In November 2018, Robert Assabgui, Hudbay’s Vice President of the Manitoba Business Unit, sent a memo to employees at the Flin Flon operation announcing that the Company would be closing its 777 mine, mill and, most likely, the Flin Flon zinc plant in 2022. There being no anchor mine to replace 777 and sustain operations, the closure will effectively cease mining operations in the town of Flin Flon for the first time since mining began in 1927.

After making the announcement, Hudbay’s business leaders engaged with employees and union leaders throughout the year to explore options to sustain the Company’s presence in Flin Flon. A series of videos featuring updates from Hudbay’s leaders, including the CEO and the Manitoba Business Unit leader, aimed to keep everyone informed about changes in the organization and to encourage employees to ask questions and contribute to solutions.

Hudbay’s focus then moved to planning ahead and minimizing the impacts to the 900 employees working in Flin Flon.

“We will continue to exhaust all possible options to extend operations in Flin Flon, which we have been able to achieve in the past,” said Alan Hair. “Unfortunately, to date we have not been successful. We know this creates uncertainty for our employees and their families, and we are determined to be transparent in our plans and communicate often – and with as much advance notice as possible – to reduce impacts on our people and the community.”

The Company is working on a plan that includes offering Flin Flon workers employment opportunities in Snow Lake and helping the community of Flin Flon successfully manage the transition. In a January 2019 followup video to employees, Hudbay leaders committed to work collaboratively with the unions on putting a plan in place by mid-2019 so that employees and their families would have greater clarity on what it means for them.

The Flin Flon community helped shape Hudbay’s values of dignity and respect, caring, openness and trustworthiness, and this will be reflected in the way we manage the closure and continue to support Flin Flon.