “Glass Box” initiative, resonates strongly with one of my important
beliefs of building long-lasting, trusting relationships and community. This role offers a unique
chance to contribute to impactful projects and develop my skills in a dynamic and forward thinking
environment.

“AI has a transformative role in the future of mining and sustainability by enhancing operational
efficiency, reducing environmental impact, and improving safety and compliance monitoring
through the lens of data analytics and predictive modeling. For Wyloo, utilizing AI is critical in
creating an interface for transparency, demonstrating the company’s goals of leading the
industry in sustainability practices and trust acquisition.”

Zahir Jina, Frank’s manager, remarked on Frank’s fresh approach to AI foundations and
integration as an asset to the team.

”Frank has quickly integrated and become a valued member of our team. His insights have
supported an understanding of AI foundations and integration for our “Glass Box” framework,
which are critical for implementation. We are excited to welcome co-op students to Wyloo,
providing their unique perspectives and knowledge as we advance our mission of environmental
stewardship,” he said.

Thank you for being part of our team, Frank!

Students Dig Deep!

Investing in the energy transition means supporting the next generation of mining professionals, which is why we regularly host student tours of our underground operations at Kambalda.

The regular tours are aimed at year 12 students studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects as well as students already at university; many from the West Australian School of Mines at Curtin University and our local communities.

The tours provide students who are committed to the mining sector or thinking about joining it with the opportunity to experience underground mining in real life and create a network of fellow students and graduates.

Participants get exposure to surveying, geotechnical work, engineering, geology, environmental sciences and safety practices at a real operating mine. As well as the real-life exposure students get on our tours, the connection with industry experts is invaluable. In 2022, one of the tours involved Kate Woodall, the granddaughter of Dr Roy Woodall after who the decline at our Cassini mine is named.

Water Stewardship at Kamblada

The responsible stewardship of our precious water resource is a key aspect of our approach to sustainability at Kambalda. While we use minimal water in our exploration, development and production activities as all nickel is processed offsite, we do recycle water where possible, ensure we have no reliance on water from artesian or stressed water sources, and do not discharge water into areas of environmental fragility.

Because of upgrades to existing water infrastructure at our Northern Operations and the introduction of recycled mining process water, we were able to reduce our total site water usage by 6.5 per cent in FY22 despite significantly increasing our operational activity.

We constantly monitor and evaluate our water infrastructure and management practices to ensure we minimise use of this valuable resource wherever possible.

Solar Powered Accommodation Village

Our Southern Operations Accommodation Village (SOAV) was built with sustainability at the heart of its design. Partnering with two local Western Australian businesses, Amanda Energy Solutions and Switch Batteries, SOAV was designed with a renewable power solution capable of generating between 80to 100 per cent of its daily power requirements.

The system includes roof-top solar panels and a battery with the ability to be monitored and administered remotely, designed to be scaled and refined over time as the needs of the village change.

Several other design elements have been incorporated into the village to improve energy efficiency and enhance amenity, including:

  • 100 per cent recyclable, high thermal efficiency building panels.
  • Energy efficient double glazing on all buildings.
  • Inverter air conditioners.
  • LED lighting throughout the entire village, eliminating “dark spots”.
  • Deliberate selection of appliances based on energy rating.
  • Energy efficient, 2.2metreverandas on all buildings.
  • Smart design potable water system.
  • Local, high-quality catering.

Not only does the village represented a step-change in our employee experience, but it has also eliminated the need for our people to travel a daily round trip of 120kilometres to our Northern Operations accommodation village, supporting greater overall wellbeing, health and safety.

Inclusion and Diversity at Kambalda

Supporting our workforce to be diverse, inclusive and flexible is an important goal at our Kambalda operations. We are proud to have achieved a well above industry average of 33per cent female participation in our workforce and 39 percent female representation at a Board and Executive Management level in FY22. We have also worked to close the gender pay gap, implementing rigorous remuneration frameworks to assess and reward individuals in like-for-like positions based on merit, not gender.

The Covid-19 pandemic also highlighted more than ever our need to adopt flexible work practices across our organisation, including site-based roles where it was safe and possible to do so. The use of technology, particularly video-based software was crucial in keeping our workforce visually connected during the pandemic, as were the regular health and wellbeing checks on the team by management.These practices carry on today, enabling employees to perform their roles from home when they need and are able to.

While flexible work arrangements are not always achievable for our site-based employees, we have developed a state-of-the-art Southern Operations Accommodation Village to support employees to reduce their travel time to and from site, lessening employee fatigue both at work and when they return home to their families.

Protecting Caribou

Esker Site is located in the area known as the James Bay and Hudson Bay Lowlands. This area is home to many wildlife species, including caribou.

There are two subspecies in the area near Esker during the winter — the boreal caribou (or woodland caribou), and the migratory caribou. Because the boreal caribou are considered a threatened species by the Ontario and Federal governments, we undertake special measures during exploration to avoid disturbing the animals or impacting their habitat.

Ring of Fire Metals has a rigorous plan in place (required by the Provincial Endangered Species Act) to protect caribou. One part of this plan is to create caribou awareness at Esker. Our team members go through a species at risk standard operating procedure (SOP), which is a step-by-step procedure explaining what to do if they encounter caribou while out in the field. In the SOP, it details what to do to minimize the disturbance of caribou, as well as minimizing habitat changes and fragmentation.

When workers come across caribou, they are not to feed or follow the caribou. Fieldwork is to be stopped to give the animals space and let them move through. Workers are to document any caribou observations and report them to their supervisor, which is then reported to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry. This information helps the Ministry to be aware of where caribou are moving, which adds value to their studies about the species.

Eagle’s Nest Footprint

So, how does underground mining work? The first step in our plan is to go underground and remove granodiorite rock (not Eagle’s Nest ore). This rock, which is environmentally safe for use above ground, will be used in the construction of the site, airstrip, and regional infrastructure. By removing the granodiorite rock, we also create the space where we will put our tailings back underground.

What are tailings? Tailings are the materials that are left over after we separate the nickel, copper, and platinum group elements from the ore we mine at Eagle’s Nest. Tailings will be combined with cement binder and returned back underground into the spaces created from removing the ore and the granodiorite rock. The plan is for 100% of tailings to be stored underground, eliminating the need for a tailings pond above ground.

During the past decade, we have engaged with numerous industry experts and local communities to determine the most sustainable mine plan. Eagle’s Nest has sustainability and safety at the core of its design and we continue to research ways to further improve our plan as we work towards development.

Teepee at Esker Site

In November 2022, Ring of Fire Metals Esker Site workers, guided by elders from the nearby First Nations, erected a Teepee at Esker.

By Scott Jacob, Manager, Community Relations

We were joined by Marten Falls First Nation and Webequie First Nation Chiefs, councillors and elders to celebrate the day. Having visitors is a great way to showcase the work that is done at Esker Site. Some members of our Toronto leadership team and parent company, Wyloo Metals, travelled to Esker to take part in this important ceremony.

RoF Metals hopes that the teepee will be a good way for our Indigenous staff members to be able to have ceremonies at Esker. Also, so that non-Indigenous people at Esker can learn more about our culture. This teepee demonstrates our relationship with the local First Nation communities. We raised the flags of Webequie and Marten Falls outside of the teepee to signify their leadership and the relationship that we share with these communities.

RoF Metals Manager, Community Engagement, Ryan Tuomi said “We hope that this teepee is just the beginning of bringing Indigenous culture and traditions into the development of the Eagle’s Nest Mine. Not just to support our workers but to build a diverse and inclusive working environment that everyone can be proud of.”

A special thank you to the community members who joined us to mark the occasion.